Akron metropolitan area

Akron, Ohio, metropolitan statistical area
MSA
Country	United States
States	Ohio
Largest city	Akron, Ohio
other cities	List In MSA: Barberton Cuyahoga Falls Green Kent Stow
Population (2010)
• MSA	703,200 (72nd)
• CSA	3,515,646 (15th)
	MSA/CSA = 2010
Time zone	ET (UTC-5)
• Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
Area code(s)	330, 234

The Akron, Ohio, metropolitan statistical area, as defined by the United States Office of Management and Budget, is an area consisting of two counties, Summit and Portage, in Northeast Ohio and is anchored by the city of Akron. As of the 2010 census, the MSA had a population of 703,200.

The Akron MSA is also part of the larger Cleveland–Akron–Canton, OH Combined Statistical Area with a population 2010 of 3,515,646, the largest metropolitan area in Ohio.

Counties

• Portage County
• Summit County

Communities

View of the Akron skyline from the west looking east

Places with more than 100,000 inhabitants

• Akron (principal city) – 199,110

Places with 25,000 to 50,000 inhabitants

• Barberton – 26,550
• Cuyahoga Falls – 49,652
• Green – 25,699
• Kent – 28,904
• Stow – 34,837

Places with 10,000 to 25,000 inhabitants

Places with 5,000 to 10,000 inhabitants

Places with 1,000 to 5,000 inhabitants

Places with less than 1,000 inhabitants

• Brady Lake – 464
• Peninsula
• Pigeon Creek (CDP)
• Sugar Bush Knolls – 177

Unincorporated places

• Diamond
• Ghent
• Hammond's Corners
• Montrose
• Wayland

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1900	100,961		—
1910	138,560		37.2%
1920	322,434		132.7%
1930	386,813		20.0%
1940	386,065		−0.2%
1950	474,016		22.8%
1960	605,367		27.7%
1970	679,239		12.2%
1980	660,328		−2.8%
1990	657,575		−0.4%
2000	694,960		5.7%
2010	703,200		1.2%
Est. 2014	703,825		0.1%
[1][2]

As of the census^[3] of 2010, there were 703,200 people, 279,518 households, and 181,540 families residing within the MSA. The racial makeup of the MSA was 84.8% White, 11.9% African American, 0.20% Native American, 1.8% Asian, 0% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races, and 1.34% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.2% of the population. 3.4% of the population were reported as foreign born and 5.4% reported speaking a language other than English as the primary language in the home. In the MSA the population was spread out with 18.7% the age of 14 or under, 14.4% from 15 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 27.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 94.1 males.

The median family income in 2007 dollars in the MSA was $61,537 and the median household income in the MSA was $47,336. Males had a median income of $38,776 versus $26,532 for females. The per capita income for the MSA was $36,564 in 2007 dollars.

Business and industry

As of 2006, the Akron metropolitan area serves as the corporate headquarters of 5 Fortune 1000 firms (shown with 2006 rankings below):

• (#112) Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company (Akron, rubber)
• (#184) FirstEnergy (Akron, utilities)
• (#671) Diebold (Green, electronics)
• (#839) Jo Ann Stores (Hudson, specialty retailer)
• (#995) A. Schulman (Fairlawn, chemicals)

Other large employers include:

Universities and colleges

• University of Akron, located in Akron; a large regional public research university with over 30,000 students. It serves as Summit County's largest university and one of the largest employers.^[4]
• Kent State University, located in Kent; a large regional public research university with over 41,000 students. It serves as Portage County's largest university and employer.^[5]
• Hiram College, located in Hiram in northwestern Portage County; a small liberal arts college of around 1,200 students.^[6]
• The Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED), located in Rootstown, in the south-central part of the county. It serves students from Kent State University, the University of Akron, Youngstown State University, and Cleveland State University.^[7]
• A campus of Fortis College, a small two-year college of around 300 students in Ravenna specializing in the business and medical technician fields.

Culture

Parks and recreation

National parks

Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Cuyahoga Valley National Park^[34] is a national park located in Summit County and lies between the major Ohio cities of Cleveland and Akron. It is the only national park located in Ohio and consists of over 33,000 acres. Waterfalls, rolling hills, caves, winding river scenery attract many park visitors. Over 125 miles of trails traverse the steep narrow ravines, rolling floodplain, and lush farmland throughout the park. The park offers an array of preserved and restored displays of 19th (see Hale Farm & Village) and early 20th century sustainable farming and pastoral, rural living, while catering to contemporary interests with art exhibits, outdoor concerts, and scenic excursion and special event railroad tours on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad.^[35]

County-wide park districts

Metro Parks, Serving Summit County

The Metro Parks, Serving Summit County^[36] is a park district that manages over 11,000 acres in Summit County, including 14 developed parks, six conservation areas and more than 125 miles of trails including the 33.5 mile Hike and Bike Trail which follows the course of the old Akron, Bedford and Cleveland Railroad. The Freedom Trail is currently being constructed and is similar to the Hike and Bike Trail. It will follow a former rail corridor west from Ravenna through Kent in Portage County and hookup with the Towpath Trail and the Hike and Bike Trail in Summit County.

The Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail

The Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail^[37] in Summit County follows the course of the former Ohio and Erie Canal. When the trail is fully complete, it will stretch about 100 miles from Downtown Cleveland in Cuyahoga County, though the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Summit County, Stark County and end in New Philadelphia in Tuscarawas County. In 2011, Summit County became the first of the counties to complete their section of the Towpath Trail stretching 33.4 miles from the Portage Lakes in the southern portion of the county, through the suburbs and downtown Akron, and finally through the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

Portage Park District

The Portage Park District^[38] is a county park district in Portage County that consists of 1150 acres. Notable trails include the Headwater Trail which follows the former Cleveland-Mahoning Railroad line and connects Mantua and Garrettsville. The Freedom Trail/Portage Hike and Bike Trail is currently being constructed and will connect with existing trails in Summit County.

State parks and nature reserves

Nelson Kennedy Ledges State Park

Nelson Kennedy Ledges State Park^[39] is a 167-acre state park located near Garrettsville in Portage County. The spectacular rock formations at Nelson-Kennedy Ledges have become trademarks of the park. These rock formations are among the few outcrops in northern Ohio still exposed to view and offer hiking trails ranging from easy to difficult. Activities located in the park include hiking and picnicking.

Portage Lakes State Park

Portage Lakes State Park^[40] is a 2,475 acre state park located in Akron around the Portage Lakes. There are approximately 2034 acres of water and 8 lakes within the park that can be used for boating, fishing, and swimming and an additional 411 acres of land that can be used for camping, hunting, and picnicking.

Tinker's Creek State Park

Tinkers Creek State Park^[41] is a 370-acre state park located in Streetsboro in Portage County. Park activities include fishing on a 15-acre spring-fed lake, picnicking, hiking, and cross country skiing and ice fishing during winter.

West Branch State Park

West Branch State Park^[42] is an 8,002 acre state park located near Ravenna in Portage County. The large 2,650-acre lake can be used for boating, fishing, and swimming and contains numerous boat launches. The 5,379-acres of meadows and woodlots can be used for numerous activities such as for camping, hiking, hunting and horseback riding. The park maintains 14 miles of hiking trails, 12 miles of mountain biking trails, and 20 miles of bridle trails.

Wingfoot Lake State Park

Wingfoot Lake State Park^[43] is a 690-acre state park located in Mogadore in Portage County around Wingfoot Lake. The park was built in the 1960s by the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company for their employees and corporate retreats. In 2009, the park was bought by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife. Facilities include enclosed and open pavilion shelters (some with fireplaces), playgrounds, badminton courts, horseshoe pits, bocce ball courts, an 18-hole mini-golf course, and an 18-hole disc golf course. Boating and fishing is also permitted on the 444 acre Wingfoot Lake.

Public nature reserves

• Aurora Sanctuary State Nature Preserve – a 164-acre nature preserve located in Aurora.
• Eagle Creek State Nature Preserve – a 472-acre nature preserve located in Garrettsville.
• Herrick Fen – a 127-acre nature preserve located near Streetsboro.
• Tom S. Cooperrider-Kent Bog State Nature Preserve – a 42-acre nature preserve located in Kent.
• Marsh Wetlands – a 152-acre nature preserve located near Mantua.
• Novak (Blanche Katherine) Sanctuary – a 152-acre nature preserve located in Aurora.
• Portage Lakes Wetland State Nature Preserve – a 6-acre nature preserve located in Akron.
• Tinker's Creek State Nature Preserve – a 786-acre nature preserve located in Aurora.
• Triangle Lake Bog State Nature Preserve – a 61-acre nature reserve located in Rootstown.
• Tummonds State Nature Preserve – an 86-acre nature reserve located near Mantua.

Transportation

Airports

The Akron metropolitan area is served by the following international, regional and county airports:

• Akron–Canton Regional Airport (Green)^[44]
• Akron Fulton International Airport (Akron)^[45]
• Kent State University Airport (Stow)^[46]
• Portage County Regional Airport (Shalersville Township)^[47]

Highways

Public transit

In Summit County, public transportation is available through the METRO Regional Transit Authority^[48] system, which has a fleet of over two hundred buses and trolleys and operates local routes as well as running commuter buses into downtown Cleveland. The Portage Area Regional Transportation Authority (PARTA)^[49] operates throughout Portage County and also runs an express route connecting the University of Akron with Kent State University.

See also

• Ohio census statistical areas

References