Cleveland

Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County, situated on the southern shore of Lake Erie near the mouth of the Cuyahoga River. It is the most populous city on Lake Erie and the second-most populous city in Ohio, with a population of 372,624 at the 2020 census. The broader Greater Cleveland metropolitan area has more than 2 million residents.

Founded in 1796 as part of the Connecticut Western Reserve and named for General Moses Cleaveland, the city grew rapidly in the 19th century because of its strategic location on the lake and river. Its access to shipping and rail connections made it a major commercial and industrial center, attracting large numbers of immigrants and migrants. Cleveland remained among the largest U.S. cities through much of the 20th century, though industrial decline and suburbanization slowed growth after the 1960s.

Today Cleveland is a port city linked to the Atlantic Ocean via the St. Lawrence Seaway. Its economy is diversified, with strengths in higher education, manufacturing, finance, healthcare, and biomedicine. Major institutions include Case Western Reserve University, the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Cleveland Public Library, Playhouse Square, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The city is also known as the “Forest City” and serves as the center of the Cleveland Metroparks system. Its professional sports teams include the Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Cleveland Guardians.