Cuyahoga County, Ohio

Cuyahoga County, Ohio
Seal
Location in the state of Ohio
Ohio's location in the U.S.
Founded	June 7, 1807[1]
Named for	"crooked river" possibly in Algonquian
Seat	Cleveland
Largest city	Cleveland
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	1,246 sq mi (3,226 km²) 458 sq mi (1,187 km²) 787 sq mi (2,038 km²), 63.19%
Population  - (2010)  - Density	1,280,122 2,795/sq mi (1,078/km²)
Website	www.cuyahogacounty.us

Cuyahoga County ( /ˌkaɪ.əˈhɒɡə/ or /ˌkaɪ.əˈhoʊɡə/)^[2][3][4][5] is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. It is the most populous county in Ohio; as of the 2010 census, the population was 1,280,122.^[6] Its county seat is Cleveland.^[7] Cuyahoga County is part of Greater Cleveland, a metropolitan area, and Northeast Ohio, a thirteen-county region, joined together in economic development initiatives. The county is named after the Native American word (possibly Algonquian) Cuyahoga, which means "crooked river".^[8] The name is also assigned to the Cuyahoga River, which bisects the county. Former U.S. President James A. Garfield was born in what was Cuyahoga County's Orange Township.

History

Cuyahoga County was organized on June 7, 1807.^[9] It was later reduced by the creation of Huron, Lake, and Lorain Counties.^[10] It was named after the Cuyahoga River.

Cuyahoga County in 1874

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,246 square miles (3,227.1 km²).458 square miles (1,186.2 km²) is land and 787 square miles (2,038.3 km²) (63.19%) is water. A portion of Cuyahoga Valley National Park is located in the southeastern portion of the county.

Major highways

• Interstate 71
• Interstate 271
• Interstate 77
• Interstate 80
• Interstate 480
• Interstate 90
• Interstate 490
• U.S. Route 6
• U.S. Route 20
• U.S. Route 42
• U.S. Route 322
• U.S. Route 422

Adjacent counties

• Across Lake Erie lies Chatham-Kent and Elgin County, Ontario, Canada (north)
• Lake County (northeast)
• Geauga County (east)
• Summit County (southeast)
• Medina County (southwest)
• Lorain County (west)
• Portage County (southeast corner)

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1810	1,459		—
1820	6,328		333.7%
1830	10,373		63.9%
1840	26,506		155.5%
1850	48,099		81.5%
1860	78,033		62.2%
1870	132,010		69.2%
1880	196,943		49.2%
1890	309,970		57.4%
1900	439,120		41.7%
1910	637,425		45.2%
1920	943,495		48.0%
1930	1,201,455		27.3%
1940	1,217,250		1.3%
1950	1,389,532		14.2%
1960	1,647,895		18.6%
1970	1,721,300		4.5%
1980	1,498,400		−12.9%
1990	1,412,140		−5.8%
2000	1,393,978		−1.3%
2010	1,280,122		−8.2%
Population 1810-2007.[1]

Cuyahoga County population (Source: United States Census, 2000)

As of the census^[11] of 2000, there were 1,393,978 people, 571,457 households, and 354,874 families residing in the county. The population density was 3,040 people per square mile (1,174/km²). There were 616,903 housing units at an average density of 1,346 per square mile (520/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 67.35% White, 27.45% African American, 0.18% Native American, 1.81% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.50% from other races, and 1.68% from two or more races. 3.38% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 12.3% were of German, 9.1% Irish, 8.7% Italian and 7.3% Polish ancestry according to Census 2000. 89.0% spoke English and 3.2% Spanish as their first language.

There were 571,457 households out of which 28.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.40% were married couples living together, 15.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.90% were non-families. 32.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the county the population was spread out with 25.00% under the age of 18, 8.00% from 18 to 24, 29.30% from 25 to 44, 22.20% from 45 to 64, and 15.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 89.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,168, and the median income for a family was $49,559. Males had a median income of $39,603 versus $28,395 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,272. About 10.30% of families and 13.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.40% of those under age 18 and 9.30% of those age 65 or over.

Government

The Cuyahoga County Courthouse

Main articles: Cuyahoga County Council and Ohio county government

Cuyahoga County had long been led by a three-member Board of County Commissioners. However, on November 3, 2009, county voters overwhelmingly approved the adoption of a county charter form of government, which replaced the three-commissioner form of county government with an elected county executive and an 11-member county council. Each council member represents a single district; there are no at-large districts. Summit County is the only other Ohio county with this form of government.

In the November 2, 2010 election, Lakewood mayor Ed FitzGerald defeated Matt Dolan to become the first Cuyahoga County executive.^[12] The first Cuyahoga County Council was also elected, with Democrats winning the majority (8-3) over the Republicans.^[13]

Politics

Cuyahoga County is heavily Democratic in voter registration.

Presidential election results, 1960–2008

Year	Democrat	Republican
2008	68.50% 441,836	30.44% 196,369
2004	66.57% 448,503	32.89% 221,600
2000	62.62% 359,913	33.42% 192,099
1996	60.75% 341,357	29.15% 163,770
1992	52.72% 337,548	29.24% 187,186
1988	58.79% 353,401	40.33% 242,439
1984	55.65% 362,626	43.60% 284,094
1980	50.02% 307,448	41.47% 254,883
1976	56.03% 349,186	41.01% 255,594
1972	48.15% 317,670	49.94% 329,493
1968	53.95% 363,540	35.44% 238,791
1964	71.50% 492,911	28.50% 196,436
1960	59.83% 429,030	40.17% 288,056

Communities

Map of Cuyahoga County, Ohio With Municipal and Township Labels

Cities

Bay Village Beachwood Bedford Bedford Heights Berea Brecksville Broadview Heights Brook Park Brooklyn Cleveland Cleveland Heights East Cleveland Euclid

Fairview Park Garfield Heights Highland Heights Independence Lakewood Lyndhurst Maple Heights Mayfield Heights Middleburg Heights North Olmsted North Royalton Olmsted Falls Parma

Parma Heights Pepper Pike Richmond Heights Rocky River Seven Hills Shaker Heights Solon South Euclid Strongsville University Heights Warrensville Heights Westlake

Villages

Bentleyville Bratenahl Brooklyn Heights Chagrin Falls Cuyahoga Heights Gates Mills Glenwillow

Highland Hills Hunting Valley Linndale Mayfield Moreland Hills Newburgh Heights North Randall

Oakwood Orange Valley View Walton Hills Woodmere

Townships

Chagrin Falls Township Olmsted Township Nineteen paper townships

Parks

Cuyahoga County is served by the Cleveland Metroparks system. Its 16 reservations provide more than 21,000 acres (8,500 ha) of green space and recreational amenities.^[14] The county is home to part of Cuyahoga Valley National Park, which extends southward into Summit County.

See also

Cleveland, Ohio portal

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Cuyahoga County, Ohio

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Ohio County Profiles: Cuyahoga County" (PDF). Ohio Department of Development. http://www.odod.state.oh.us/research/FILES/S0/Cuyahoga.pdf. Retrieved 2007-04-28. 
2. ^ Feran, Tom (2004-02-13). "Shooing the hog out of Cuyahoga". The Plain Dealer. http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/InfoWeb?p_action=doc&p_topdoc=1&p_docnum=1&p_sort=YMD_date:D&p_product=NewsBank&p_text_direct-0=document_id=(%20100B6B280DC46277%20)&p_docid=100B6B280DC46277&p_theme=aggregated5&p_queryname=100B6B280DC46277&f_openurl=yes&p_nbid=E5DN55ITMTE5OTkxMTg3NC41MzY1NTE6MToxMzo2Ni4yMTMuNDEuMTQy&&p_multi=CPDB. 
3. ^ Feran, Tom (2006-06-02). "It's a Cleveland thing, so to speak". The Plain Dealer. http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/InfoWeb?p_action=doc&p_topdoc=1&p_docnum=1&p_sort=YMD_date:D&p_product=NewsBank&p_text_direct-0=document_id=(%20112043416CC2CD20%20)&p_docid=112043416CC2CD20&p_theme=aggregated5&p_queryname=112043416CC2CD20&f_openurl=yes&p_nbid=F58P50SOMTE5OTkxMjUxOS4yOTM5NjU6MToxMzo2Ni4yMTMuNDEuMTQy&&p_multi=CPDB. 
4. ^ Siegel, Robert; Block, Melissa (2009-06-23). "Letters: Cuyahoga River". All Things Considered (National Public Radio). http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=105828999. Retrieved 2009-06-23. 
5. ^ McIntyre, Michael K. (2009-06-28). "How to pronounce 'Cuyahoga' turns into a national debate: Tipoff". The Plain Dealer. http://www.cleveland.com/tipoff/index.ssf/2009/06/how_to_pronounce_cuyahoga_turn.html. Retrieved 2009-06-29. 
6. ^ "Total Population, 2010". Cuyahoga County Planning Commission. 2011. http://planning.co.cuyahoga.oh.us/census/2010population.html. Retrieved March 19, 2011. 
7. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. Retrieved 2011-06-07. 
8. ^ "Cuyahoga County data". Ohio State University Extension Data Center. http://www.osuedc.org/profiles/profile_entrance.php?fips=39035&sid=0. Retrieved 2007-04-28. ^{[dead link]}
9. ^ "Federal Roster: Counties of Ohio, Derivation of Name and Date of Erection". http://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/PublicAffairs/fedRoster.aspx?Section=1585. Retrieved 2007-07-22. 
10. ^ "Ohio Genealogy Clickable County Map". Archived from the original on 2007-11-18. http://web.archive.org/web/20071118074514/http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/oh/1/counties.htm. Retrieved 2007-07-25. 
11. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
12. ^ Byrne, Brian (November 3, 2010). "Ed FitzGerald is first Cuyahoga County executive". The Plain Dealer (Cleveland, Ohio). http://www.cleveland.com/sun/all/index.ssf/2010/11/ed_fitzgerald_is_first_cuyahog.html. Retrieved November 16, 2010. 
13. ^ Garrett, Amanda (November 2, 2010). "Three Republicans heading toward victory on Cuyahoga County Council; Dems likely to take other 8 seats". The Plain Dealer (Cleveland, Ohio). http://www.cleveland.com/politics/index.ssf/2010/11/cuyahoga_county_council_5_race.html. Retrieved November 16, 2010. 
14. ^ "Cleveland Metroparks: Plan Your Visit". http://www.clemetparks.com/visit/. Retrieved July 5, 2011. 

External links

• Cuyahoga County Home Page
• Cuyahoga County Planning Commission

Coordinates: 41°32′N 81°40′W / 41.54°N 81.66°W / 41.54; -81.66