Garfield Heights, Ohio

History

The area was originally part of Newburgh Township. The Village of South Newburgh was formed in 1907, and it was incorporated as Garfield Heights in 1930. The city is named after Garfield Park, which in turn was named in honor of President James A. Garfield, a native of nearby Orange Township.

Geography

Garfield Heights is located at (41.421423, -81.602682).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.29 sqmi, of which 7.23 sqmi is land and 0.06 sqmi is water. The elevation of Garfield Heights is 831 ft above sea level where it borders Cleveland, and its highest elevation is 972 ft above sea level at the Garfield Heights Justice Center.

Demographics

The ethnic groups of Garfield Heights include Poles, Slovenes, Germans, Italians, Irish, and African-Americans.

93.4% spoke English, 2.8% Polish, 1.2% Italian, and 1.2% Spanish.

2020 census

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 28,849 people, 11,691 households, and 7,393 families residing in the city. The population density was 3990.2 PD/sqmi. There were 13,125 housing units at an average density of 1815.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 60.2% White, 35.7% African American, 0.2% Native American, 1.3% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.3% of the population.

There were 11,691 households, of which 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.5% were married couples living together, 21.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.8% were non-families. 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.08.

The median age in the city was 38.5 years. 25% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.1% were from 25 to 44; 26% were from 45 to 64; and 15.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.0% male and 54.0% female.

Economy

Garfield Heights is the site of Highland Park (formerly City View Center) which once was a planned regional power center built upon a former landfill in the mid-2000s. In 2020, the development was purchased from receivership and revitalized by Industrial Commercial Properties, Inc. In 2021, Mayor Matt Burke along with former Mayors Vic Collova and Thomas J. Longo, stood with Industrial Commercial Properties to cut the ribbon for the first new corporations to open in Highland Park including MPAC Switchback, MTech, Innoplast, and Thermoprene.

Government

Garfield Heights has seven wards and a mayor-council form of government. The city's charter went into effect in 1956. The city also has a municipal court that serves several jurisdictions. The council president is selected by members of city council. If the mayor's seat is vacated, the council president would assume the duties, according to the city charter.

Parks and recreation

The Dan Kostel Recreation Center is located on Turney Road at the Civic Center complex and includes an outdoor swimming pool open during summer season only and an indoor ice skating rink. Garfield Park Reservation, part of the regional Cleveland Metroparks system, is located in the Northeast corner of Garfield Heights on its border with Cleveland.

Wargo Farms, a 45-acre area of land was sold to the Cleveland Metroparks in 2023 to preserve green space and create walking trails and recreation.

Education

Garfield Heights has its own public school system comprising three elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. It is governed by a five-member elected board. There are two Catholic schools in the city; St. Benedict and Trinity High School.

Media

Garfield Heights is served by the Cleveland television stations and numerous cable and satellite providers. The Cleveland Plain Dealer, and the Neighborhood News-Garfield Heights Tribune (published each Wednesday) are the main newspapers.

Notable people

• Steve Bartek, American guitarist, film composer, conductor
• James Jude Courtney, American actor and stunt performer
• William A. Foster, earned the Medal of Honor
• Dennis Fryzel, last football coach at the University of Tampa
• DeJuan Groce, cornerback in the NFL
• Dale Miller, former Ohio State Senator
• Gene Mruczkowski, former NFL offensive lineman and Super Bowl champ with the New England Patriots
• Scott Mruczkowski, former football center for the San Diego Chargers
• Phil Pozderac, former NFL offensive lineman and Super Bowl champ with the Dallas Cowboys
• Jerry Schuplinski, former NFL QB and quality control coach for New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins and New York Giants
• David J. Skal, American cultural historian, critic, writer
• Wilma Smith, former Cleveland news anchor
• James Glenwright Unger, American hockey player

Surrounding communities

References

• Garfield Heights History c. 1976 Garfield Heights Historical Society
• Garfield Heights city data at City-data.com
• Cuyahoga Public Library - History of Garfield Heights Library

References

1. (16 November 2013). "Democrats outnumber Republicans as mayors in Cuyahoga County, 39-14".
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. 1064703
6. (10 April 2020). "GARFIELD HEIGHTS". Case Western Reserve University.
7. (2011-02-12). "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". [[United States Census Bureau]].
8. "US Gazetteer files 2010". [[United States Census Bureau]].
9. (1870). "Population of Civil Divisions Less than Counties". U.S. Census Bureau.
10. (1880). "Population of Civil Divisions Less than Counties". U.S. Census Bureau.
11. "Population: Ohio". U.S. Census Bureau.
12. "Population: Ohio". U.S. Census Bureau.
13. (1960). "Number of Inhabitants: Ohio". U.S. Census Bureau.
14. "Ohio: Population and Housing Unit Counts". U.S. Census Bureau.
15. "Garfield Heights city, Ohio".
16. "Data Center Results".
17. "P004 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Garfield Heights city, Ohio".
18. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Garfield Heights city, Ohio".
19. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Garfield Heights city, Ohio".
20. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
21. (November 5, 2021). "Business View Magazine".
22. City of Garfield Heights Parks and Recreation. http://www.garfieldhts.org/parks--recreation{{Dead link. (July 2025)