Cleveland, Ohio

:For the Cleveland area, see Greater Cleveland.

History

In 1765, George Washington predicted, "Where the Cuyahoga River flows into Lake Erie shall rise a community of vast commercial importance." The city obtained its name on July 22, 1796, when surveyors of the Connecticut Land Company named an area in Ohio "Cleaveland" after General Moses Cleaveland, the superintendent of the surveying party, a month after white settlers had signed a treaty with local Native Americans to acquire the land. Cleaveland laid out the plan for the modern Public Square area before returning home. He never visited the area again. The spelling of the city's name was later changed to "Cleveland" when, in 1831, an "a" was dropped so the name could fit a newspaper's masthead.

Related Topics:
1765 - George Washington - July 22 - 1796 - Connecticut Land Company - Moses Cleaveland - Native American - Public Square - 1831

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Though not initially apparent—the city was surrounded by swampland and the harsh winters did not encourage settlement—the location proved providential. The city began to grow rapidly after the completion of the Ohio and Erie Canal in 1832, turning the city into a key link between the Ohio River and the Great Lakes, and particularly once the city railroad links were added. In 1837, the city, then located on the eastern banks of the Cuyahoga River, nearly erupted into open warfare with neighboring Ohio City, Ohio (since annexed), over a bridge connecting the two. As a halfway point for iron ore coming from Minnesota across the Great Lakes and for coal and other raw materials coming by rail from the south, the site flourished. Cleveland also enjoyed its position as the major break-in-bulk center for Ohio.

Related Topics:
Ohio and Erie Canal - 1832 - Ohio River - Great Lakes - Railroad - 1837 - Cuyahoga River - Iron ore - Minnesota - Coal - Break-in-bulk

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Cleveland became one of the major manufacturing and population centers of the United States, home of numerous major steel firms. Standard Oil founder John D. Rockefeller made his fortune there. By 1920, it was the fourth largest city in the country. The city was also one of the centers of the national progressive movement, locally headed by Mayor Tom L. Johnson.

Related Topics:
United States - Steel - Standard Oil - John D. Rockefeller - 1920 - Progressive movement - Tom L. Johnson

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The city experienced a downturn in the post-World War II period, as heavy industries slumped and residents sought new housing in the suburbs; see white flight. The city witnessed racial unrest in the 1960s, culminating in riots in Hough July 18–23, 1966, and Glenville July 23–25, 1968. The city's nadir is often considered to be its default on its loans on December 15, 1978, when under young Mayor Dennis Kucinich it became the first major American city to enter default since the Great Depression. Kucinich's administration claimed that the city had been forced into default by local banks and a local electric provider which attempted to force the city to sell off Cleveland Public Power, the small city-owned electric utility. National media began referring to Cleveland as "the mistake by/on the lake" around this time, in reference to both the city's financial difficulties as well as a 1969 fire on the Cuyahoga River (the oil and waste on the river's surface caught on fire). Clevelanders have struggled to shed this nickname ever since, though in recent times national media have been much kinder to the city, using it as the poster child for downtown revitalization and urban renaissance.

Related Topics:
World War II - White flight - 1960s - Riots in Hough - 1966 - 1968 - December 15 - 1978 - Dennis Kucinich - Great Depression - Cleveland Public Power

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The metropolitan area began a recovery thereafter under Mayors George Voinovich and Michael White. Redevelopment within the city limits has been strongest in the downtown area near the Gateway complex—consisting of Jacobs Field and Gund Arena—and near the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Cleveland Browns Stadium. Many of the inner-city residential neighborhoods remain troubled, and the public school system continues to experience serious problems despite the highest level of per-student funding in the state. Economic development, retention of young professionals, and capitalizing upon its Lake Erie waterfront are current municipal priorities.

Related Topics:
George Voinovich - Michael White - Gateway - Jacobs Field - Gund Arena - Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - Cleveland Browns Stadium - Economic development - Lake Erie

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