Cleveland, Ohio, History

With a population of 500,000 people, Cleveland, Ohio is the second largest city in the state. It is located on the southern banks of Lake Erie at the mouth of the Cuyahoga River. It is known as the “Rock'n'Roll City,” because the term rock'n roll was first coined there. With its rich cultural history, Cleveland remains a great place to visit for anyone looking for a unique big-city experience.

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Cleveland History continued...

Cleveland was founded in 1796. It was then that General Moses Cleaveland arrived in Ohio from the Connecticut Land Company. A 500,000 acre piece of land on the shores of Lake Erie was named New Connecticut. Then, in 1797, Lorenzo Carter arrived in Cleveland and became the village's first permanent settler. He also built a log cabin on the east bank of the Cuyahoga River. The cabin served as the village's jail and inn. In 1814, the village received its charter. During this time, the village began to grow as a productive port. Then, in 1825, construction began on the Erie Canal. In 1834, the spelling of the city's name was changed. The name was changed from Cleaveland, to Cleveland, in order to fit the name on newspaper masthead. Then the Erie Canal opened, allowing a waterway between Lake Erie, the Ohio River and all ports to the south. This caused Cleveland to experience a massive growth spurt. In 1836, Cleveland was incorporated as an official city and John Willey was elected as the city's first mayor.

Among noteworthy Americans who have made Cleveland their home include Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. Although their names might not ring a bell of familiarity right away, they created the most famous super-hero of all time, Superman. Cleveland was also the home of radio DJ, Alan Freed, who, in 1952, was the first American to coin the phrase, “Rock 'n Roll”. Cleveland was also the home of Jesse Owens, who went on to win four gold medals at the Olympics in Berlin, Germany. Cleveland is also the home to many fine educational institutions. Among the colleges and universities that reside in Cleveland are: Baldwin-Wallace College, Case Western Reserve University, the Cleveland Institute of Art, the Cleveland Institute of Music and Cleveland State University.

Cleveland is also the headquarters of several of the nation's largest companies. National City Corporation, Eaton Corporation, Parker Hannifan Company and Sherwin Williams Company, all make their homes in Cleveland.

The city of Cleveland is full of cultural activities and pastimes. Cleveland's public square is the focal point around which the rest of the city is built. The area features many statues and fountains. Among these is a statue of General Moses Cleaveland. Jacob's Field, which is home to the Cleveland Indians, is also located in the downtown area. The area near Lake Erie also contains many attractions. Cleveland Browns Stadium, home of the Cleveland Browns, is located near the lake. The Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, which opened in 1995 also sits near the waters of Lake Erie. Nestled between the “Rock Hall” and the stadium is the Cleveland Clinic OMNIMAX Theater. This clinic offers a hands-on look at science. Other areas of attraction in Cleveland include: the Theater District, the Historic Warehouse District, the Flats Entertainment District and the Historic Gateway District. Cleveland is the home to many professional sports teams. The Cleveland Browns of the NFL, the Cleveland Indians of Major League Baseball and the Cleveland Cavaliers of the NBA, all make their homes in the “Rock 'n Roll City”.

Cleveland is a city rich in cultural history and modern-day activities. Whether you're looking for theater, opera, the symphony, museums or professional sports, the city of Cleveland has it all.