Cleveland

Cleveland
City
Downtown Clevelandfrom Edgewater Park Playhouse Square Cleveland Museum of Art Garfield Memorial Severance Hall Rock and Roll Hall of Fame West Side Market Cleveland Arcade
Flag Seal
Nicknames: The Forest City [1] (for more, see full list)
Motto: Progress & Prosperity [2]
Interactive map of Cleveland
Cleveland Show map of Ohio Cleveland Show map of the United States
Coordinates:41°28′56″N81°40′11″W / 41.48222°N 81.66972°W /41.48222; -81.66972
Country	United States
State	Ohio
County	Cuyahoga
Founded	July 22, 1796(1796-07-22)
Incorporated (village)	December 23, 1814(1814-12-23)
Incorporated (city)	March 5, 1836(1836-03-05)[3]
Named for	Moses Cleaveland
Government
• Type	Strong mayor / Council
• Body	Cleveland City Council
•Mayor	Justin Bibb(D)
Area [4]
•City	82.48 sq mi (213.62 km2)
• Land	77.73 sq mi (201.33 km2)
• Water	4.75 sq mi (12.29 km2)
Elevation [5]	653 ft (199 m)
Population ( 2020)
•City	372,624
• Estimate (2023) [6]	362,656
• Rank	54thin the United States 2ndin Ohio
• Density	4,793.52/sq mi (1,850.78/km2)
•Urban	1,712,178 (US:31st)
• Urban density	2,398.7/sq mi (926.1/km2)
•Metro [7]	2,185,825 (US:33rd)
Demonym	Clevelander
GDP [8]
• Cleveland (MSA)	$138.3 billion (2022)
Time zone	UTC−5(EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4(EDT)
ZIP Codes	ZIP Codes [9] 44101–44147, 44181, 44188, 44190–44199
Area code	216
Website	clevelandohio.gov

Cleveland,^[a]officially theCity of Cleveland,^[10]is a city in theU.S. stateofOhio. Located along the southern shore ofLake Erie, it is situated across theCanada–United States maritime borderand lies approximately 60 mi (97 km) west ofPennsylvania. Cleveland is the most populous city on Lake Erie, thesecond-most populous cityin Ohio, and the54th-most populous cityin the U.S. with a population of 372,624 in 2020.^[11]The city anchors theCleveland metropolitan area, the33rd-largestin the U.S. at 2.18 million residents, as well as the larger Cleveland–Akron–Cantoncombined statistical areawith 3.63 million residents.^[12][13]It is thecounty seatofCuyahoga County.^[14]

Cleveland was founded in 1796 near the mouth of theCuyahoga Riveras part of theConnecticut Western Reservein modern-dayNortheast Ohioby GeneralMoses Cleaveland, after whom the city was named. Its location on the river and the lake shore allowed it to grow into a major commercial and industrial metropolis by the late 19th century, attracting large numbers ofimmigrantsandmigrants.^[15]It was among thetop 10 largest U.S. cities by populationfor much of the 20th century, a period that saw the development of the city's cultural institutions.^[16]By the 1960s, Cleveland's economy began to slow down asmanufacturingdeclined andsuburbanizationoccurred.

Cleveland is aport city, connected to theAtlantic Oceanvia theSaint Lawrence Seaway.Its economyrelies on diverse sectors that include higher education, manufacturing, financial services, healthcare, and biomedicals.^[17]The city serves as the headquarters of theFederal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, as well as several major companies. TheGDPfor the Greater Cleveland MSA was $138.3 billion in 2022.^[8]Combined with theAkron MSA, the eight-county Cleveland–Akron metropolitan economy was $176 billion in 2022, the largest in Ohio.^[18]

Designated as aglobal cityby theGlobalization and World Cities Research Network,^[19]Cleveland is home to several major cultural institutions, including theCleveland Museum of Art, theCleveland Museum of Natural History, theCleveland Orchestra, theCleveland Public Library,Playhouse Square, and theRock and Roll Hall of Fame, as well asCase Western Reserve University. Known as "The Forest City" among many othernicknames, Cleveland serves as the center of theCleveland Metroparksnature reserve system.^[1]The city's major leagueprofessional sports teamsinclude theCleveland Browns(football;NFL), theCleveland Cavaliers(basketball;NBA), and theCleveland Guardians(baseball;MLB).

Cleveland was established on July 22, 1796, by surveyors of theConnecticut Land Companywhen they laid outConnecticut'sWestern Reserveinto townships and a capital city. They named the settlement "Cleaveland" after their leader, GeneralMoses Cleaveland, a veteran of theAmerican Revolutionary War.^[20]Cleaveland oversaw theNew England–style design of the plan for what would become the modern downtown area, centered onPublic Square, before returning to Connecticut, never again to visit Ohio.^[20]The town's name was often shortened to "Cleveland", even by Cleaveland's original surveyors. A common myth emerged that the spelling was altered byThe Cleveland Advertiserin order to fit the name on the newspaper'smasthead.^[21][22]

The first permanent European settler in Cleveland wasLorenzo Carter, who built a cabin on the banks of the Cuyahoga River.^[23]The emerging community served as an important supply post for the U.S. during theBattle of Lake Eriein theWar of 1812.^[24]Locals adopted CommodoreOliver Hazard Perryas a civic hero and erected amonument in his honordecades later.^[25]Largely through the efforts of the settlement's first lawyerAlfred Kelley, the village of Cleveland was incorporated on December 23, 1814.^[26]

In spite of the nearby swampy lowlands and harsh winters, the town's waterfront location proved to be an advantage, giving it access to Great Lakes trade. It grew rapidly after the 1832 completion of theOhio and Erie Canal.^[27]This key link between theOhio Riverand theGreat Lakesconnected Cleveland to the Atlantic Ocean via theErie Canaland Hudson River, and later via theSaint Lawrence Seaway.^[17]The town's growth continued with addedrailroad links.^[28]In 1836, Cleveland, then only on the eastern banks of the Cuyahoga, was officially incorporated as a city, andJohn W. Willeywas elected its first mayor.^[29]That same year, it nearly erupted into open warfare with neighboringOhio Cityover a bridge connecting the two communities.^[30]Ohio City remained an independent municipality until itsannexationby Cleveland in 1854.^[29]

A center ofabolitionistactivity,^[31][32]Cleveland (code-named "Station Hope") was a major stop on theUnderground Railroadfor escaped African Americanslavesen route toCanada.^[33]The city also served as animportant centerfor theUnionduring theAmerican Civil War.^[34][35]Decades later, in July 1894, the wartime contributions of those serving the Union from Cleveland and Cuyahoga County would be honored with theSoldiers' and Sailors' Monumenton Public Square.^[36]

The Civil War vaulted Cleveland into the first rank of American manufacturing cities and fueled unprecedented growth.^[37]Its prime geographic location as a transportation hub on the Great Lakes played an important role in its development as an industrial and commercial center. In 1870,John D. RockefellerfoundedStandard Oilin Cleveland,^[38]and in 1885, he moved its headquarters toNew York City, which had become a center of finance and business.^[39]

Cleveland's economic growth and industrial jobs attracted large waves of immigrants fromSouthernandEastern Europeas well asIreland.^[15]Urban growth was accompanied by significantstrikesand labor unrest, as workers demandedbetter wages and working conditions.^[40]Between 1881 and 1886, 70 to 80% of strikes were successful in improving labor conditions in Cleveland.^[41]TheCleveland Streetcar Strike of 1899was one of the more violent instances of labor strife in the city during this period.^[42]

By 1910, Cleveland had become known as the "Sixth City" due to its status at the time as the sixth-largest U.S. city.^[43]Its automotive companies includedPeerless,Chandler, andWinton, maker of the first car driven across the U.S. Other manufacturing industries in Cleveland includedsteam carsproduced byWhiteandelectric carsproduced byBaker.^[44]The city counted majorProgressive Erapoliticians among its leaders, most prominently thepopulistMayorTom L. Johnson, who was responsible for the development of theCleveland Mall Plan.^[45]The era of theCity Beautiful movementin Cleveland architecture saw wealthy patrons support the establishment of the city's major cultural institutions. The most prominent among them were theCleveland Museum of Art, which opened in 1916,^[46]and theCleveland Orchestra, established in 1918.^[47]

In addition to the large immigrant population, African American migrants from the ruralSoutharrived in Cleveland (among other Northeastern and Midwestern cities) as part of theGreat Migrationfor jobs, constitutional rights, and relief fromracial discrimination.^[48]By 1920, the year in which theCleveland Indianswon theirfirst World Series championship, Cleveland had grown into a densely-populated metropolis of 796,841, making it the fifth-largest city in the nation,^[16]with a foreign-born population of 30%.^[49]

At this time, Cleveland saw the rise of radical labor movements, most prominently theIndustrial Workers of the World(IWW), in response to the conditions of the largely immigrant and migrant workers. In 1919, the city attracted national attention amid theFirst Red Scarefor theCleveland May Day Riots, in which localsocialistand IWW demonstrators clashed with anti-socialists.^[50][51]The riots occurred during the broaderstrike wavethat swept the U.S. that year.^[52]

Cleveland's population continued to grow throughout theRoaring Twenties.^[53]The decade saw the establishment of the city'sPlayhouse Square,^[54]and the rise of the risquéShort Vincent.^[55][56]The Bal-Masque balls of the avant-gardeKokoon Arts Clubscandalized the city.^[57][58]Jazzcame to prominence in Cleveland during this period.^[59][60]Prohibitionfirst took effect in Ohio in May 1919 (although it was not well-enforced in Cleveland), became law with theVolstead Actin 1920, and was eventuallyrepealednationally byCongressin 1933.^[61]The ban on alcohol led to the rise ofspeakeasiesthroughout the city and organized crime gangs, such as theMayfield Road Mob, who smuggled bootleg liquor acrossLake Eriefrom Canada into Cleveland.^[61][62]

The era of theflappermarked the beginning of the golden age in Downtown Cleveland retail, centered on major department storesHigbee's, Bailey's, theMay Company,Taylor's,Halle's, andSterling Lindner Davis, which collectively represented one of the largest and mostfashionableshopping districts in the country, often compared to New York'sFifth Avenue.^[63]In 1929, Cleveland hosted the first of manyNational Air Races, andAmelia Earhartflew to the city fromSanta Monica, Californiain theWomen's Air Derby.^[64][65]TheVan Sweringen brotherscommenced construction of theTerminal Towerskyscraper in 1926 and oversaw it to completion in 1927.^[66]By the time the building was dedicated as part ofCleveland Union Terminalin 1930, the city had a population of over 900,000.^[29]

Cleveland was hit hard by theWall Street Crash of 1929and the subsequentGreat Depression.^[67]A center ofunion activity, the city saw significantlabor strugglesin this period, including strikes by workers againstFisher Bodyin 1936 and againstRepublic Steelin 1937.^[41]The city was also aided by major federal works projects sponsored by PresidentFranklin D. Roosevelt'sNew Deal.^[68]In commemoration of the centennial of Cleveland's incorporation as a city, theGreat Lakes Expositiondebuted in June 1936 at the city'sNorth Coast Harbor, along the Lake Erie shore north of downtown.^[69]Conceived by Cleveland's business leaders as a way to revitalize the city during the Depression, it drew four million visitors in its first season, and seven million by the end of its second and final season in September 1937.^[70]

On December 7, 1941, Imperial Japanattacked Pearl Harboranddeclared waron the U.S. Two of the victims of the attack were Cleveland natives – Rear AdmiralIsaac C. Kiddand ensign William Halloran.^[71]The attack signaled America's entry intoWorld War II. A major hub of the "Arsenal of Democracy", Cleveland under MayorFrank Lauschecontributed massively to theU.S. war effortas the fifth largest manufacturing center in the nation.^[72]During his tenure, Lausche also oversaw the establishment of the Cleveland Transit System, the predecessor to theGreater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority.^[73]

After the war, Cleveland initially experienced aneconomic boom, and businesses declared the city to be the "best location in the nation".^[43][74]In 1949, the city was named anAll-America Cityfor the first time, and in 1950, its population reached 914,808.^[29]In sports, the Indians won the1948 World Series, the hockey team, theBarons, became champions of the American Hockey League, and theBrownsdominated professionalfootballin the 1950s. As a result, along with track and boxing champions produced, Cleveland was declared the "City of Champions" in sports at this time.^[75]Additionally, the 1950s saw the rising popularity of a new music genre that localWJW (AM)disc jockeyAlan Freeddubbed "rock and roll".^[76]

However, by the 1960s, Cleveland's economy began to slow down, and residents increasingly sought new housing in the suburbs, reflecting the national trends of suburban growth following federally subsidized highways.^[77]Industrial restructuring, particularly in the steel and automotive industries, resulted in the loss of numerous jobs in Cleveland and the region, and the city suffered economically.^[78]Theburning of the Cuyahoga Riverin June 1969 brought national attention to the issue ofindustrial pollutionin Cleveland and served as a catalyst for theAmerican environmental movement.^[79]

Housing discriminationandredliningagainst African Americans led to racial unrest in Cleveland and numerous other Northern U.S. cities.^[80][81]In Cleveland, theHough riotserupted from July 18 to 24, 1966,^[82]and theGlenville Shootouttook place on July 23, 1968.^[83]In November 1967, Cleveland became the first major American city to elect an African American mayor,Carl B. Stokes, who served from 1968 to 1971 and played an instrumental role in restoring the Cuyahoga River.^[84][85]

During the 1970s, Cleveland became known as "Bomb City U.S.A." due to several bombings that shook the city, mostly due to organized crime rivalries.^[86]In December 1978, during the turbulent tenure ofDennis Kucinichas mayor, Cleveland became the first major American city since the Great Depression to enter into afinancial defaulton federal loans.^[87]Thenational recessionof the early 1980s "further eroded the city's traditional economic base."^[78]While unemployment during the period peaked in 1983, Cleveland's rate of 13.8% was higher than the national average due to the closure of several steel production centers.^[88][89]

The city began a gradual economic recovery under MayorGeorge V. Voinovichin the 1980s. Downtown saw the construction of theKey Towerand200 Public Squareskyscrapers, as well as the development of theGateway Sports and Entertainment Complex– consisting ofProgressive FieldandRocket Mortgage FieldHouse– and North Coast Harbor, including theRock and Roll Hall of Fame,Cleveland Browns Stadium, and theGreat Lakes Science Center.^[90]Although the city emerged from default in 1987,^[29]it later suffered from the impact of thesubprime mortgage crisisand theGreat Recession.^[91]

Nevertheless, by the turn of the 21st century, Cleveland succeeded in developing a more diversified economy and gained a national reputation as a center for healthcare and the arts.^[92]The city's downtown and several neighborhoods have experienced significant population growth since 2010, while overall population decline has slowed.^[93]Challenges remain for the city, with improvement of city schools,^[94]economic development of neighborhoods, and continued efforts to tackle poverty,homelessness, and urban blight being top municipal priorities.^[95][96]

According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 82.47 square miles (213.60 km²), of which 77.70 square miles (201.24 km²) is land and 4.77 square miles (12.35 km²) is water.^[97]The shore of Lake Erie is 569 feet (173 m) abovesea level; however, the city lies on a series of irregular bluffs lying roughly parallel to the lake. In Cleveland these bluffs are cut principally by theCuyahoga River, Big Creek, andEuclid Creek.

The land rises quickly from the lake shore elevation of 569 feet. Public Square, less than one mile (1.6 km) inland, sits at an elevation of 650 feet (198 m), and Hopkins Airport, 5 miles (8 km) inland from the lake, is at an elevation of 791 feet (241 m).^[98]

Cleveland borders severalinner-ringandstreetcar suburbs.^[77]To the west, it bordersLakewood,Rocky River, andFairview Park, and to the east, it bordersShaker Heights,Cleveland Heights,South Euclid, andEast Cleveland. To the southwest, it bordersLinndale,Brooklyn,Parma, andBrook Park. To the south, the city bordersNewburgh Heights,Cuyahoga Heights, andBrooklyn Heightsand to the southeast, it bordersWarrensville Heights,Maple Heights, andGarfield Heights. To the northeast, along the shore of Lake Erie, Cleveland bordersBratenahlandEuclid.

Cleveland's downtown architecture is diverse. Many of the city's government and civic buildings, includingCity Hall, theCuyahoga County Courthouse, theCleveland Public Library, andPublic Auditorium, are clustered around the open Cleveland Mall and share a commonneoclassical architecture. They were built in the early 20th century as the result of the 1903 Group Plan. They constitute one of the most complete examples of City Beautiful design in the U.S.^[99][100]

Completed in 1927 and dedicated in 1930 as part of theCleveland Union Terminalcomplex, the Terminal Tower was the tallest building in North America outside New York City until 1964 and the tallest in the city until 1991.^[101]It is a prototypicalBeaux-Artsskyscraper. The two other major skyscrapers on Public Square, Key Tower (the tallest building in Ohio) and 200 Public Square, combine elements ofArt Decoarchitecture withpostmoderndesigns.^[102][103]

Running east from Public Square through University Circle isEuclid Avenue, which was known as "Millionaires' Row" for its prestige and elegance as a residential street.^[104][105]In the late 1880s, writerBayard Taylordescribed it as "the most beautiful street in the world".^[106]

Known as Cleveland's "Crystal Palace", the five-storyCleveland Arcade(sometimes called the Old Arcade) was built in 1890 and renovated in 2001 as aHyattRegency Hotel.^[107]Another major architectural landmark, theCleveland Trust Company Building, was completed in 1907 and renovated in 2015 as a downtownHeinen'ssupermarket.^[108]Cleveland's historicecclesiastical architectureincludes the PresbyterianOld Stone Churchin downtown Cleveland,^[109]theonion domedSt. Theodosius Russian Orthodox CathedralinTremont,^[110]and the CatholicCathedral of St. John the Evangelistalong with myriad other ethnically inspired Roman Catholic churches.^[111]

• 
  Cleveland Arcade, 1890
• 
  Cleveland Trust Company Building, 1907
• 
  Connor Palace Theatre, 1922
• 
  Terminal Towerfrom Euclid Avenue
• 
  Grand foyer of Severance Hall, 1931

The Cleveland City Planning Commission has officially designated 34 neighborhoods in Cleveland.^[112]Centered on Public Square,Downtown Clevelandis the city'scentral business district, encompassing a wide range of subdistricts, such as theNine-Twelve District, theCampus District, theCivic Center,East 4th Street, andPlayhouse Square. It also historically included the livelyShort Vincententertainment district.^[113][114]Mixed-use areas, such as theWarehouse Districtand theSuperior Arts District, are occupied by industrial and office buildings as well as restaurants, cafes, and bars.^[92]The number ofcondominiums,lofts, and apartments has been on the increase since 2000 and especially 2010, reflecting downtown's growing population.^[115]

Clevelanders geographically define themselves in terms of whether they live on the east or west side of the Cuyahoga River.^[116]The East Side includes the neighborhoods ofBuckeye–Shaker,Buckeye–Woodhill,Central,Collinwood(includingNottingham),Euclid–Green,Fairfax,Glenville,Goodrich–Kirtland Park(includingAsiatown),Hough,Kinsman,Lee–Miles(including Lee–Harvard and Lee–Seville),Mount Pleasant,St. Clair–Superior,Union–Miles Park, andUniversity Circle(includingLittle Italy).^[117]The West Side includes the neighborhoods ofBrooklyn Centre,Clark–Fulton,Cudell,Detroit–Shoreway,Edgewater,Ohio City,Old Brooklyn,Stockyards,Tremont(includingDuck Island),West Boulevard, and the four neighborhoods colloquially known asWest Park:Kamm's Corners,Jefferson,Bellaire–Puritas, andHopkins.^[118]TheCuyahoga Valleyneighborhood (includingthe Flats) is situated between the East and West Sides, whileBroadway–Slavic Villageis sometimes referred to as the South Side.^[119]

Several neighborhoods have begun to attract the return of the middle class that left the city for the suburbs in the 1960s and 1970s. These neighborhoods are on both the West Side (Ohio City, Tremont, Detroit–Shoreway, and Edgewater) and the East Side (Collinwood, Hough, Fairfax, and Little Italy). Much of the growth has been spurred on by attractingcreative classmembers, which has facilitated new residential development and the transformation of old industrial buildings into loft spaces for artists.^[92][120]

With its extensive cleanup of its Lake Erie shore and the Cuyahoga River, Cleveland has been recognized by national media as an environmental success story and a national leader in environmental protection.^[79]Since the city's industrialization, the Cuyahoga River had become so affected by industrial pollution that it "caught fire" a total of 13 times beginning in 1868.^[121]It was the river fire of June 1969 that spurred the city to action under Mayor Carl B. Stokes, and played a key role in the passage of theClean Water Actin 1972 and theNational Environmental Policy Actlater that year.^[85][121]Since that time, the Cuyahoga has been extensively cleaned up through the efforts of the city and theOhio Environmental Protection Agency(OEPA).^[79][122]

In addition to continued efforts to improve freshwater and air quality, Cleveland is now exploring renewable energy. The city's two main electrical utilities areFirstEnergyandCleveland Public Power. Itsclimate action plan, updated in December 2018, has a 2050 target of 100%renewable power, along with reduction ofgreenhouse gasesto 80% below the 2010 level.^[123]In recent decades, Cleveland has been working to address the issue ofharmful algal bloomson Lake Erie, fed primarily by agricultural runoff, which have presented new environmental challenges for the city and for northern Ohio.^[124]

Cleveland
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D 3 36 22 2.5 39 24 3.1 47 31 3.8 60 41 3.8 71 51 3.8 80 61 3.7 84 66 3.6 82 64 3.9 76 57 3.6 64 47 3.4 51 37 3 40 28 █Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █Precipitation totals in inches
Metric conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D 76 2 −5 63 4 −5 78 8 −1 95 16 5 96 22 11 97 27 16 93 29 19 90 28 18 100 24 14 91 18 8 86 11 3 76 5 −2 █Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █Precipitation totals in mm

Typical of theGreat Lakes region, Cleveland exhibits acontinental climatewith four distinct seasons, which lies in thehumid continental(KöppenDfa)^[125]zone. The climate is transitional with theCfahumid subtropical climate. Summers are hot and humid, while winters are cold and snowy. East of the mouth of the Cuyahoga, the land elevation rises rapidly in the south. Together with the prevailing winds off Lake Erie, this feature is the principal contributor to thelake-effect snowthat is typical in Cleveland (especially on the city's East Side) from mid-November until the surface of the lake freezes, usually in late January or early February. The lake effect causes a relative differential in geographical snowfall totals across the city. On the city's far West Side, the Hopkins neighborhood only reached 100 inches (254 cm) of snowfall in a season three times since record-keeping for snow began in 1893.^[126]By contrast, seasonal totals approaching or exceeding 100 inches (254 cm) are not uncommon as the city ascends into the Heights on the east, where the region known as the "Snow Belt" begins. Extending from the city's East Side and its suburbs, the Snow Belt reaches up the Lake Erie shore as far asBuffalo.^[127]

The all-time record high in Cleveland of 104 °F (40 °C) was established on June 25, 1988,^[128]and the all-time record low of −20 °F (−29 °C) was set on January 19, 1994.^[129]On average, July is the warmest month with a mean temperature of 74.5 °F (23.6 °C), and January, with a mean temperature of 29.1 °F (−1.6 °C), is the coldest. Normal yearlyprecipitationbased on the 30-year average from 1991 to 2020 is 41.03 inches (1,042 mm).^[130]The least precipitation occurs on the western side and directly along the lake, and the most occurs in the eastern suburbs. Parts ofGeauga Countyto the east receive over 44 inches (1,100 mm) of liquid precipitation annually.^[131]

Climate data for Cleveland
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Average sea temperature °F (°C)	34.0 (1.1)	33.2 (0.6)	33.5 (0.8)	40.6 (4.8)	50.5 (10.3)	66.5 (19.2)	76.2 (24.5)	76.3 (24.6)	71.2 (21.8)	62.0 (16.7)	50.5 (10.3)	39.3 (4.1)	52.8 (11.6)
Mean daily daylight hours	10.0	11.0	12.0	13.0	15.0	15.0	15.0	14.0	12.0	11.0	10.0	9.0	12.3
Source: Weather Atlas[135]

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1820	606	—
1830	1,075	+77.4%
1840	6,071	+464.7%
1850	17,034	+180.6%
1860	43,417	+154.9%
1870	92,829	+113.8%
1880	160,146	+72.5%
1890	261,353	+63.2%
1900	381,768	+46.1%
1910	560,663	+46.9%
1920	796,841	+42.1%
1930	900,429	+13.0%
1940	878,336	−2.5%
1950	914,808	+4.2%
1960	876,050	−4.2%
1970	750,903	−14.3%
1980	573,822	−23.6%
1990	505,616	−11.9%
2000	478,403	−5.4%
2010	396,815	−17.1%
2020	372,624	−6.1%
Source:United States Censusrecords andPopulation Estimates Programdata.[16][136][11]

Historical racial/ethnic composition

Race/ethnicity	2020[93]	2010[136]	1990[137]	1970[137]	1940[137]
White(non-Hispanic)	32.1%	33.4%	47.8%	59.4%[d]	90.2%
Black or African American(non-Hispanic)	47.5%	52.4%	46.6%	38.3%	9.6%
Hispanic or Latino	13.1%	10.0%	4.6%	1.9%[d]	0.1%
AsianandPacific Islander(non-Hispanic)	2.8%	1.8%	1.0%	0.2%	–
Native American(non-Hispanic)	0.2%	0.2%	0.3%	0.2%	–
Two or more races(non-Hispanic)	3.8%	1.8%	–	–	–

At the 2020census, there were 372,624 people and 170,549 households in Cleveland. The population density was 4,901.51 inhabitants per square mile (1,892.5/km²). The median household income was $30,907 and the per capita income was $21,223. 32.7% of the population was living below the poverty line. Of the city's population over the age of 25, 17.5% held a bachelor's degree or higher, and 80.8% had a high school diploma or equivalent.^[11]The median age was 36.6 years.^[138]

As of 2020^[update], the racial and ethnic composition of the city was 47.5% African American, 32.1%non-Hispanic white, 13.1%Hispanic or Latino, 2.8%AsianandPacific Islander, 0.2%Native American, and 3.8% fromtwo or more races.^[93]85.3% of Clevelanders age five and older spoke only English at home, while 14.7% spoke a language other than English, includingSpanish,Arabic,Chinese,Hungarian,Albanian, and variousSlavic languages(Russian,Polish,Serbian,Croatian, andSlovene).^[11]The city'sspoken accentis an advanced form ofInland Northern American English, similar to other Great Lakes cities, but distinctive from the rest of Ohio.^[139][140]

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, Cleveland saw a massive influx of immigrants from Ireland,Italy, and theAustro-Hungarian,German,Russian, andOttomanempires, most of whom were attracted by manufacturing jobs.^[15]As a result, Cleveland and Cuyahoga County today have substantial communities ofIrish(especially in West Park),Italians(especially in Little Italy),Germans, and severalCentral-Eastern European ethnicities, includingCzechs,Hungarians,Lithuanians,Poles,Romanians,Russians,Rusyns,Slovaks,Ukrainians, and ex-Yugoslavgroups, such asSlovenes,CroatsandSerbs.^[15]The presence ofHungarians within Cleveland properwas, at one time, so great that the city boasted the highest concentration of Hungarians in the world outside ofBudapest.^[141]Cleveland has a long-establishedJewish community, historically centered on the East Side neighborhoods of Glenville and Kinsman, but now mostly concentrated in East Side suburbs such as Cleveland Heights andBeachwood, location of theMaltz Museum of Jewish Heritage.^[142]

The availability of jobs attracted African Americans from the South. Between 1910 and 1970, the black population of Cleveland, largely concentrated on the city's East Side, increased significantly as a result of the First andSecond Great Migrations.^[48]Cleveland's Latino community consists primarily ofPuerto Ricans, as well as smaller numbers of immigrants fromMexico,Cuba, theDominican Republic,SouthandCentral America, andSpain.^[143]The city's Asian community, centered on historical Asiatown, consists ofChinese,Koreans,Vietnamese, and other groups.^[144]Additionally, the city and the county have significant communities ofAlbanians,^[145]Arabs(especiallyLebanese,Syrians, andPalestinians),^[146]Armenians,^[147]French,^[148]Greeks,^[149]Iranians,^[150]Scots,^[15]Turks,^[151]andWest Indians.^[15]A 2020 analysis found Cleveland to be the most ethnically and racially diverse major city in Ohio.^[152]

The influx of immigrants in the 19th and early 20th centuries drastically transformed Cleveland's religious landscape. From a homogeneous settlement of New EnglandProtestants, it evolved into a city with a diverse religious composition. The predominant faith among Clevelanders today isChristianity(Catholic, Protestant, andEasternandOriental Orthodox), withJewish,Muslim,Hindu, andBuddhistminorities.^[153]

Within Cleveland, the neighborhoods with the highest foreign-born populations are Asiatown/Goodrich–Kirtland Park (32.7%), Clark–Fulton (26.7%), West Boulevard (18.5%), Brooklyn Centre (17.3%), Downtown (17.2%), University Circle (15.9%, with 20% in Little Italy), and Jefferson (14.3%).^[154]Recent waves of immigration have brought new groups to Cleveland, includingEthiopiansandSouth Asians,^[155][156]as well as immigrants fromRussiaand theformer USSR,^[157][158]Southeast Europe(especiallyAlbania),^[145]theMiddle East,East Asia, andLatin America.^[15]In the 2010s, the immigrant population of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County began to see significant growth, becoming a major center for immigration in the Great Lakes region.^[159]A 2019 study found Cleveland to be the city with the shortest average processing time in the nation for immigrants to becomeU.S. citizens.^[160]The city's annual One World Day in Rockefeller Park includes a naturalization ceremony of new immigrants.^[161]

Cleveland's location on the Cuyahoga River and Lake Erie has been key to its growth as a major commercial center.^[17]Steel and many other manufactured goods emerged as leading industries.^[162][41]The city has since diversified its economy in addition to its manufacturing sector.^[17]

Established in 1914, theFederal Reserve Bank of Clevelandis one of 12 U.S.Federal Reserve Banks.^[163]Its downtown building, located on East 6th Street andSuperior Avenue, was completed in 1923 by the Cleveland architectural firmWalker and Weeks.^[164][165]The headquarters of the Federal Reserve System's Fourth District, the bank employs 1,000 people and maintains branch offices inCincinnatiandPittsburgh.^[163]ThepresidentandCEOisLoretta Mester.^[166]

Cleveland and Cuyahoga County are home toFortune 500companiesCleveland-Cliffs,Progressive,Sherwin-Williams,Parker-Hannifin,KeyCorp, andTravel Centers of America. Other large companies based in the city and the county includeAleris,American Greetings,Applied Industrial Technologies,Eaton,Forest City Realty Trust, Heinen's Fine Foods,Hyster-Yale Materials Handling,Lincoln Electric,Medical Mutual of Ohio,Moen Incorporated,NACCO Industries,Nordson Corporation,OM Group,Swagelok,Kirby Company,Things Remembered,Third Federal S&L,TransDigm Group, andVitamix.NASAmaintains theGlenn Research Centerin Cleveland.Jones Day, one of the largest law firms in the U.S., was founded in Cleveland in 1893.^[167]

Healthcare plays a major role in Cleveland's economy. The city's "Big Three" hospital systems are theCleveland Clinic,University Hospitals, andMetroHealth.^[168]The Cleveland Clinic is the largest private employer in the state of Ohio, with a workforce of over 55,000 as of 2022^[update].^[169]It carries the distinction of being one of the best hospital systems in the world.^[170]The clinic is led byCroatian-born president and CEO Tomislav Mihaljevic and it is affiliated withCase Western Reserve University School of Medicine.^[171]

University Hospitals includes the University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center and itsRainbow Babies & Children's Hospital. Cliff Megerian serves as that system's CEO.^[172]MetroHealth on the city's west side is led by president and CEO Airica Steed.^[173]Formerly known as City Hospital, it operates one of two Level I trauma centers in the city, and has various locations throughout Greater Cleveland.^[174][175]

In 2013, Cleveland'sGlobal Center for Health Innovationopened with 235,000 square feet (21,800 m²) of display space for healthcare companies across the world.^[176]To take advantage of the proximity of universities and other medical centers in Cleveland, theVeterans Administrationmoved the region's VA hospital from suburbanBrecksvilleto a new facility in University Circle.^[177]

Cleveland's Playhouse Square is the second largest performing arts center in the U.S. behind New York City'sLincoln Center.^[178]It includes theState,Palace,Allen,Hanna, andOhiotheaters.^[54]The theaters hostBroadway musicals, special concerts, speaking engagements, and other events throughout the year. Playhouse Square's resident performing arts companies includeCleveland Ballet, theCleveland International Film Festival, theCleveland Play House, Cleveland State University Department of Theatre and Dance, DANCECleveland, theGreat Lakes Theater Festival, and the Tri-C Jazz Fest.^[179]A city with strong traditions intheaterandvaudeville, Cleveland has produced many renowned performers, most prominently comedianBob Hope.^[180]

Outside Playhouse Square isKaramu House, the oldest African American theater in the nation, established in 1915.^[181]On the West Side, the Gordon Square Arts District in the Detroit–Shoreway neighborhood is the location of the Capitol Theatre, theNear West Theatre, and anOff-Off-Broadwayplayhouse, theCleveland Public Theatre.^[120]TheDobama Theatreand theBeck Center for the Artsare based in Cleveland's streetcar suburbs of Cleveland Heights and Lakewood respectively.^[182]

The Cleveland Orchestra is widely considered one of the world's finest orchestras, and often referred to as the finest in the nation.^[183]It is one of the "Big Five" major orchestras in the U.S.^[184]The orchestra plays atSeverance Hallin University Circle during the winter and atBlossom Music CenterinCuyahoga Fallsduring the summer.^[185]The city is also home to theCleveland Pops Orchestra, theCleveland Youth Orchestra, theContemporary Youth Orchestra, theCleveland Youth Wind Symphony, and the biennialCleveland International Piano Competitionwhich has, in the past, often featured the Cleveland Orchestra.^[186]

One Playhouse Square, now the headquarters for Cleveland'spublic broadcasters, was initially used as the broadcast studios of WJW (AM), where disc jockey Alan Freed first popularized the term "rock and roll".^[76]Beginning in the 1950s, Cleveland gained a strong reputation as a key breakout market for rock music.^[187]Its popularity in the city was so great that Billy Bass, the program director at theWMMSradio station, referred to Cleveland as "The Rock and Roll Capital of the World".^[187]TheCleveland Agora Theatre and Ballroomhas served as a major venue for rock concerts in the city since the 1960s.^[188]From 1974 through 1980, the city hosted theWorld Series of RockatCleveland Municipal Stadium.^[189]

Jazz and R&B have a long history in Cleveland. Many major figures in jazz performed in the city, includingLouis Armstrong,Cab Calloway,Duke Ellington,Ella Fitzgerald,Dizzy Gillespie, andBillie Holiday.^[190][191]Legendary pianistArt Tatumregularly played in Cleveland clubs in the 1930s,^[190]andgypsy jazzguitaristDjango Reinhardtgave his U.S. debut performance in Cleveland in 1946.^[192]Prominent jazz artistNoble Sisslewas a graduate ofCleveland Central High School, andArtie Shawworked and performed in Cleveland early in his career.^[190]The Tri-C Jazz Fest has been held annually in Cleveland at Playhouse Square since 1980, and the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra was established in 1984.^[193]

The city has a history ofpolkamusic being popular both past and present and is the location of thePolka Hall of Fame. There is even a subgenre calledCleveland-style polka, named after the city. The music's popularity is due in part to the success ofFrankie Yankovic, a Cleveland native who was considered "America's Polka King".^[194]

There is a significanthip hop musicscene in Cleveland. In 1997, the Cleveland hip hop groupBone Thugs-n-Harmonywon aGrammyfor their song "Tha Crossroads".^[195]

The first film shot in Cleveland was in 1897 by thecompanyof OhioanThomas Edison.^[196]BeforeHollywoodbecame the center forAmerican cinema, filmmaker Samuel R. Brodsky and playwright Robert H. McLaughlin operated a film studio at theAndrewsmansion on Euclid Avenue (now theWEWS-TVstudio).^[197]There they produced majorsilent-erafeatures, such asDangerous Toys(1921), which are now consideredlost. Brodsky also directed the weeklyPlain Dealer Screen Magazinethat ran in theaters in Cleveland and Ohio from 1917 to 1924.^[196]In addition, Cleveland hosted over a dozensponsored filmstudios, includingCinécraft Productions, which still operates in Ohio City.^[196][198]

In the "talkie" era, Cleveland featured in severalmajor studiofilms, such asMichael Curtiz'spre-CodeclassicGoodbye Again(1933) withWarren WilliamandJoan Blondell. Players from the1948 Cleveland Indiansappeared inThe Kid from Cleveland(1949).Billy Wilder'sThe Fortune Cookie(1966) was set and filmed in the city and marked the first onscreen pairing ofWalter MatthauandJack Lemmon. Labor struggles in Cleveland were depicted inNative Land(1942), narrated byPaul Robeson, and inNorman Jewison'sF.I.S.T.(1978) withSylvester Stallone. ClevelanderJim Jarmusch'sStranger Than Paradise(1984) – adeadpancomedy about two New Yorkers who travel toFloridaby way of Cleveland – was a favorite of theCannes Film Festival.Major League(1989) reflected theperennial strugglesof the Cleveland Indians, whileAmerican Splendor(2003) reflected the life of Cleveland graphic novelistHarvey Pekar.Kill the Irishman(2011) depicted the 1970s turf war betweenDanny Greeneand the Cleveland crime family.^[196]

Cleveland has doubled for other locations in films. The wedding and reception scenes inThe Deer Hunter(1978), while set in suburban Pittsburgh, were shot in Cleveland's Tremont neighborhood.A Christmas Story(1983) was set inIndiana, but drew many external shots from Cleveland. The opening shots ofAir Force One(1997) were filmed in and above Severance Hall, andJudas and the Black Messiah(2021) was filmed in Cleveland, although set inChicago. Downtown Cleveland doubled forManhattaninSpider-Man 3(2007),The Avengers(2012), andThe Fate of the Furious(2017). Future productions are handled by theGreater Cleveland Film Commissionat theLeader Buildingon Superior Avenue.^[196]Cleveland was a filming location forJames Gunn'sSuperman(2025), serving as parts ofMetropolis.^[199]

In television, the city is the setting for the popular network sitcomThe Drew Carey Show, starring Cleveland nativeDrew Carey.^[200]Hot in Cleveland, a comedy that aired onTV Land, premiered on June 16, 2010, and ran for six seasons until its finale on June 3, 2015.^[201][202]Cleveland Hustles, theCNBCreality show co-created byLeBron James, was filmed in the city.^[120]

Cleveland has a thriving literary and poetry community, with regular poetry readings at bookstores, coffee shops, and various other venues.^[203]In 1925,Russian FuturistpoetVladimir Mayakovskycame to Cleveland and gave a poetryrecitationto the city's ethnic working class, as part of his trip to America.^[204][205]TheCleveland State University Poetry Centerserves as an academic center for poetry in the city.^[206]

Langston Hughes, preeminent poet of theHarlem Renaissanceand child of an itinerant couple, lived in Cleveland as a teenager and attended Central High School in Cleveland in the 1910s.^[207]At Central High, the young writer was taught byHelen Maria Chesnutt, daughter of Cleveland-born African American novelistCharles W. Chesnutt.^[208]Hughes authored some of his earliest poems, plays, and short stories in Cleveland and contributed to the school newspaper.^[209]The African American avant-garde poetRussell Atkinslived in the city as well.^[210]

The American modernist poetHart Cranewas born in nearbyGarrettsville, Ohioin 1899. His adolescence was divided between Cleveland and Akron before he moved to New York City in 1916. Aside from factory work duringWorld War I, he served as a reporter toThe Plain Dealerfor a short period, before achieving recognition in theModernistliterary scene.^[211]On the Case Western Reserve University campus, a statue of Crane, designed by sculptorWilliam McVey, stands behind the Kelvin Smith Library.^[212]

Cleveland was the home ofJoe ShusterandJerry Siegel, who created the comic book characterSupermanin 1932.^[213]Both attendedGlenville High School, and their early collaborations resulted in the creation of "The Man of Steel".^[214]Harlan Ellison, noted author ofspeculative fiction, was born in Cleveland in 1934; his family subsequently moved to nearbyPainesville, though Ellison moved back to Cleveland in 1949. As a young man, he published a series of short stories appearing in theCleveland News, and performed in a number of productions for the Cleveland Play House.^[215]

Cleveland is the site of theAnisfield-Wolf Book Award, established by poet and philanthropistEdith Anisfield Wolfin 1935, which recognizes books that have made important contributions to the understanding of racism and human diversity.^[216]Presented by theCleveland Foundation, it remains the only American book prize focusing on works that address racism and diversity.^[217]

Cleveland has two mainart museums. TheCleveland Museum of Artis a major American art museum, with a collection that includes more than 60,000 works of art ranging fromancient masterpiecestocontemporary pieces.^[218]TheMuseum of Contemporary Art Clevelandshowcases established and emerging artists, particularly from the Cleveland area, through hosting and producing temporary exhibitions.^[219]Both museums offer free admission to visitors, with the Cleveland Museum of Art declaring their museum free and open "for the benefit of all the people forever."^[220][219]

The two museums are part of Cleveland'sUniversity Circle, a 550-acre (2.2 km²) concentration of cultural, educational, and medical institutions located 5 miles (8.0 km) east of downtown. In addition to the art museums, the neighborhood includes theCleveland Botanical Garden, Case Western Reserve University, University Hospitals,Severance Hall, theMaltz Performing Arts Center, theCleveland Museum of Natural History, and theWestern Reserve Historical Society. Also located at University Circle is theCleveland Cinemathequeat the Cleveland Institute of Art.^[221]

TheI. M. Pei-designedRock and Roll Hall of Fameis located on Cleveland's Lake Erie waterfront at North Coast Harbor downtown. Neighboring attractions includeCleveland Browns Stadium, theGreat Lakes Science Center, theSteamship Mather Museum, theInternational Women's Air & Space Museum, and theUSSCod, a World War IIsubmarine. Designed by architectLevi T. Scofield, the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument at Public Square is Cleveland's major Civil War memorial and a major attraction in the city.^[36]Other city attractions includeGrays Armoryand theChildren's Museum of Cleveland.^[222][223]A Cleveland holiday attraction, especially for fans ofJean Shepherd'sA Christmas Story, is theChristmas Story House and Museumin Tremont.^[224]

Cleveland hosts the WinterLand holiday display lighting festival annually at Public Square,^[225]and theCleveland International Film Festivalhas been held in the city since 1977.^[226]TheCleveland National Air Show, an indirect successor to the National Air Races, has been held at the city'sBurke Lakefront Airportsince 1964.^[227]The Great Lakes Burning River Fest, a two-night music and beer festival at Whiskey Island, has been sponsored by the Great Lakes Brewing Company since 2001.^[228]

Many ethnic festivals are held in Cleveland throughout the year. These include the annualFeast of the Assumptionin Little Italy,^[229]RussianMaslenitsain Rockefeller Park,^[230]the Puerto Rican Parade and Cultural Festival in Clark–Fulton,^[231]the Cleveland Asian Festival in Asiatown,^[232]the Tremont Greek Fest,^[233]and the St. Mary Romanian Festival in West Park.^[234]Cleveland also hosts annual PolishDyngus Dayand SloveneKurentovanjecelebrations.^[235][236]The city's annualSaint Patrick's Dayparade brings hundreds of thousands to the streets of Downtown.^[237]TheCleveland Thyagaraja Festivalheld each spring at Cleveland State University is the largestIndianclassical music and dance festival in the world outside ofIndia.^[238]Since 1946, the city has annually marked One World Day in theCleveland Cultural Gardensin Rockefeller Park, celebrating all of its ethnic communities.^[161]

Cleveland's mosaic of ethnic communities and their various culinary traditions have long played an important role in defining the city's cuisine. Local mainstays include an abundance of Slavic, Hungarian, and Central-Eastern European contributions, such askielbasa,stuffed cabbage,pierogies,goulash, andchicken paprikash.German,Irish,Jewish, andItalian Americancuisines are also prominent in Cleveland, as areLebanese,Greek,Chinese,Puerto Rican,Mexican, and numerous other ethnic cuisines. Vendors at theWest Side Marketin Ohio City offer many ethnic foods for sale.^[239]In addition, the city boasts a vibrantbarbecueandsoul foodscene.^[240]

Cleveland has plenty ofcorned beef, with nationally renowned Slyman's Deli, on the near East Side, a perennial winner of various accolades for its celebrated sandwich.^[241]Another famed sandwich, thePolish Boy, is a popularstreet foodand Cleveland original frequently sold at downtownhot dog cartsand stadium concession stands.^[242]With itsblue-collarroots well intact, and plenty of Lake Erieperchavailable, the tradition of Friday nightfish friesremains alive and thriving in Cleveland, particularly in ethnic parish-based settings, especially during the season ofLent.^[243]For dessert, the ClevelandCassata Cakeis a unique treat invented in the local Italian community and served in Italian establishments throughout the city.^[244]Another popular dessert, the locally crafted Russian Tea Biscuit, is common in many Jewish bakeries in Cleveland.^[245]

Cleveland is noted in the world of celebrity food culture. Famous local figures include chefMichael Symonand food writerMichael Ruhlman, both of whom achieved local and national attention for their contributions to the culinary world. In 2007, Symon helped gain the spotlight when he was named "The Next Iron Chef" on theFood Network. That same year, Ruhlman collaborated withAnthony Bourdain, to do an episode of hisAnthony Bourdain: No Reservationsfocusing on Cleveland's restaurant scene.^[246]

Ohio produces the fifth most beer in the U.S., with its largest brewery being Cleveland'sGreat Lakes Brewing Company.^[247]Cleveland has had a long history of brewing, tied to many of its ethnic immigrants, and has reemerged as a regional leader in production.^[248]Dozens of breweries exist in the city limits, including large producers such asMarket Garden BreweryandPlatform Beer Company.

Breweries can be found throughout the city, but the highest concentration is in the Ohio City neighborhood.^[249]Cleveland hosts expansions from other countries as well, including the ScottishBrewDogand GermanHofbrauhaus.^[250][251]

Cleveland's major professional sports teams are theCleveland Guardians(Major League Baseball), theCleveland Browns(National Football League), and theCleveland Cavaliers(National Basketball Association). Other professional teams include theCleveland Monsters(American Hockey League), theCleveland Charge(NBA G League), theCleveland Crunch(Major League Indoor Soccer),Cleveland SC(National Premier Soccer League), and theCleveland Fusion(Women's Football Alliance). Local sporting venues includeProgressive Field,Cleveland Browns Stadium,Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, theWolstein Center, and thePublic Auditorium.

Major League

Club	Sport	League	Venue	Est. in CLE	Championships (in Cleveland)
Cleveland Browns	Football	National Football League	Cleveland Browns Stadium	1946	8 (4AAFC, 4NFL)
Cleveland Cavaliers	Basketball	National Basketball Association	Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse	1970	1
Cleveland Guardians	Baseball	Major League Baseball	Progressive Field	1901	2

Minor League

Club	Sport	League	Venue	Est. in CLE	Championships (in Cleveland)
Cleveland Charge	Basketball	NBA G League	Public Auditorium	2021	0
Cleveland Monsters	Ice hockey	American Hockey League	Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse	2007	1
Cleveland Crunch	Indoor Soccer	Major League Indoor Soccer	I-X Center	1989	5 (3NPSL, 1M2, 1MLIS)
Cleveland Pro Soccer	Soccer	MLS Next Pro	TBA	2022	0

The Cleveland Guardians – known as the Indians from 1915 to 2021 – won theWorld Seriesin1920and1948. They also won theAmerican Leaguepennant, making the World Series in the1954,1995,1997, and2016 seasons. Between1995and2001, Jacobs Field (now known as Progressive Field) sold out 455 consecutive games, a Major League Baseball record until it was broken in 2008.^[252]

Historically, the Browns have been among the most successful franchises inAmerican footballhistory, winning eight titles during a short period of time –1946,1947,1948,1949,1950,1954,1955, and1964. The Browns have never played in aSuper Bowl, getting close five times by making it to theNFL/AFC Championship Gamein1968,1969,1986,1987, and1989. Former ownerArt Modell'srelocation of the Brownsafter the1995 season(toBaltimorecreating theRavens), caused tremendous heartbreak and resentment among local fans.^[253]Cleveland mayor,Michael R. White, worked with the NFL and CommissionerPaul Tagliabueto bring back the Browns beginning in the1999 season, retaining all team history.^[254]In Cleveland's earlier football history, theCleveland Bulldogswon theNFL Championshipin1924,^[255]and theCleveland Ramswon the NFL Championship in1945before relocating toLos Angeles.^[256]

The Cavaliers won theEastern Conferencein2007,2015,2016,2017and2018but were defeated in theNBA Finalsby theSan Antonio Spursandthen bythe Golden State Warriors, respectively. The Cavs won the Conference again in 2016 and won their first NBA Championship coming back from a 3–1 deficit, finally defeating theGolden State Warriors. Afterwards, over 1.3 million people attended a parade held in the Cavs' honor on June 22, 2016, in Downtown Cleveland.^[257]Previously, theCleveland Rosenblumsdominated the originalAmerican Basketball League,^[258]and theCleveland Pipers, owned byGeorge Steinbrenner, won theAmerican Basketball Leaguechampionship in 1962.^[259]

TheCleveland Monstersof theAmerican Hockey Leaguewon the2016 Calder Cup. They were the first Cleveland AHL team to do so since the1964Barons.^[260]

Club	Sport	League	Venue
Cleveland State Vikings	19 Varsity (8 men's, 10 women's, 1 co-ed)	NCAA Division I (Horizon League)	various – including: Krenzler Field(soccer) Wolstein Center(men'sandwomen'sbasketball) Woodling Gym(wrestling and volleyball)
Case Western Reserve Spartans	17 Varsity (9 men's, 8 women's)	NCAA Division III (University Athletic Association)	various – including: DiSanto Field(football, soccer) Veale Athletic Center (men's and women's basketball)

Collegiately, NCAA Division ICleveland State Vikingshave 19 varsity sports, nationally known for theirCleveland State Vikings men's basketballteam.^[261]NCAA Division IIICase Western Reserve Spartanshave 17 varsity sports, most known for theirCase Western Reserve Spartans footballteam.^[262]The headquarters of theMid-American Conference(MAC) are in Cleveland. The conference stages both itsmen'sandwomen'sbasketball tournaments at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.^[263]

TheCleveland Marathonhas been hosted annually since 1978,^[264]and a monument commemorating one of Cleveland's most prominenttrack and fieldathletes,Jesse Owens, stands at the city's Fort Huntington Park.^[265]The secondAmerican Chess Congress, a predecessor to theU.S. Championship, was held in Cleveland in 1871, and won byGeorge Henry Mackenzie.^[266]The 1921 and 1957U.S. Open Chess Championshipstook place in the city, and were won byEdward LaskerandBobby Fischer, respectively. TheCleveland Openis held annually.^[267]In 2014, Cleveland hosted the ninth officialGay Gamesceremony.^[268]In July 2024, the city will host thePan American Masters Games.^[269]

Known locally as the "Emerald Necklace", theOlmsted-inspiredCleveland Metroparksencircle Cleveland and Cuyahoga County. The city proper encompasses the Metroparks' Brookside and Lakefront Reservations, as well as significant parts of the Rocky River, Washington, and Euclid Creek Reservations. The Lakefront Reservation, which provides public access to Lake Erie, consists of four parks: Edgewater Park,Whiskey Island–Wendy Park, East 55th Street Marina, andGordon Park.^[270]

Three more parks fall under the jurisdiction of the Euclid Creek Reservation: Euclid Beach, Villa Angela, and Wildwood Marina.^[271]Further south, bike and hiking trails in theBrecksvilleand Bedford Reservations, along with Garfield Park, provide access to trails in theCuyahoga Valley National Park.^[272]Also included in the Metroparks system is theCleveland Metroparks Zoo, established in 1882. Located in Big Creek Valley, the zoo has one of the largest collections ofprimatesin North America.^[273]

In addition to the Metroparks, theCleveland Public Parks Districtoversees the city's neighborhood parks, the largest of which is the historicRockefeller Park. The latter is notable for its late 19th century landmark bridges, the Rockefeller Park Greenhouse, and theCleveland Cultural Gardens, which celebrate the city's ethnic diversity.^[274][161]Just outside of Rockefeller Park, theCleveland Botanical Gardenin University Circle, established in 1930, is the oldest civic garden center in the nation.^[275]In addition, theGreater Cleveland Aquarium, located in the historic FirstEnergy Powerhouse in theFlats, is the only independent, free-standing aquarium in the state of Ohio.^[276]

Cleveland operates on amayor–council (strong mayor)form of government, in which the mayor is thechief executiveand the city council serves as the legislative branch. City council members are elected from 17wardsto four-year terms. From 1924 to 1931, the city briefly experimented with acouncil–manager governmentunderWilliam R. HopkinsandDaniel E. Morganbefore returning to the mayor–council system.^[277]

Cleveland is served by Cleveland Municipal Court, the first municipal court in the state.^[278]The city also anchors theU.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, based at theCarl B. Stokes U.S. Courthouseand the historicHoward M. Metzenbaum U.S. Courthouse. The Chief Judge for the Northern District isSara Elizabeth Lioiand the Clerk of Court is Sandy Opacich.^[279]The U.S. Attorney isRebecca C. Lutzkoand the U.S. Marshal is Peter Elliott.^[280][281]

The office of the mayor has been held byJustin Bibbsince 2022.^[282]Previous mayors include progressive Democrat Tom L. Johnson,World War I-eraWar SecretaryandBakerHostetlerfounderNewton D. Baker,U.S. Supreme CourtJusticeHarold Hitz Burton, two-term Ohio Governor and SenatorFrank J. Lausche, former U.S. Health, Education, and Welfare SecretaryAnthony J. Celebrezze, two-term Ohio Governor and Senator George V. Voinovich, former U.S. Congressman Dennis Kucinich, andCarl B. Stokes, the first African American mayor of a major U.S. city.Frank G. Jacksonwas the city's longest-serving mayor.^[283]

The President of Cleveland City Council is Blaine Griffin, the councilMajority Leaderis Kerry McCormack, and theMajority WhipisJasmin Santana.^[284]Patricia Britt serves as the Clerk of Council.^[285]

Historically, from the Civil War era to the 1940s, Cleveland had been dominated by theRepublican Party, with the notable exceptions of the Johnson and Baker mayoral administrations.^[277]Businessman and SenatorMark Hannawas among Cleveland's most influential Republican figures, both locally and nationally.^[286]Another nationally prominent Ohio Republican, former U.S. PresidentJames A. Garfield, was born in Cuyahoga County'sOrange Township(today the Cleveland suburb ofMoreland Hills). His resting place is theJames A. Garfield Memorialin Cleveland'sLake View Cemetery.^[287]

Today Cleveland is a major stronghold for theDemocratic Partyin Ohio. Although local elections are nonpartisan, Democrats still dominate every level of government.^[277]Politically, Cleveland and several of its neighboring suburbs compriseOhio's11th congressional district. The district is represented byShontel Brown, one of five Democrats representing the state of Ohio in theU.S. House of Representatives.^[288]

Cleveland has hosted three Republicannational conventions, in1924,1936, and2016.^[289]Additionally, the city hosted the Radical Republicanconvention of 1864.^[290]Although Cleveland has not hosted a national convention for the Democrats, it has hosted several national election debates, including thesecond 1980 U.S. presidential debate, the2004 U.S. vice presidential debate, one2008 Democratic primary debate, and thefirst 2020 U.S. presidential debate.^[291]Founded in 1912, theCity Club of Clevelandprovides a platform for national and local debates and discussions. Known as Cleveland's "Citadel of Free Speech", it is one of the oldest continuous independent free speech and debate forums in the country.^[292][293]

Like in other major American cities, crime in Cleveland is concentrated in areas with higher rates of poverty and lower access to jobs.^[294][295]In recent decades, the rate of crime in the city, although higher than the national average, experienced a significant decline, following a nationwide trend in falling crime rates.^[294][296]However, as in other major U.S. cities, crime in Cleveland saw an abrupt rise in 2020–21.^[297]

Cleveland's law enforcement agency is the Cleveland Division of Police, established in 1866.^[298]The division had 1,400 sworn officers as of 2022,^[299]covering five police districts.^[300]The district system was introduced in the 1930s by Cleveland Public Safety DirectorEliot Ness(of theUntouchables), who laterran for mayor of Clevelandin 1947.^[298][301]TheChief of Policeis Dorothy A. Todd.^[302]In addition, theCuyahoga County Sheriff's Officeis based in Downtown Cleveland at theJustice Center Complex.^[303]

Cleveland is served by thefirefightersof the Cleveland Division of Fire, established in 1863.^[304]The fire department operates out of 22 active fire stations throughout the city in five battalions. Each Battalion is commanded by a Battalion Chief, who reports to an on-duty Assistant Chief.^[305][306]

The Division of Fire operates afire apparatusfleet of twenty-two engine companies, eight ladder companies, three tower companies, two task forcerescue squadcompanies, hazardous materials ("haz-mat") unit, and numerous other special, support, and reserve units. TheChief of Departmentis Anthony Luke.^[307]

Cleveland EMS is operated by the city as its own municipal third-service EMS division. Cleveland EMS is the primary provider ofAdvanced Life Supportand ambulance transport within the city of Cleveland, while Cleveland Fire assists by providing fire response medical care.^[308]Although a merger between the fire and EMS departments was proposed in the past, the idea was subsequently abandoned.^[309]

Cleveland serves as headquarters toCoast Guard District 9and is responsible for allU.S. Coast Guardoperations on the five Great Lakes, the Saint Lawrence Seaway, and surrounding states accumulating 6,700 miles of shoreline and 1,500 miles of international shoreline with Canada. It reports up through theU.S. Department of Homeland Security. Station Cleveland Harbor, located in North Coast Harbor, has a responsibility covering about 550 square miles of the federally navigable waters of Lake Erie, including the Cuyahoga andRockyrivers, as well as a number of their tributaries.^[310]

TheCleveland Metropolitan School Districtis the second-largestK–12district in the state of Ohio. It is the only district in Ohio under the direct control of the mayor, who appoints aschool board.^[311]Approximately 1 square mile (2.6 km²) of Cleveland's Buckeye–Shaker neighborhood is part of theShaker Heights City School District. The area, which has been a part of the Shaker school district since the 1920s, permits these Cleveland residents to pay the same school taxes as the Shaker residents, as well as vote in the Shaker school board elections.^[312]

There are several private and parochial schools in Cleveland.^[313]These includeBenedictine High School,Cleveland Central Catholic High School,Eleanor Gerson School,St. Ignatius High School,St. Joseph Academy,Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School, andSt. Martin de Porres.

Cleveland is home to a number of colleges and universities. Most prominent among them isCase Western Reserve University(CWRU), a widely recognized research and teaching institution based inUniversity Circlewith several major graduate programs.^[314]

University Circle also contains theCleveland Institute of Artand theCleveland Institute of Music. Downtown Cleveland is home toCleveland State University, a public research university with eight constituent colleges, and the metropolitan campus ofCuyahoga Community College.Ohio Technical Collegeis also based in Cleveland.^[315]Cleveland's suburban universities and colleges includeBaldwin Wallace UniversityinBerea,John Carroll UniversityinUniversity Heights, andUrsuline CollegeinPepper Pike.^[314]

Established in 1869,^[316]the Cleveland Public Library is one of thelargest public librariesin the nation with a collection of over 10 million materials in 2021.^[317]ItsJohn G. WhiteSpecial Collection includes the largestchess libraryin the world,^[318]as well as a significant collection offolkloreand rare books on the Middle East andEurasia.^[319][320]The library's main building was designed by Walker and Weeks and dedicated in 1925,^[321]under head librarianLinda Eastman, the first woman to lead a major library system in the U.S.^[322]Between 1904 and 1920, 15librariesbuilt with funds fromAndrew Carnegiewere opened in the city.^[323]Known as the "People's University", the library presently maintains 27 branches.^[324]It serves as the headquarters for theCLEVNETlibrary consortium, which includes 47 public library systems in Northeast Ohio.^[325]

Cleveland's primary daily newspaper isThe Plain Dealerand its associated online publication,Cleveland.com.^[326]Defunct major newspapers include theCleveland Press, an afternoon paper which printed its last edition in 1982;^[327]and theCleveland News, which ceased publication in 1960.^[328]Additional publications includeCleveland Magazine, a regional culture magazine published monthly;^[329]Crain's Cleveland Business, a weekly business newspaper;^[330]andCleveland Scene, a freealternative weeklypaper which absorbed its competitor, theCleveland Free Times, in 2008.^[331]The digitalBelt Magazinewas founded in Cleveland in 2013.^[332]Timemagazine was published in Cleveland from 1925 to 1927.^[333]

Several ethnic publications are based in Cleveland. These include theCall and Post, a weekly newspaper that primarily serves the city's African American community;^[334]theCleveland Jewish News, a weeklyJewish newspaper;^[335]the bi-weeklyRussian-languageCleveland Russian Magazine;^[336]theMandarinErie Chinese Journal;^[337]La Gazzetta Italianain English andItalian;^[338]theOhio Irish American News;^[339]and theSpanish languageVocero Latino News.^[340]

The Cleveland-areatelevision marketis served by 11 full power stations, includingWKYC(NBC),WEWS-TV(ABC),WJW(Fox),WDLI-TV(Scripps News),WOIO(CBS),WVPX-TV(Ion),WVIZ(PBS),WUAB(CW),WRLM(TCT),WBNX-TV(independent), andWQHS-DT(Univision). As of 2021,^[update]the market, which includes theAkronandCantonareas, was the 19th-largest in the country, as measured byNielsen Media Research.^[341]

The Mike Douglas Show, a nationallysyndicateddaytime talk show, began in Cleveland in 1961 on KYW-TV (now WKYC),^[342]whileThe Morning Exchangeon WEWS-TV served as the model forGood Morning America.^[343]Tim ConwayandErnie Andersonfirst established themselves in Cleveland while working together at KYW-TV and later WJW-TV (now WJW). Anderson both created and performed as the immensely popular Cleveland horror hostGhoulardion WJW-TV'sShock Theater, and was later succeeded by the long-runninglate nightduoBig Chuck and Lil' John.^[344]Another Anderson protégé –Ron Sweed– would become a popular Cleveland late night movie host in his own right as "The Ghoul".^[345]

Cleveland is directly served by 28 full powerAMandFMradio stations, 21 of which are licensed to the city. Musicstations– which are frequently the highest-rated in the market – includeWQAL(hot adult contemporary),WDOK(adult contemporary),WFHM(Christian contemporary),WAKS(contemporary hits),WHLK(adult hits),WMJI(classic hits),WMMS(active rock/hot talk),WNCX(classic rock),WNWV(alternative rock),WGAR-FM(country),WZAK(urban adult contemporary),WENZ(mainstream urban),WJMO(urban gospel), andWCLV(classical).^{[346][347][348]}WMMS also serves as the FM flagship for theCleveland Cavaliersand theCleveland Guardians, while WNCX is an FM flagship for theCleveland Browns.

News/talkstations includeWHK,WTAM, andWERE. During theGolden Age of Radio, WHK was the first radio station to broadcast in Ohio, and one of the first in the country.^[349][350]WTAM is the AMflagshipfor both the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Cleveland Guardians.^[351][352]Sports stations includeWKNR(ESPN),WARF(Fox) andWKRK-FM(Infinity), with WKNR and WKRK-FM serving as co-flagship stations for the Cleveland Browns, and WARF airing the Cleveland Monsters and – though primarily an English language station – Spanish broadcasts of Cleveland Guardians home games.^{[353][354][355]}Religiousstations includeWHKW,WCCR, andWCRF.

As the regionalNPRaffiliate,WKSUserves all of Northeast Ohio (including both the Cleveland and Akron markets).^[356]Collegestations includeWBWC(Baldwin Wallace),WCSB(Cleveland State),WJCU(John Carroll), andWRUW-FM(Case Western Reserve).^[347]

Cleveland has a bus and railmass transitsystem operated by the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA). Therailportion is officially called theRTA Rapid Transit, but local residents refer to it asThe Rapid. It consists of threelight raillines, known as theBlue,Green, andWaterfront Lines, and aheavy railline, theRed Line. In 2008, RTA completed theHealthLine, abus rapid transitline, for which naming rights were purchased by the Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals. It runs along Euclid Avenue from downtown through University Circle, ending at theLouis Stokes Station at Windermerein East Cleveland.^[357]In 1968, Cleveland became the first city in the nation to have a direct rail transit connection linking the city's downtown to its major airport.^[73]

In 2021,Walk Scoreranked Cleveland the 17th most walkable of the 50 largest cities in the U.S., with a Walk Score of 57, a Transit Score of 45, and a Bike Score of 55 (out of a maximum of 100). Cleveland's most walkable areas can be found in the Downtown, Ohio City, Detroit–Shoreway, University Circle, and Buckeye–Shaker neighborhoods.^[358]Like other major cities, the urban density of Cleveland reduces the need for private vehicle ownership. In 2016, 23.7% of Cleveland households lacked a car, while the national average was 8.7%. Cleveland averaged 1.19 cars per household in 2016, compared to a national average of 1.8.^[359]

Cleveland's road system consists of numbered streets running roughly north–south, and named avenues, which run roughly east–west. The numbered streets are designated "east" or "west", depending on where they lie in relation to Ontario Street, which bisects Public Square.^[360]The two downtown avenues which span the Cuyahoga change names on the west side of the river. Superior Avenue becomes Detroit Avenue on the West Side, and Carnegie Avenue becomes Lorain Avenue. The bridges that make these connections are theHope Memorial (Lorain–Carnegie) Bridgeand theVeterans Memorial (Detroit–Superior) Bridge.^[361][362]

Cleveland is served by three two-digitinterstate highways–Interstate 71,Interstate 77, andInterstate 90– and by two three-digit interstates –Interstate 480andInterstate 490. Running due east–west through the West Side suburbs, I-90 turns northeast at the junction with I-490, and is known as the Cleveland Inner Belt.^[363]TheCleveland Memorial ShorewaycarriesOhio State Route 2along its length, and at varying points carriesUS 6,US 20and I-90.^[364]At the junction with the Shoreway, I-90 makes a 90-degree turn in the area known asDead Man's Curve, then continues northeast.^[365]The Jennings Freeway (State Route 176) connects I-71 just south of I-90 to I-480.^[363]A third highway, the Berea Freeway (State Route 237in part), connects I-71 to the airport and forms part of the boundary between Brook Park and Cleveland's Hopkins neighborhood.^[366]

Cleveland is a major North American air market, serving 4.93 million people.^[13]Cleveland Hopkins International Airportis the city's primary major airport and aninternational airportthat serves the broader region. Originally known as Cleveland Municipal Airport, it was the first municipally owned airport in the country.^[367]Cleveland Hopkins is a significant regional air freight hub hostingFedEx Express,UPS Airlines,U.S. Postal Service, and major commercial freight carriers. In addition to Hopkins, Cleveland is served byBurke Lakefront Airport, on the north shore of downtown between Lake Erie and the Shoreway. Burke is primarily a commuter and business airport.^[368]

ThePort of Cleveland, at the Cuyahoga River's mouth, is a major bulk freight and container terminal on Lake Erie, receiving much of the raw materials used by the region's manufacturing industries.^[369]The Port of Cleveland is the only container port on the Great Lakes with bi-weekly container service between Cleveland and thePort of AntwerpinBelgiumon aDutchservice called the Cleveland-Europe Express.^[370]In addition to freight, the Port of Cleveland welcomes regional and international tourists who pass through the city onGreat Lakes cruises.^[371]

Cleveland has a longhistoryas a major railroad hub in North America. Today,Amtrakprovides service to Cleveland, via theCapitol LimitedandLake Shore Limitedroutes, which stop atCleveland Lakefront Station. Additionally, Cleveland hosts several inter-modal freight railroad terminals, for Norfolk Southern, CSX and several smaller companies.^[372][373]

Nationalintercity busservice is provided byGreyhoundat thestationlocated behind Playhouse Square.^[374]Akron Metro,Brunswick Transit Alternative,Laketran,Lorain County Transit, andMedina County Transitprovide connecting bus service to the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority.Geauga County TransitandPortage Area Regional Transportation Authority (PARTA)also offer connecting bus service in their neighboring areas.^[375]

Cleveland maintains cultural, economic, and educational ties with 28sister citiesaround the world. It concluded its first sister city partnership withLima,Peru, in 1964.^[376]In addition, Cleveland hosts theConsulate Generalof theRepublic of Slovenia, which, until Slovene independence in 1991, served as an official consulate forTito'sYugoslavia.^[377]The Cleveland Clinic operates theCleveland Clinic Abu Dhabihospital, two outpatient clinics inToronto, and a hospital campus inLondon.^[378]The Cleveland Council on World Affairs was established in 1923.^[379]

Historically, Cleveland industrialistCyrus S. Eaton, an apprentice ofJohn D. Rockefeller, played a significant role in promoting dialogue between the U.S. and theSoviet Unionduring theCold War.^[380]In October 1915 at Cleveland'sBohemian National Hall, Czech American and Slovak American representatives signed theCleveland Agreement, calling for the formation of ajoint Czech and Slovak state.^[381]

Sister cities of Cleveland[376]

Alexandria(Egypt)1977 Bahir Dar(Ethiopia)2004 Bangalore(India)1975 Beit She'an(Israel)2019 Brașov(Romania)1973 Bratislava(Slovakia)1990 Bursa(Turkey)2023 Cape Town(South Africa)2023 Cleveland(United Kingdom)1977 Conakry(Guinea)1991 Fier(Albania)2006 Gdańsk(Poland)1990 Heidenheim an der Brenz(Germany)1977 Holon(Israel)1977 Ibadan(Nigeria)1974 Kigali(Rwanda)2023 Klaipėda(Lithuania)1992 Lima(Peru)1964 Ljubljana(Slovenia)1975 Mayo(Ireland)2003 Miskolc(Hungary)1995 Novi Sad(Serbia)2023 Rouen(France)2008 Segundo Montes(El Salvador)1991 Taipei(Taiwan)1975 Tema(Ghana)2023 Vicenza(Italy)2009 Volgograd(Russia)1990

• List of people from Cleveland
• List of references to Cleveland in popular culture
• USSCleveland, 4 ships

• Official website
• Destination Cleveland, official tourism website
• Greater Cleveland Partnership
• ClevelandatCurlie
• The Encyclopedia of Cleveland HistoryatCase Western Reserve University
• Cleveland HistoricalatCleveland State University
• Cleveland Memory Projectat Cleveland State University