Chagrin Falls, Ohio Facts for Kids

Chagrin Falls is a small village located in eastern Cuyahoga County, Ohio, in the United States. In 2020, about 4,188 people lived there. The village got its name from the beautiful waterfalls on the Chagrin River that run right through the town. It's a suburb of Cleveland, meaning it's a community close to the bigger city of Cleveland.

History of Chagrin Falls
Geography and the Famous Waterfall
Population and People
Arts, Culture, and Fun Events
Education in Chagrin Falls
Local Media
Notable People from Chagrin Falls
See also

History of Chagrin Falls

Chagrin Falls was first planned out in 1837. The village is named after the amazing waterfalls found along the Chagrin River. This river flows right through the middle of the town. The village officially became a town in 1844. It was formed from parts of three different areas in two counties.

Geography and the Famous Waterfall

According to the United States Census Bureau, Chagrin Falls covers a total area of about 2.14 square miles (5.54 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part covered by water. A very special landmark in the village is the Chagrin Falls waterfall itself. It's a beautiful spot that many people enjoy visiting.

Population and People

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1870	1,016	—
1880	1,211	19.2%
1890	1,243	2.6%
1900	1,586	27.6%
1910	1,931	21.8%
1920	2,237	15.8%
1930	2,739	22.4%
1940	2,505	−8.5%
1950	3,085	23.2%
1960	3,458	12.1%
1970	4,848	40.2%
1980	4,335	−10.6%
1990	4,146	−4.4%
2000	4,024	−2.9%
2010	4,104	2.0%
2020	4,188	2.0%
2023 (est.)	4,087	−0.4%
U.S. Decennial Census

Chagrin Falls waterfall on the Chagrin River near the center of Chagrin Falls

In 2010, about 4,104 people lived in Chagrin Falls. There were 1,872 households, which are like homes where people live. Many of these households were families. The village has a mix of people of different ages. About 23.8% of the residents were under 18 years old. Also, 22.8% of the people were 65 years old or older.

Arts, Culture, and Fun Events

Chagrin Falls has a lively arts and culture scene. There are many interesting things to do and see.

Chagrin Valley Little Theatre

The Chagrin Valley Little Theatre is a very old community theater. It has been around since 1930. This makes it one of the oldest community theaters in the entire country.

Annual Swim Meet

The Chagrin Valley Recreation Center hosts a big annual swim meet. It's called the Chagrin Valley Invitation Relays. This event has been held every summer since 1968. It's one of the longest-running swim meets in Northeast Ohio.

Chagrin Falls in Pop Culture

Chagrin Falls has been mentioned in several popular TV shows, songs, and comics:

The Canadian rock band The Tragically Hip has a song called "Chagrin Falls." It's on their 1998 album Phantom Power.
In the TV show How I Met Your Mother, a character named Ted Mosby mentioned a made-up "Chagrin Falls Country Club."
The character Ensign Charles Parker from the 1960s sitcom McHale's Navy is from Chagrin Falls.
The 1977 TV movie The Gathering was filmed right in Chagrin Falls.
The downtown area of Chagrin Falls is shown on the back cover of a Calvin and Hobbes comic book collection. The creator, Bill Watterson, grew up in Chagrin Falls.
The famous Popeye comic strip was drawn in Chagrin Falls for many years by cartoonist Bela "Bill" Zaboly.
The fictional town of Angel Falls, Ohio, in a book series by Miranda Liasson, is partly based on Chagrin Falls.

The Pumpkin Roll

Every October, Chagrin Falls has an unofficial event called the Pumpkin Roll. It's a fun local tradition.

Education in Chagrin Falls

Chagrin Falls is part of the Chagrin Falls Exempted Village School District. This school district serves several nearby villages. These include Chagrin Falls, South Russell, Bentleyville, and part of Moreland Hills. The main high school for the area is Chagrin Falls High School.

Local Media

The village has its own weekly newspaper. It's called the Chagrin Valley Times. The newspaper is produced right in Chagrin Falls.

Notable People from Chagrin Falls

Many interesting people have come from Chagrin Falls. Here are a few:

Lisa Banes, an actress.
Ellis Burks, a well-known baseball player.
Tim Conway, a famous comedic actor.
Casey Cott, an actor known for playing Kevin Keller on Riverdale.
Corey Cott, a Broadway actor.
Doug Kenney, who helped start National Lampoon magazine.
Rick Manning, a former baseball player for the Cleveland Indians.
Lee Unkrich, an Academy Award-winning film director, known for Toy Story 3.
Bill Watterson, the amazing creator of the Calvin and Hobbes comic strip.
Bela "Bill" Zaboly, a cartoonist who drew the Popeye comic strip.

Chagrin Falls, Ohio facts for kids

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