East Cleveland, Ohio

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Location of East Cleveland, Ohio

East Cleveland is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio and is the oldest suburb of Cleveland, Ohio. The population was 27,217 at the 2000 census.

Contents

[edit] History

Although it incorporated as a village in 1895, East Cleveland officially became the first suburb in Cuyahoga County in 1911 when it passed its city charter. This charter included provisions for women's suffrage, which at the time was unheard of in all regions east of Chicago. Before the charter had passed, the city of Cleveland unsuccessfully attempted to annex the emerging municipality in 1910 and again in 1916.

Within East Cleveland sits Nela Park, the worlds first industrial park. Nela Park continues to operate today as the functional headquarters for GE Lighting.

East Cleveland includes a portion of Euclid Avenue, which from the 1860s through the 1920s was known as "Millionaire's Row". The many estates along this stretch of road in East Cleveland included the summer home of the late John D. Rockefeller, Standard Oil founder and "the world’s first billionaire".

By the Great Depression a great number of homes along "Millionaire's Row" were demolished or abandoned. Although commercial properties and fast-food chains replaced many Euclid Avenue homes during the second half of the 20th century, East Cleveland is still home to 18 of the original "Millionaire's Row" homes, while only 6 are left in the city of Cleveland.

After World War II, development of other suburbs within the region brought a number of changes to East Cleveland. By the 1960s, African Americans constituted an increasingly large portion of the city's population. By 1984, East Cleveland was one of the largest primarily black communities in the country, with a population of 36,957.

Since the 1990s, the city has been in a state of steady decline, having remained in a state of fiscal emergency throughout the decade. Speculation of a possible annexation to Cleveland emerged again in 2005 when the city's former Nigerian-born mayor, Emmanuel W. Onunwor, was indicted by a federal grand jury for corruption and bribery. Some observers even suggested that the suburb be split between Cleveland and neighboring Cleveland Heights.

Current Mayor Eric J. Brewer, who took office on January 1, 2006, rejected the idea of a Cleveland and Cleveland Heights takeover and now presides over a city that was removed from fiscal emergency on February 5, 2006. Mayor Brewer sees a bright future for East Cleveland with its proximity to University Circle. Residents praise him for working tirelessly to restore integrity and competency in local government. To fight crime and instill developer confidence in his city, Mayor Brewer convinced Cuyahoga County Sheriff Gerald T. McFaul to dispatch deputies to help the police department. He asked the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development to free more than $5 million in block grant funds the agency had previously refused to allow the former mayor to spend. Recognizing the city's proximity to University Circle, Mayor Brewer has promoted a relationship with Case Western Reserve University, the Small Business Administration, the Cuyahoga County Department of Development, the Cleveland Foundation and other agencies to secure financial assistance for his city. The SBA and the county's development department, along with CWRU, have agreed to invest a combined $2.1 million to create a small business loan fund. Mayor Brewer has said East Cleveland is now also poised to become the first "wired" city in Ohio due to a new wireless internet agreement reached with Case Western Reserve University, though this has caused controversy due to the university's budgetary difficulties.

Emmanuel W. Onunwor, a Nigerian immigrant who served as mayor of East Cleveland beginning in 1997, is believed to have been the United States' first African-born mayor.[1] However, Onunwor is now in prison for racketeering, tax evasion and other charges. [2]

[edit] Demographics

As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 27,217 people, 11,210 households, and 6,423 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,379.0/km² (8,761.8/mi²). There were 13,491 housing units at an average density of 1,674.9/km² (4,343.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 4.56% White, 93.39% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.17% from other races, and 1.43% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.76% of the population.

There were 11,210 households out of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 21.2% were married couples living together, 30.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.7% were non-families. 38.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 3.20.

In the city the population was spread out with 29.7% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 79.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 72.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $20,542, and the median income for a family was $26,053. Males had a median income of $26,123 versus $21,960 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,602. About 28.0% of families and 32.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 45.5% of those under age 18 and 22.5% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Geography

East Cleveland is located at 41°31′54″N, 81°34′55″W (41.531701, -81.581948)GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.1 km² (3.1 mi²). 8.1 km² (3.1 mi²) of it is land with a small pond and waterfall located in Forest Hill Park.

[edit] Parks

Forest Hill Park boasts two baseball diamonds, tennis courts and walking trails that have retained the natural green space as intended by Rockefeller when he deeded the park to East Cleveland and the City of Cleveland Heights. Forest Hill Park is also the practice and game site of the Cleveland State University "Vikings" baseball team. and is the largest single body of green space between downtown Cleveland and Euclid, Ohio.[1]

[edit] Government and politics

The City of East Cleveland is a home rule city with its own charter. City government consists of a mayor, five members of city council and a municipal court judge. The city school district is currently undergoing a $100 million renovation and rebuilding of all its public school buildings. Projects are scheduled to be completed in 2007.

Eric J. Brewer is East Cleveland's current Mayor. Brewer, a Democrat, earned 55 percent of the vote in a four-person October 2005 primary, defeating the incumbent mayor and city council president. Brewer then went on to defeat his Republican opponent with a landslide 85 percent margin in the November 2005 general election.[1]

[edit] Education

Shaw High School serves the residents of East Cleveland.

[edit] Transportation

East Clevelanders have direct access to the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority’s (RTA) light rail system and bus lines. With a major $186 million investment by the RTA on its new "Euclid Corridor Line," the Louis Stokes Rail Station at Windermere is now the beginning site of a major, regional public transportation hub that connects to more than 30,000 jobs between East Cleveland and downtown Cleveland’s Public Square.[1]

[edit] Notable Residents

[edit] See also

[edit] Surrounding Communities


North:
Cleveland
West:
Cleveland		 East Cleveland East: Cleveland Heights
South: Cleveland Heights

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Welcome to the City of East Cleveland. City of East Cleveland. Retrieved on May 23, 2006.
Cuyahoga County, Ohio
Cleveland, county seat
Municipalities

Bay Village | Beachwood | Bedford | Bedford Heights | Bentleyville | Berea | Bratenahl | Brecksville | Broadview Heights | Brook Park | Brooklyn | Brooklyn Heights | Chagrin Falls | Cleveland | Cleveland Heights | Cuyahoga Heights | East Cleveland | Euclid | Fairview Park | Garfield Heights | Gates Mills | Glenwillow | Highland Heights | Highland Hills | Hunting Valley | Independence | Lakewood | Linndale | Lyndhurst | Maple Heights | Mayfield | Mayfield Heights | Middleburg Heights | Moreland Hills | Newburgh Heights | North Olmsted | North Randall | North Royalton | Oakwood | Olmsted Falls | Orange | Parma | Parma Heights | Pepper Pike | Richmond Heights | Rocky River | Seven Hills | Shaker Heights | Solon | South Euclid | Strongsville | University Heights | Valley View | Walton Hills | Warrensville Heights | Westlake | Woodmere
Townships

Chagrin Falls | Olmsted
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