Cleveland Heights, Ohio

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 acre 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. Cleveland Heights was first organized as a hamlet in 1901. The population of about 1,500 grew quickly, and in 1903 it 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 acre 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 acre 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.

In 1987, the city of Cleveland Heights was declared a nuclear-free zone.

Geography

Cleveland Heights is located at .

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.13 sqmi, of which 8.11 sqmi is land and 0.02 sqmi 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 census

The 2020 United States census counted 45,312 people, 20,053 households, and 10,489 families in Cleveland Heights. 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 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 census

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 5686.9 PD/sqmi. There were 22,465 housing units at an average density of 2770.0 /sqmi. 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.

Parks and recreation

Cleveland Heights has seven city parks: Barbara H. Boyd Park, Cain Park, Cumberland Park, Denison Park, Forest Hill Park, Kenilworth Park and Turtle Park.

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 mayor–council form, the mayor serves as the city’s chief executive, while legislative authority is vested in a seven-member City Council elected at large. The city charter provides that when the mayor is unable to serve or the office is vacated, the president of council acts as acting/interim mayor until a successor is chosen or the term ends. Following a recall election of Kahlil Seren held on September 9, 2025, the mayor’s office was declared vacant upon certification, and Council President Tony Cuda was sworn in as interim mayor on October 1, 2025 (to serve pending the next election/through the term’s end as applicable).

In March 2025, City Administrator Dan Horrigan resigned after less than three months in office. In emails and interviews, Horrigan cited the conduct of Seren's wife, Natalie McDaniel, as contributing to an "untenable, improper, and unethical" work environment. On July 30, 2025, Seren's wife was indicted for trespassing into a resident's home.

The current city council is composed of President Gail Larson, Craig Cobb, Jim Petras, Davida Russell, Jim Posch, and Anthony Mattox, Jr..

Cleveland Heights is reliably Democratic. 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.

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.

Transportation

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

Notable people

• Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, former U.S. Ambassador to Malta
• Hal Becker, writer
• Jean Berko Gleason, psycholinguist
• Hector Boiardi, businessman also known as Chef Boy-Ar-Dee
• Timothy Broglio, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and 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
• Chuck Cooper, Tony Award-winning actor
• Christine De Vinne, president of Ursuline College
• Kevin Edwards, former NBA player
• Laila Edwards, American Olympic ice hockey 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, founding drummer and organist of James Gang
• Kathryn Hahn, actress
• Darrell Issa, U.S. Congressman
• 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, actress
• Mike McGruder, NFL player for New England Patriots
• Paul Newman, American actor
• Maxwell Stern of Signals Midwest, musician
• Jack Stratton, musician, founder and leader of Vulfpeck
• Mel Tucker, former head football coach at Michigan State University
• Merton F. Utter, microbiologist and biochemist
• Bill Watterson, cartoonist and creator of Calvin and Hobbes
• Sean Young, actress
• Debra Winger, Academy Award-nominated actress

Notes

References

Works cited

References

1. (October 2025). "Cleveland Heights' first-ever mayor to officially be removed and replaced this week following recall".
2. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau.
3. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places in Ohio: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau.
4. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
5. {{GNIS. 1048605
6. Bhatia, Kabir. (February 24, 2022). "Cuyahoga County keeps its feet on the ground while reaching for the 'Heights'". Ideastream.
7. "History of Cleveland Heights".
8. KEATING, W. DENNIS. (1994). "The Suburban Racial Dilemma: Housing and Neighborhoods". Temple University Press.
9. ''Columbia Lippincott Gazetteer'', 1952 Edition with 1962 Supplement.
10. O'Donnell, Kara Hamley. (August 19, 2011). "Another New Historic District for Cleveland Heights". The Heights Observer.
11. (August 1, 1926). "Heights Street Is Like Bit of Old England". The Plain Dealer.
12. KEATING, W. DENNIS. (1994). "The Suburban Racial Dilemma: Housing and Neighborhoods". Temple University Press.
13. KEATING, W. DENNIS. (1994). "The Suburban Racial Dilemma: Housing and Neighborhoods". Temple University Press.
14. KEATING, W. DENNIS. (1994). "The Suburban Racial Dilemma: Housing and Neighborhoods". Temple University Press.
15. (April 15, 2013). "Signs announcing Cleveland Heights as Nuclear Free Zone: Whatever happened to ...?".
16. (February 12, 2011). "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". [[United States Census Bureau]].
17. "US Gazetteer files 2010". [[United States Census Bureau]].
18. "Watersheds {{!}} Cleveland Heights, OH".
19. (April 2, 2015). "Dugway Brook Watershed".
20. (1960). "Number of Inhabitants: Ohio". U.S. Census Bureauaccess-date=April 26, 2020.
21. "Ohio: Population and Housing Unit Counts". U.S. Census Bureau.
22. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Cleveland Heights city, Ohio".
23. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Cleveland Heights city, Ohio".
24. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Cleveland Heights city, Ohio".
25. "US Census Bureau, Table P16: HOUSEHOLD TYPE".
26. "US Census Bureau, Table DP1: PROFILE OF GENERAL POPULATION AND HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS".
27. "Gazetteer Files".
28. "US Census Bureau, Table P1: RACE".
29. "US Census Bureau, Table P2: HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE".
30. "US Census Bureau, Table S1501: EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT".
31. "US Census Bureau, Table S1903: MEDIAN INCOME IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2020 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)".
32. "US Census Bureau, Table S2001: EARNINGS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2020 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)".
33. "US Census Bureau, Table S1701: POVERTY STATUS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS".
34. "US Census Bureau, Table S1702: POVERTY STATUS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS OF FAMILIES".
35. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
36. "Cleveland Heights (city) QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau". www.census.gov.
37. "Coventry Village". Cleveland Historical.
38. "Cleveland Heights Parks & Recreation, OH".
39. "Government".
40. "The Charter of the City of Cleveland Heights, Ohio – Art. III §3.1".
41. "The Charter of the City of Cleveland Heights, Ohio – Art. IV §10 (Absence and Vacancy)".
42. Olivas, Kaylee. (October 1, 2025). "Cleveland Heights' first-ever mayor to officially be removed and replaced this week following recall". News 5 Cleveland.
43. (October 1, 2025). "Cleveland Heights swears in new interim mayor after Seren's recall". [[WOIO]] (Cleveland 19).
44. (October 1, 2025). "Seren officially out, after firing law director, as Cleveland Heights swears in interim mayor". Ideastream Public Media.
45. Oprea, Mark. (2025-04-01). "Cleveland Heights Mayor Kahlil Seren Defends Wife's Unofficial Role at City Hall Amid Rising Turmoil, Staff Departures".
46. (2025-08-08). "Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office Announces the Indictment of Cleveland Heights Mayor's Wife Natalie McDaniel for Trespassing into Cleveland Heights Resident's Home". Cuyahoga County Prosecutor.
47. (2025-08-08). "Cleveland Heights mayor's wife indicted on trespassing charges after home break in allegations".
48. "City Council".
49. "Elections".
50. "Elections".
51. (March 10, 2021). "Senate confirms Fudge as Housing secretary". The Hill.
52. "Domestic Partner Registration | Cleveland Heights, OH".
53. "District Detail for Cleveland Heights-University Heights City". National Center for Education Statistics.
54. "RTA Service System Map 2023".
55. (May 2017). "Heights Magazine Alumni Profile: Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley '76". Cleveland heights-University Heights City School District.
56. (December 7, 2012). "Solon resident Hal Becker, a Cleveland Heights High School graduate, writes 'Ultimate Sales Book'". Cleveland.com.
57. (May 8, 2013). "Cleveland Heights High hall of fame features Jewish inductees". Cleveland Jewish News.
58. "Cleveland Heights Historical Society - Feature Stories".
59. "Timothy P. Broglio".
60. Baranick, Alana. (August 14, 1998). "Martha Chase, 75, Cleveland Native, Worked on Early DNA Experiment". The Plain Dealer.
61. (December 12, 2015). "Super Bowl players return to Heights High for a visit". The Plain Dealer.
62. (October 2011). "Excerpt from Chuck Cooper's Speech". New York State Theatre Education Association.
63. "Ursuline College Office of the President {{!}} Ursuline - Liberal Arts College in OH".
64. "Kevin Edwards Stats".
65. (July 7, 2009). "Ten inducted into Heights High Hall of Fame - The Heights Observer".
66. "Kathryn Hahn". SideReel.
67. "Jason Kelce Player Profile".
68. "NFL Star Travis Kelce's High School Coaches Reflect on His Success".
69. (April 26, 2019). "Cleveland Heights High School to induct 10 into alumni hall". Cleveland Jewish News.
70. (December 18, 1980). "Merton Franklin Utter obituary". Clarinda Herald Journal.