Our City

AKRON, OHIO - THE RUBBER CITY

Akron, Ohio is an award-winning city with a storied past and a promising future. 2008 marks the third time the National Civic League has awarded Akron with the All-America City award (the other two were awarded to Akron in 1981 and 1995).

Akron was founded in 1825 near the Ohio and Erie Canal and became a manufacturing center owing to its location at a the locks area. After the decline of heavy manufacturing, the city's industry has since diversified into research, financial, and high tech sectors.

There was substantial manufacturing growth from the Civil War, giving the City its next boost with the population increase between 1860 and 1870.

Akron�s history and the history of the rubber industry are mutually bound. The rubber industry transformed Akron from a small canal town into a fledgling city. The birth of the rubber industry started in the eighteen hundreds, long before America fell in love with the automobile. Akron was incorporated as a village in 1835, and as a city in 1865.

Goodyear Tire and Rubber became America's top tire manufacturer and Akron was granted the title of "The Rubber Capital of the World".

For a time, Akron was the fastest-growing city in the country, its population exploding from 69,000 in 1910 to 208,000 in 1920. People came for the jobs in the rubber factories from many places, including Europe. Of those 208,000, almost one-third were immigrants and their children.

After the decline of heavy manufacturing in the 1970s and '80s, the city's industry has since diversified into research, financial, and high tech sectors. Akron and nearby Canton are often referred to as a single region or considered twin cities. The Akron-Canton Regional Airport is one of many places near the city that is named for both places. While the U.S. Census Bureau still counts the two metropolitan areas separately, if combined, the total population of the Akron-Canton area would equal 1,101,894 people.

Alcoholics Anonymous was founded in Akron in 1935. The city is home to The University of Akron, the Akron Aeros Double A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians, the Akron Racers women's fastpitch professional softball, the Soap Box Derby World Championships and the Firestone Country Club, at which the PGA Tour's WGC-Bridgestone Invitational is played. And, of course, Akron, Ohio is the home of the Rubber City Rollergirls.

The Rubber City Rollergirls are very proud to call Akron, Ohio our home!!!

Akron Milestones

First balloon tire
First automobile tires made in the United States
First rubber-wound golf ball
First breakfast cereal
First artificial fish bait
First cotton-covered rubber fire hose
First U.S. toy company
First synthetic rubber tire
First commercial tubeless tire
First graded school system in United States
First automobile police patrol wagon
First long distance electric railway in world
First U.S. space suits
First trans-active science museum (National Inventors Hall of Fame)
First meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous
First National Football League champions (1920) (Akron Professionals)
First zeppelin built in the United States
First Streetbike Stunteam (StarBoyz)
First Joint Economic Development District (JEDD)
First community of the World Wide Web to get high speed Internet Access via Time Warner Road Runner.
First officers in the country to be equipped and trained with the high tech Israeli gun CornerShot.

Akron's Awards, Rankings, and Notability

Winner of an All-American City award in 1981,1995 and in 2008.
Ranked ninth in the nation by Site Selection Magazine for locating new manufacturing plants in 1994.
Ranked 16th by Farmers Insurance Group of Companies as the Most Secure Place to Live (Large Metro Area) in June of 2005.
Was awarded with the Business Incubator of the year award by the National Business Incubation Association May 06, 2008.
Summit Data Communications took 2nd place for Outstanding Incubator Client in the technology category.
Akron, Ohio made it into the All-American City hall of fame in 2008, Ohio has more cities than any other state in the hall of fame.
Once known as the "Rubber Capital of the World," now a world-renowned center for polymer research and development. There are 400 polymer related companies located in the Akron area.
The world's largest model train display at the Depot, at Quaker Square (former site of the Quaker Oats Co.)
The GZ-22 "Spirit of Akron" Goodyear blimp
Rubber City Open Invitational
Akron Symphony Orchestra
Soap Box Derby
The Akron Section was presented with the SPE Section Education Award for 2001.
AkronNewsNow.com is one of 54 news organizations in the U.S. and Canada recognized for news excellence with the prestigious national Edward R. Murrow Award.
AkronNewsNow.com was also honored last month with the Ohio Associated Press Broadcaster's Association award for best website, medium market radio category.
Akron officially dedicates fire equipment purchased for New York City. Hundreds gathered November 27, 2001 downtown for the dedication. The equipment, a 95-foot ladder truck, two EMS vehicles and three SUV police cruisers were purchased through the Greater Akron Fire Truck Fund that raised $1.39 million in two weeks.

Akron Fun Facts

The Cuyahoga River, between. Akron and Cleveland, was once a part of the western boundary of the 'United States.
Dr. Eliakim Crosby, one of the pioneer builders of Summit County, once had plans for a great manufacturing city on North Hill. To get power for his project, he built a dam across the Cuyahoga River, at Cuyahoga Falls, and a canal to carry water down through the gorge valley and around to the bluffs overlooking the Little Cuyahoga valley. Ruins of that canal are yet to be seen from High Level Bridge.
The High Level Bridge, connecting Akron with Cuyahoga Falls, was once the highest concrete bridge in the world.
Akron was the first city in the world to build a gigantic electric light mast for lighting purposes. People back on the farms were told they would no longer have any use for lanterns.
First settler in Akron was Major Miner Spicer, who came from Connecticut and built a log cabin in 1811.
First fraternal organization here was started by the Masons in Middlebury (now East Akron) in 1815.
General Simon Perkins founded the town of Akron in 1825.
First canal completed in 1827. First passenger boat out of Akron to Cleveland July 3, 1827.
First church organization in Akron was First Presbyterian Church, started in Middlebury (now East Akron) in 1831.
First flour mill was known as "Old Stone Mill" and completed in 1833.
First charter election held on second Tuesday of June, 1836. First Mayor was Seth Iredell, a Quaker.
The first newspaper in Akron was "The Buzzard," published in 1838 by S. A. Lane.
First boat arrived here from Pennsylvania on the second canal, August 6, 1840.
First news of the creation of Summit County came from Columbus by stagecoach in 1840.
First water company was organized in 1840, by people living on West Market Street. Was a private enterprise, water being piped from a spring.
Akron's first band was known as "Akron Brass Band," organized in 1840 by Henry S. Abbey.
First President of the United States to visit Akron was John Quincy Adams. Arrived here in 1843 on a canal boat and helped dedicate first Court House.
First bank in Akron was known as "Bank of Akron," a branch of the Ohio Safety Fund System, and was started in 1845.
First matches here were made in 1845 in a shed in Middlebury by George Barber, father of 0. C. Barber, who became the world's "Match King."
In 1846, Akron's Public School plan was born and adopted throughout the state.
First telegraph line in Akron was in 1847. All messages were in shape of "dots and dashes."
First County Fair held on old Court House grounds in 1850.
First railroad train to arrive in Akron was on July 4, 1852. The road extended from Hudson to Akron, and is yet in operation.
First High School in Akron was "Old Jennings," opened in 1853.
First musical organization here, outside of the early brass bands, was the Liedertafel, organized in 1853 by 13 German singers.
On March 17, 1856 the world's greatest sleigh ride ended at Akron. In that historic winter parade were 182 four and six horse teams, and scores of smaller turn-outs.
All church bells in Akron tolled on December 2, 1859, when John Brown was being hanged for his attack on Harper's Ferry.
Ferdinand Schumacher, who became the world's "Oat Meal King," made his first oatmeal here in 1860 and peddled it around in a push cart.
In 1864, Lewis Miller started the Buckeye Mower and Reaper Works, once Akron's greatest industry. The following year, J. F. Seiberling started the Empire Mower and Reaper Works.
Early Akron's historic rolling mill was built. in 1866.
Dr. B. F. Goodrich came here in 1870 and built the first rubber plant.
On July 4, 1871, Horace Greeley, famous New York editor, laid cornerstone of Buchtel College.
In 1872, Middlebury was annexed to Akron and became the Sixth Ward.
First balloon flight in Akron was on Old Hall Fair Grounds in 1873. The balloonist was John Johnson, Northampton Town-ship farmer.
In 1875, the late Paul E. Werner started the once great Werner Printing and Lithographing Plant. For years, it was the largest printing establishment in the country.
General Lucius V. Bierce, Akron's first historian, was buried here in 1876.
First typewriter in Akron was used by Nathan A. Means in the office of the Buckeye Mower and Reaper Works in 1876.
First telephone line in Akron extended from residence of Dr. B. F. Goodrich, on Water Street, out to his little rubber plant, in 1877.
First free mail delivery here came in 1879.
First attempt to regulate traffic in Akron came in 1880, when council passed an ordinance limiting the speed of horse-drawn street cars to four miles an hour.
Frank and Charles Menches, two brothers who lived and worked in Akron, invented the hamburger at the New York State Fair in 1885, also the brothers created the ice cream cone.
In 1886, fire destroyed nearly all of Ferdinand Schumacher's great cereal mill.
Thomas Edison married his 2nd wife Mina Miller Edison on February 24, 1886 in Akron.
The year 1888 marked the coming of electric street cars and the passing of horse and mule-drawn cars.
In 1889, Michael O'Neil and Isaac Dyas, progressive young merchants, pioneered the way for mercantile life into Main Street.
First horseless vehicle was built and operated by Achille Philion in 1890. Was operated by steam and went four miles an hour. It was the forerunner of the automobile.
The world's first long distance electric street railway was built here. It extended from Akron to Cleveland, and was built in 1895.
It was in 1897 that Akron's famous playhouse, The Academy of Music, burned.
In 1898, Frank A. Seiberling was the guiding spirit in building the Goodyear Rubber Plant.
The night of December 20, 1899, all of Akron witnessed the burning of Buchtel College.
First electric police patrol wagon was made here in 1899 by Frank Loomis.
The great Firestone Rubber Plants got their start in 1900.
Akron City Hospital, first in the city, was dedicated in 1904.
First wireless message received in Akron came from Cleveland in 1905.
Ground was broken in 1905 for the present Court House.
The first automobile show in Akron was held in 1907.
First radio outfit was brought to Akron by Jack J. Gritton in 1912. First Broadcasting Station was WOE in 1921.
Greatest flood in Akron's history was in the spring of 1913. It meant the death of the canal.
During the first World War, and continuing two years after the Armistice in 1918, Akron was the busiest and fastest growing city in the world.
A preliminary meeting was held in Akron, Ohio, to form the American Pro Football League on August 20, 1920.
On October 12, 1922, Akron celebrated the opening of Main Street Viaduct.
In 1925, Akron celebrated her centennial anniversary.
Akron's greatest thrill came on September 23, 1931, when the U. S. S. Akron "Queen of the Skies" made her maiden trip.
First Post Office in Akron was located in a dwelling house, corner of Water and Exchange, following building of Ohio canal. First Postmaster was Woolsey Wells.
First society in Akron for fighting fires was known as "Akron Fire Company" in the early forties. Had 25 charter members.
There's old. And then there's old. Much of Main Street went up between 1910 and 1930. But the red-brick Kaiser Building (325 S. Main) predates that building boom by half a century. The ornate Victorian Gothic structure was built in 1871 as a hardware store, just six years after the Civil War ended.
For a decade, the entrance to the Akron Civic Theatre (182 S. Main) was the gateway to nowhere. It was built for the Hippodrome, a theater that never happened. Construction ended at the double doors to the grand lobby when the owners ran out of money. But Marcus Loew saw opportunity in the growing city and came to finish the job. His Akron Loews opened in 1929, just as talkies were overtaking their silent counterparts. Reportedly, the building design was altered during construction, giving Akron the first movie house in America built with sound equipment originally installed. Loews became the Civic in 1965.
Thousands visit Akron each year to celebrate the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous, and many of them swing by Mayflower Manor (263 S. Main). The subsidized apartment building was a fashionable hotel in 1935 when a New York businessman named Bill Wilson stood in its lobby, fighting the temptation to drink. He grabbed a pay phone and started a chain of phone calls that led to a meeting with Akron physician Bob Smith. The two men, better known as Bill W. and Dr. Bob, formed A.A.
Other famous guests of the Mayflower: Shirley Temple, Katharine Hepburn, Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, and Ronald Reagan.
The Evans Building (333-337 S. Main) has been home to a succession of financial institutions since 1915. But the property is most important for what's no longer here. It was the site of Henry Clark's Tavern, where the election of Akron's first mayor, Seth Iredell, occurred on June 14, 1836. Look for the commemorative plaque facing Exchange Street.

Akron Photo Gallery

Akron... Then

Akron... Now

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