Cuyahoga Falls is a city located in Summit County, Ohio, in the United States. As of the 2003 census, the city had a total population of 50,375. It is currently the second largest city in Summit County, Ohio. It is considered a suburb of Akron, but is actually older than Akron. Founded in 1812 by William Wetmore, the city was originally named Manchester. Cuyahoga Falls is named after the Cuyahoga River (which flows into Lake Erie) and the series of falls that run through the middle of the city.
Cuyahoga Falls borders Akron to the south and the Cuyahoga Valley National Park to the northwest.
Cuyahoga Falls is located at 41°8'44" North, 81°29'48" West (41.145556, -81.496685).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 66.4 km2 (25.6 mi2). 66.1 km2 (25.5 mi2) of it is land and 0.2 km2 (0.1 mi2) of it is water. The total area is 0.35% water.
As of the census of 2000, there are 49,374 people, 21,655 households, and 13,317 families residing in the city. The population density is 746.4/km2 (1,932.9/mi2). There are 22,727 housing units at an average density of 343.6/km2 (889.7/mi2). The racial makeup of the city is 95.80% White, 1.87% African American, 0.20% Native American, 1.05% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.15% from other races, and 0.91% from two or more races. 0.63% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 21,655 households out of which 27.0% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.3% are married couples living together, 10.1% have a female householder with no husband present, and 38.5% are non-families. 32.6% of all households are made up of individuals and 12.3% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.26 and the average family size is 2.90.
In the city the population is spread out with 22.5% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 32.0% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 37 years. For every 100 females there are 90.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 86.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $42,263, and the median income for a family is $52,372. Males have a median income of $40,301 versus $28,459 for females. The per capita income for the city is $22,550. 6.1% of the population and 4.5% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 8.0% of those under the age of 18 and 4.2% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
The July 1, 2003 Census Bureau estimate for Cuyahoga Falls puts the population at 50,375.
Cuyahoga Falls was formed in 1812 near the junction of what was then Northampton, Stow, Tallmadge, and Portage townships. The focus was the series of Cuyahoga River waterfalls that provided power for manufacturing.
In 1812 Kelsey and Wilcox built a dam on the Cuyahoga River at a place where a railroad bridge crossed it in 1876. They then built a flour mill, an oil mill, and a saw mill. This led to the construction of a number of houses. This area was known as the old village. Development moved downstream, though, when it was discovered that the power was better there. The old village was eventually destroyed in 1826 when a dam built by William Wetmore flooded the dam at the old village and its mills were torn down .
The earliest settler of Cuyahoga Falls included Joshua Stow and William Wetmore. In 1815 a saw-mill was operating near Gaylord's Grove, using power generated by a dam on the Cuyahoga River there.
The town was initially called Manchester but was renamed Cuyahoga Falls at the request of the Post Office since there were already several other Manchesters in Ohio.
The village proper was first laid out in 1826 by Judge Richardson.
The town was incorporated in 1836, occupying 240 rods out of Stow and Tallmadge townships. In 1853, seeing that the village and township of Cuyahoga Falls occupied the same territory, the village council disbanded and the community was only a township until 1868.
In 1841 the Summit County Board of Commissioners named Cuyahoga Falls county seat. The state legislature then intervened and put the location of the county seat up to a popular vote. Akron won and has been the county seat ever since. In spite of being named the county seat Cuyahoga Falls never really functioned as such.
In March of 1851 the township of Cuyahoga Falls was created out of the village limits. They covered the same territory so the village council voted to adjourn sine die, letting the village be run under township jusidiction until June 3, 1868 when the municipal government returned.
In 1985 Cuyahoga Falls merged with Northampton Township, the first merger of a city and township in Ohio.
Cuyahoga Falls had been founded as an industrial city, taking advantage of the river power. By the 1970s, though, it had become a residential community. This changed, though, when Don Robart became mayor. He had been in favor of the merger with Northampton Township because of the additional land that could be used for development. Parts of that area have since been used for industrial development. Commercial development has also picked up, especially on the Howe Avenue area at the southern border of the city.
Source:
CuyahogaFallsOH.com
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