Glenville, Cleveland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Glenville
Neighborhood of Cleveland
Wade Park Avenue Bridge
Country	United States
State	Ohio
County	Cuyahoga County
City	Cleveland
Population  (2020)
• Total	22,581
Demographics
• White	3.3%
• Black	93.4%
• Hispanic (of any race)	0.7%
• Asian and Pacific Islander	0.5%
• Mixed and Other	2.8%
Time zone	UTC-5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes	44108
Area code(s)	216
Median income	$26,434
Source: 2020 U.S. Census, City Planning Commission of Cleveland

Glenville is a lively neighborhood located on the East Side of Cleveland, Ohio. It's bordered by the town of Bratenahl and Lake Erie to the north. To the east, you'll find East Cleveland, and to the south, the neighborhoods of Hough and University Circle. Glenville also connects to Collinwood and St. Clair–Superior through important streets and parks.

History of Glenville

Glenville started as its own small village in 1870. For a while, it even included the nearby lakeside village of Bratenahl. But in 1904, Bratenahl became separate when Cleveland officially added Glenville to its city limits.

Early Days as a Resort Community

In its early years, Glenville was a quiet place. It was mostly a vacation spot for wealthier people from Cleveland. It was also home to the Glenville Race Track, where horse races were held, and the Cleveland Country Club. After World War I, many new homes were built. This quickly changed Glenville from a calm village into a busy city neighborhood.

Changes in Population

From the early 1900s until the 1950s, Glenville was mainly a Jewish neighborhood. There was also a small African American population. At one point, over 90% of the people living in Glenville were Jewish. East 105th Street was especially known for its many Jewish-owned shops, bakeries, and other businesses. Several synagogues were built here, and many of them are now used as African American churches.

By the mid-1950s, many Jewish families began moving to other suburbs nearby. Because of this, Glenville quickly became an African-American neighborhood.

Challenges and Community Spirit

In the 1960s, there were some difficult times in the neighborhood. This included the 1968 Glenville Shootout. Like other cities in the U.S. during the Civil Rights Movement, these events were caused by racial tensions. They led to many people moving out of the area.

Today, Glenville is mostly an African-American community. For a long time, it faced challenges like poverty and crime. However, in recent years, Glenville has been getting positive attention. Its high school football team, for example, has become one of the best known in Ohio and even the country!

Education in Glenville

Students in Glenville attend Glenville High School and its related elementary and middle schools. These schools serve the entire community.

Parks and Green Spaces

Glenville is lucky to have beautiful parks. To the northwest, you'll find Gordon Park, which is part of the Cleveland Lakefront State Park. Along its western side is the large and winding Rockefeller Park.

Rockefeller Park's Features

John D. Rockefeller gave the land for Rockefeller Park to the city in 1897. This park is 276 acres of wooded land, making it the biggest park completely inside Cleveland. A section of Martin Luther King Boulevard runs through it. The park is famous for its historic greenhouse and the Cleveland Cultural Gardens, which celebrate different cultures from around the world.

Notable People from Glenville

Many famous people have lived in Glenville! Here are a few:

Benny Friedman, a famous football player

• Leon Bibb, a TV news anchor for WEWS.
• Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, a popular hip-hop/rap group from Cleveland.
• Walter Fovargue, a professional golfer and golf course designer.
• Benny Friedman, an NFL Hall of Fame football player and coach.
• Abram Garfield, an architect and the son of U.S. President James Abram Garfield.
• Willie Gilbert, a playwright who writes plays for the theater.
• Ted Ginn Jr., an NFL player who played for teams like the New Orleans Saints.
• Steve Harvey, a well-known actor and comedian.
• Wilson Hirschfeld, a journalist who writes for newspapers and magazines.
• Cardale Jones, a quarterback who helped the Ohio State Buckeyes win the NCAA Football Championship in 2015.
• Jerome Lawrence, another talented playwright.
• Hal Lebovitz, a sports journalist and editor, famous for his work at The Plain Dealer.
• Jesse Owens, a legendary track and field athlete who won four Gold Medals at the 1936 Summer Olympic Games.
• Rich Paul, a sports agent who represents many famous athletes.
• Jerry Siegel, a writer and co-creator of the first comic book superhero, Superman.
• Joe Shuster, an artist and co-creator of the first comic book superhero, Superman.
• Troy Smith, the winner of the 2006 Heisman Trophy Award. He was a quarterback for the Ohio State Buckeyes.
• Donte Whitner, an NFL player who played for the Cleveland Browns.
• Michael R. White, a former mayor of Cleveland, Ohio.
• Pierre Woods, an NFL linebacker who played for the New England Patriots.