# Cleveland Heights, Ohio

Cleveland Heights is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. The population was 45,312 at the 2020 census. One of Cleveland's historic streetcar suburbs, it was founded as a village in 1903 and a city in 1921.

## History

The area that is now the city of Cleveland Heights lies atop the Portage Escarpment. Until the late 1800s, the area remained largely timber and farmland, with a few orchards, quarries, and vineyards. The first road through the city, Mayfield Road, was not built until 1828. Some of the land was divided into farms, but it also had quarries in the 19th century. One of the early quarries was established by Duncan McFarland who mined bluestone. This led to the settlement that grew up around the quarry for the workers to live in to be referred to as Bluestone. There is still a road of this name in that area.
In 1873, business magnate John D. Rockefeller acquired about 700 acres (280 ha) in what is now the cities of East Cleveland and Cleveland Heights, with a water cure hotel, which he converted to a mansion for his family in East Cleveland. Eventually, some of the land, straddling both suburbs, was turned into residential developments, and, in 1938, the family donated land which is now Forest Hill Park.
The development of electric streetcars made the development of suburbs far outside Cleveland's city limits practical for the first time in the 1890s. About 1890, a town center began forming at what is now the intersection of Mayfield and Superior roads. The population of the area encompassed by Cleveland Heights voted in August 1900 to incorporate under state law as a hamlet. The population of about 1,500 grew quickly, and in 1903 incorporated as a village. It had a population of 15,396 in 1920 and was incorporated as a city on August 9, 1921. Between 1920 and 1930, Cleveland Heights' population more than tripled. By 1960 it had a population of 61,813.
In 1890, railroad baron Patrick Calhoun purchased 300 acres (1.2 km$^2$) atop nearby Cedar Hill, and in 1893 established the planned community of Euclid Heights. In 1913, Barton R. Deming convinced Rockefeller to enter into a purchase agreement for the 141 acres (0.57 km$^2$) formerly leased to the Euclid Golf Club of Euclid Heights, which resulting in the founding of the B.R. Deming Company to develop the Euclid Golf Allotment. The Euclid Golf Allotment was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.
In November 1926, the establishment of a new business district on Taylor Road was announced. This resulted in numerous residential homes and mixed-use structures built in the Tudor Revival style that are now known as the Stadium Square Historic District.
In the 1950s, Cleveland Heights saw the influx of many merchant class and professional Jewish people leaving Cleveland, particularly the Hough and Glenville neighborhoods. In 1961, 35% of the Jewish population of Cuyahoga County lived in Cleveland Heights. Although the Black population of Cleveland Heights was less than 1% in 1960, partially due to restrictive covenants, Black Clevelanders began to move into Cleveland Heights in the 1960s and 1970s. This led to violence and pushback from some white citizens. However, organizations such as Heights Citizens For Human Rights and Heights Community Congress formed to protest violence against Black citizens, and promote integration in the city.

## Geography

Cleveland Heights is located at 41°30′35″N 81°33′48″W﻿ / ﻿41.50972°N 81.56333°W﻿ / 41.50972; -81.56333 (41.509652, -81.563301).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.13 square miles (21.06 km$^2$), of which 8.11 square miles (21.00 km$^2$) is land and 0.02 square miles (0.05 km$^2$) is water. Cleveland Heights is made up of three watersheds, the Doan Brook Watershed, the Dugway Brook Watershed, and the Nine Mile Creek Watershed. Approximately 50% of Cleveland Heights is part of the Dugway Brook Watershed.

## Demographics
### 2020

The 2020 United States census counted 45,312 people, 20,053 households, and 10,489 families in Cleveland Heights. The population density was 5,618.4 per square mile (2,169.2/km$^2$). There were 22,270 housing units at an average density of 2,761.3 per square mile (1,066.1/km$^2$). The racial makeup was 46.33% (20,993) white or European American (45.63% non-Hispanic white), 41.3% (18,713) black or African-American, 0.16% (73) Native American or Alaska Native, 5.05% (2,288) Asian, 0.02% (7) Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 1.41% (639) from other races, and 5.74% (2,599) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race was 3.39% (1,536) of the population.
Of the 20,053 households, 22.5% had children under the age of 18; 32.9% were married couples living together; 38.1% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 38.8% of households consisted of individuals and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.3 and the average family size was 3.1. The percent of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher was estimated to be 41.7% of the population.
20.4% of the population was under the age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 18.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 113.7 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 118.7 males.
The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $59,086 (with a margin of error of +/- $2,897) and the median family income was $77,877 (+/- $6,920). Males had a median income of $41,404 (+/- $2,587) versus $31,449 (+/- $1,383) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $35,111 (+/- $2,762). Approximately, 12.0% of families and 18.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.4% of those under the age of 18 and 9.2% of those ages 65 or over.

### 2010

As of the census of 2010, there were 46,238 people, 19,957 households, and 10,834 families residing in the city. The population density was 5,686.9 inhabitants per square mile (2,195.7/km$^2$). There were 22,465 housing units at an average density of 2,770.0 per square mile (1,069.5/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the city was 49.8% White, 42.5% African American, 0.2% Native American, 4.1% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 2.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.0% of the population.
There were 19,957 households, of which 26.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.6% were married couples living together, 15.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 45.7% were non-families. 36.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 3.05.
The median age in the city was 35.8 years. 22.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.9% were from 25 to 44; 25.9% were from 45 to 64; and 13.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.6% male and 53.4% female.
The median income for a household in the city was $53,024. The per capita income for the city was $31,663. About 19.3% of individuals were below the poverty line.

## Economy

Coventry Village is a commercial business district in Cleveland Heights situated on Coventry Road. Coventry is associated with Northeast Ohio's artistic, musical, bohemian, hippie and emerging hipster communities.

## Government

Cleveland Heights is governed by a city charter adopted in 1921 and amended in 1972, 1982, 1986 and 2019. Until 2019, the Cleveland Heights city charter specified a council–manager form of government, with seven members of council elected to four-year terms. On November 5, 2019, Cleveland Heights voters approved an amendment to the city's charter to become a strong Mayor-Council form of government with the Mayor serving as the city's chief executive. Under the amended Charter, in November 2021, Cleveland Heights voters cast ballots for Mayor for the first time. Kahlil Seren was elected to be Cleveland Heights' first directly elected mayor, and was sworn in on January 1, 2022.
The current city council is composed of Vice President Craig Cobb, President Melody Joy Hart, Davida Russell, Tony Cuda, Janine Boyd, Anthony Mattox, Jr., and Gail Larson.
Cleveland Heights is reliably Democratic. Six of the seven current members of council are Democrats. In the 2008 presidential election, Barack Obama defeated John McCain 84.2%-15.0% while winning the state, while in the 2004 presidential election, John Kerry defeated George W. Bush 80.8%-18.8% in the city but was unable to win the state. In 2012, every precinct in the city was carried by Barack Obama. Even in 2016 and 2020, as Ohio as a whole became more Republican, Cleveland Heights voted strongly Democratic; Hillary Clinton defeated Donald Trump 83.9%-11.4% and Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump 85.1%-13.1%.
Cleveland Heights is in Ohio's 11th congressional district, which is represented by Congresswoman Shontel Brown. Ohio's 11th congressional district was formerly represented by U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Marcia Fudge.
In 2003, Cleveland Heights voters approved a referendum to establish Ohio's first domestic partnership registry.

## Environment and parks

In 1987, the city of Cleveland Heights was declared a nuclear-free zone.
Cleveland Heights has seven city parks: Barbara H. Boyd Park, Cain Park, Cumberland Park, Denison Park, Forest Hill Park, Kenilworth Park and Turtle Park.

## Transportation

The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority provides bus service in the city.

## Education

Public education in the city of Cleveland Heights is provided by two school districts. Most of the city is served by the Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District, which includes six elementary schools within city limits, as well as two middle schools and Cleveland Heights High School. A small portion located on the northwest side of the city lies within the East Cleveland City School District.
Several private schools are located within the city, including Beaumont School, Lutheran High School East, Horizon Montessori, Ruffing Montessori, Hebrew Academy of Cleveland, Communion of Saints School, Mosdos Ohr Hatorah, and Yeshiva of Cleveland.

## Notable people

* Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, former U.S. Ambassador to Republic of Malta
* Hal Becker, writer
* Jean Berko Gleason, psycholinguist
* Hector Boiardi, businessman also known as Chef Boy-Ar-Dee
* Timothy Broglio, Archbishop for the Military Services, USA
* Martha Chase, geneticist who helped to confirm that DNA was the genetic material of life through the Hershey-Chase Experiment
* Barry Cofield, NFL player, Super Bowl XLII champion
* Chuck Cooper, Tony Award-winning actor
* Christine De Vinne, president of Ursuline College
* Kevin Edwards, former National Basketball Association player
* Eric Fingerhut, president and CEO of Jewish Federations of North America, former CEO of Hillel International, former U.S. Congressman from northeast Ohio, former Ohio State Senator
* Jimmy Fox, James Gang founding drummer and organist
* Darrell Issa, U.S. Congressman representing the San Diego, CA area
* Jason Kelce, former NFL player for the Philadelphia Eagles
* Travis Kelce, NFL player for the Kansas City Chiefs
* Steve LaTourette, former U.S. Congressman from northeast Ohio
* Clea Lewis, actor
* Mike McGruder, NFL player for New England Patriots
* Paul Leonard Newman, American actor
* Maxwell Stern of Signals Midwest, musician
* Mel Tucker, former head football coach at Michigan State University
* Merton F. Utter (1917–1980), microbiologist and biochemist, died in Cleveland Heights
* Bill Watterson, American cartoonist and creator of Calvin and Hobbes
* Sean Young, American actress
* Debra Winger, Academy Award-nominated actress