City History

A Heart of Steel

Cleveland’s story is a tale of triumph and tragedy, growth and decline, and a continuous struggle for prosperity. The area that is now Cleveland was originally inhabited by various Native American tribes, including the Erie, Iroquois, and Wyandot. French traders and missionaries first explored the area in the late 17th century, and by the mid-18th century, British traders had established a presence in the region.

In 1796, a surveyor named Moses Cleaveland arrived in the area to survey the land and plan a new settlement. He negotiated land rights with the Native Americans there, who accepted livestock, trinkets, and whiskey for the assurance of safety for settlers. He founded the town that would eventually bear his name, but he returned to Connecticut shortly thereafter and played no further role in the city's development.

Cleveland was originally spelled with the extra “a,” but it was dropped in 1831 when a newspaper called The Cleveland Advertiser couldn’t fit the original name on the newspaper’s masthead. The new spelling was adopted throughout the town.

During the 19^th century, Cleveland grew rapidly as a center of industry and commerce after the completion of the Ohio and Erie Canal in 1832, which connected the Ohio River to the Great Lakes. The canal allowed goods to be transported between the two, and, combined with multiple rail lines converging in the city, led to a boom in manufacturing and trade, as goods from all over the country flowed into Cleveland's warehouses and factories.

During the late 1800s and early 1900s, Cleveland experienced a wave of immigration, with thousands of people from Europe and other parts of the world coming to the city to seek a better life. This influx of new residents brought a rich diversity to Cleveland's neighborhoods and fueled the growth of industries such as steel production and shipbuilding. By the late 19th century, it was one of the largest steel-producing cities in the world.

"There is no city in America that has grown with such rapidity, that has built so many miles of good street, and erected so many fine buildings, as Cleveland, Ohio." - George F. Bagley, journalist and author, 1875

Cleveland continued to grow and prosper but was not immune to the challenges and hardships of the 20th century. The city's population boomed and by 1920, Cleveland was the fifth-largest city in the entire United States. The Great Depression hit the city hard, with unemployment rates soaring and many businesses shutting down. The city also struggled with racial tensions and civil unrest, culminating in the Hough Riots of 1966, which resulted in widespread destruction and a tragic loss of life.

Renewal and Resilience

Despite these setbacks, Cleveland remained resilient, and in the decades that followed, the city underwent a period of revitalization and renewal. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was established in Cleveland in 1983, drawing music fans from around the world to the city. Major sports teams such as the Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland Browns, and Cleveland Indians brought excitement and pride to the city, and new developments such as the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and the Cleveland Museum of Art further solidified the city's reputation as a cultural destination.

Cleveland's history is one of perseverance and determination, a story of a city that has weathered many storms and emerged stronger and more determined each time, a testament to the resilience and adaptability of a community that has faced extreme triumphs and challenges over the centuries.