Akron OH

Also known as the “Rubber Capital of the World,” Akron sits in the northeastern corner of Ohio in the Rust Belt section of the United States.http://www.ci.akron.oh.us/fastfacts.htmlhttp://www.visitakron-summit.org/pdfs/infosheet.pdf It is located in Summit County, roughly 30 miles from Cleveland, Ohio and 110 miles from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.http://www.city-data.com/city/Akron-Ohio.htmlhttp://www.visitakron-summit.org/pdfs/infosheet.pdf With a population of 210,000, Akron is the fifth-largest city in Ohio.http://www.ci.akron.oh.us/fastfacts.html Its location along the Ohio-Erie Canal made it one of the fastest-growing cities in America during the turn of the 20th century, spurring the growth of the rubber and industrial industries.http://www.ci.akron.oh.us/fastfacts.html

Companies established in the Akron area include the B.F. Goodrich Company and the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company.http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/entry.php?rec=650 Many immigrants from Europe came to work in the city's factories, helping the population grow from 69,000 in 1910 to 208,000 by 1920.http://www.helloakron.com/History.Cfm The rubber industry declined in Akron in the later part of the 20th century. As of 2010, the city's factories produce a small percentage of the overall rubber made in the United States today.http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/entry.php?rec=1533

Akron was founded in 1825 on land acquired by General Simon Perkins, the commissioner of the Ohio Canal Fund, and set at a strategic point on the canal.http://www.ci.akron.oh.us/history/timeline/1800.htm The name of the town came from the Greek word for “high,” since the land sat on the high points of the Ohio and Erie Canal.http://www.ci.akron.oh.us/history/timeline/1800.htm The American Civil War brought growth to the city when an increase in manufacturing was needed for war efforts.http://www.helloakron.com/History.Cfm

Rioting nearly destroyed the city in 1900, after angry residents formed a mob and tried to attack a man who had pled guilty to the rape of a six-year-old girl.http://www.helloakron.com/History.Cfm The ensuing rioting destroyed the City Building and the large Columbia Hall public space.http://www.ci.akron.oh.us/history/timeline/1900.htm

Akron is located at a latitude of 41.07 N and longitude of 81.52 W, with a total size of 62.1 square miles.http://www.city-data.com/city/Akron-Ohio.html 50 percent of the American population lives within 500 miles of Akron.http://www.ci.akron.oh.us/fastfacts.html The parks system in Akron includes 25 miles of biking and hiking trails.http://www.ci.akron.oh.us/akrfact.html

The town sits on the Cuyahoga River in the Great Lakes Plains region, to the northwest of the Appalachian Foothills and south of Lake Erie.http://www.city-data.com/us-cities/The-Midwest/Akron-Geography-and-Climate.html It features hot summers and cold winters due to high humidity in the area.http://www.city-data.com/us-cities/The-Midwest/Akron-Geography-and-Climate.html Akron averages 35 inches of rain and 48 inches of snow each year.http://www.city-data.com/us-cities/The-Midwest/Akron-Geography-and-Climate.html

• The All-American Soap Box Derby: Young racers in homemade wooden cars descend on Akron each July to compete at Derby Downs, a purpose-built, 954-foot downhill track.http://www.aasbd.org/about-us/all-american-race.aspx Racers can win scholarships along with merchandise prices.http://www.aasbd.org/about-us/all-american-race.aspx
• Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens: Built by Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company co-founder Frank A. Seiberling, this 65-room country estate is open for tours where visitors can see antique heirlooms and original furnishings.http://www.visitakron-summit.org/Attractions.aspx?VendorID=50&PageId=5&VID=3&VendorName=Stan%20Hywet%20Hall%20&%20Gardens
• Akron Zoo: More than 700 animals are at the zoo, including endangered creatures such as Humboldt penguins and red pandas.http://glpdigitaleditions.com/publication/?i=35805
• Kent State University Fashion Museum: The museum houses historic and contemporary fashions from throughout the United States and around the world. Along with clothing and textiles, the museum houses a collection of a variety of decorative arts.http://www.kent.edu/museum/collection/index.cfm
• American Toy Marble Museum: The site of the former American Marble and Toy Manufacturing Company now houses a large collection of vintage toys and games.http://glpdigitaleditions.com/publication/?i=35805

• LeBron James: NBA playerhttp://www.city-data.com/city/Akron-Ohio.html
• David Allan Coe: Country songwriter/musicianhttp://www.city-data.com/city/Akron-Ohio.html
• Mark Mothersbaugh: Musician/composerhttp://www.city-data.com/city/Akron-Ohio.html
• Jim Jarmusch: Film directorhttp://www.city-data.com/city/Akron-Ohio.html
• Chrissie Hynde: Musicianhttp://www.ci.akron.oh.us/fastfacts.html
• Hugh Downs: Television hosthttp://www.ci.akron.oh.us/fastfacts.html