According to 800Zipcodes, Akron, Ohio is located in the Great Lakes region of the United States and is part of Summit County. It is situated on the Cuyahoga River, which flows southward into Lake Erie. The city covers an area of 62.3 square miles, making it the fifth-largest city in Ohio by land area.

The terrain around Akron is mostly flat with some rolling hills and valleys in the eastern part of town. Most of Akron’s land is used for residential or commercial development, but there are some parks located within city limits for residents to enjoy.

The climate of Akron is a humid continental one with four distinct seasons. Summers are generally hot and humid while winters are cold and often snowy. Average yearly precipitation levels range from about 30 to 50 inches depending on location within the city limits.

The Cuyahoga River serves as a natural border between Akron and its neighboring communities to the south, while Interstate 77 acts as a major north-south highway through town. The closest major cities to Akron are Cleveland to the north, Pittsburgh to the east, Cincinnati to the south, and Columbus to the west.

Overall, Akron has a typical Midwestern geography with some interesting features such as its riverfront location along with its nearby rolling hills and valleys that make it an enjoyable place to live or visit year-round.

History of Akron, Ohio

Akron was founded in 1825 by a group of settlers from Connecticut led by Paul Williams. The city was named after the Greek word for “high point” and the area quickly developed into an important trading post due to its location on the Cuyahoga River. Akron quickly became a manufacturing powerhouse and soon had dozens of factories that produced products such as steel, tires, rubber, and chemicals.

In the early 1900s, Akron was known as the “Rubber Capital of the World” due to its booming rubber industry which employed thousands of workers from across the country. During this time, Akron also became a major center for education with several prominent universities being established including Kent State University and The University of Akron.

During World War II, Akron experienced a surge in population growth as many people moved to the city for wartime jobs in factories such as Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company and Firestone Tire & Rubber Company. After the war ended, Akron continued to prosper with new businesses opening up throughout town.

In recent years, Akron has seen some economic decline due to deindustrialization but has made strides towards becoming more economically diverse with new industries such as healthcare and technology taking root in town. Despite this decline, Akron remains an important cultural center in Ohio with numerous attractions including the National Inventors Hall of Fame and Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens which attract visitors from all over the world each year.

Economy of Akron, Ohio

The economy of Akron, Ohio is a mix of traditional manufacturing and modern industries. The city is best known for its long history in rubber and tire production and continues to be an important center for the production of rubber-related products. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, founded in 1898, is headquartered in Akron and remains one of the largest employers in the city. Firestone Tire & Rubber Company is also based here as well as several other smaller tire companies.

In addition to its tire industry, Akron has a thriving healthcare sector which employs thousands of people. Located within the city are two major hospitals – Summa Health System and Cleveland Clinic Akron General – along with numerous smaller medical centers and clinics. The city also boasts numerous research centers such as the National Polymer Innovation Center at The University of Akron which specializes in polymer science research.

Other industries that have taken root in Akron include technology, finance, banking, education, hospitality, retail, food service, transportation services, logistics and more. There are numerous corporate headquarters located here including FirstEnergy Corporation which operates electric utilities throughout Ohio; Huntington Bank which provides financial services to customers; OMNOVA Solutions Inc., a producer of specialty chemicals; as well as many others.

Overall, despite some economic decline due to deindustrialization over the years, Akron remains an important economic center in Ohio with a diverse range of industries that provide jobs for thousands of people each year.

Politics in Akron, Ohio

Akron is located in Summit County, Ohio, and the city’s politics are largely reflective of the county’s. Summit County is predominately a Democratic stronghold with voters having consistently supported Democratic candidates since 1996. In the 2016 election, 59% of voters in Summit County cast their ballots for Hillary Clinton while only 36% voted for Donald Trump.

The city of Akron is governed by a mayor-council form of government with an elected mayor and nine council members who serve four-year terms. The current Mayor of Akron is Daniel Horrigan who was first elected in 2015 and re-elected in 2019. The Mayor is responsible for appointing the Director of Public Service and Safety, City Planning Director, Law Director and other key positions within the city government.

The Akron City Council is made up of nine members from nine different wards throughout the city. Each ward elects one representative to serve on the council for a four-year term. The City Council serves as a legislative body that passes ordinances and resolutions related to city operations as well as approving budgets and managing public funds.

At the state level, Summit County falls within Ohio’s 16th Congressional District which includes all or part of five counties including Portage, Stark, Wayne and Medina Counties. The district has been represented by Republican Anthony Gonzalez since 2019 who won his seat after defeating incumbent Democrat Marcy Kaptur in 2018 with 52% of votes cast in his favor.

In conclusion, politics in Akron are largely reflective of those at the county level with Democrats traditionally having an edge over Republicans when it comes to local elections. At the state level, however, Republicans have held onto their seat representing Ohio’s 16th Congressional District since 2019 despite its large population base which includes all or part of five counties throughout northeastern Ohio.