Neighborhoods in Akron, Ohio facts for kids

Merriman Valley is a beautiful area in Akron, Ohio, known for its lovely homes and green spaces. It's made up of two main parts: Merriman Heights and Merriman Woods. Merriman Heights is one of Akron's wealthiest neighborhoods, with large, historic homes. Merriman Woods features more modern homes built in the 1970s.

Many important people have lived in Merriman Heights, including famous newspaper publisher John S. Knight, Senator Charles Dick, and Dr. Robert Smith. The founders of the Goodyear and Firestone rubber companies also made their homes here.

Merriman Heights is located between Memorial Parkway and Portage Country Club. It's also close to Sand Run Park. Homes in Merriman Heights were built from 1911 onwards. The area is sometimes called "Rubber Baron Heights." This is because many leaders of the rubber industry built their grand homes here. One famous example is Stan Hywet Hall, built by the family who founded Goodyear. Homes in Merriman Heights are very large, often starting at 5,000 square feet. Some, like Stan Hywet Hall, can be as big as 21,000 square feet! These homes show off many different styles, like French Norman, Colonial, Tudor, and Spanish designs. Many have indoor pools and are surrounded by trees.

Merriman Woods has multi-level homes built later, in the mid-to-late 1970s. These homes are also quite large, ranging from 3,000 to over 8,000 square feet. The Merriman Valley area is very close to Cuyahoga National Park and has some of Akron's best public schools.

Fairlawn Heights

Fairlawn Heights is a charming neighborhood known for its early to mid-20th century architecture. It's located between Interstate 77 and West Market Street. The area has large, wooded lots on a hillside. This makes it feel like you are in the countryside, even though it's just minutes from downtown Akron.

Homes in Fairlawn Heights usually start around 3,000 square feet. Some can be as large as 10,000 square feet. Most houses were built in the late 1920s and early 1930s, or from the late 1940s to the mid-1960s. You can see many different architectural styles here. Tudor Revival is very popular, along with Georgian Revival and Colonial styles. There are also French Norman, French Chateaux, Bauhaus, and mid-century modern homes.

Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill is one of Akron's main shopping areas. It's located in Northeast Akron, bordering Cuyahoga Falls and Tallmadge. The northern part of Chapel Hill is mostly commercial. Tallmadge Avenue has a mix of shops and businesses. South of Tallmadge Avenue, you'll find more single and multi-family homes.

Major retail stores are located along Home Avenue, Howe Road, and Brittain Road. The Chapel Hill Mall used to be a big shopping spot in the area. Chapel Hill is easy to reach from Ohio State Highway 8, with three exits. It's one of Akron's smaller neighborhoods for homes. About 61% of people living in Chapel Hill are under 45 years old. The neighborhood also has a higher number of older residents than the rest of the city. In 1999, the average household income was $33,930.

Ellet

Ellet is a neighborhood that feels a bit separate from other parts of Akron. It's divided by Interstate 76, the Little Cuyahoga River, and an airport. Ellet joined the City of Akron in 1929. In the 1990s, when Akron's population was shrinking, Ellet actually grew! Many new houses were built here after 1990.

Ellet is on the far eastern edge of Akron. It borders Mogadore and Springfield Township. This neighborhood is home to several of Akron's big attractions. You can find the University of Akron's Rubber Bowl here. Next door is Derby Downs, famous for the yearly All-American Soap Box Derby race. The Goodyear Airdock, once used for building Goodyear blimps, is also nearby. Today, Lockheed Martin owns it. The Akron Fulton Airport is also in Ellet. Commercial areas are mainly on East Market Street and Canton Road. In 1999, the average household income in Ellet was $40,864.

Elizabeth Park Valley

Elizabeth Park Valley grew up around the old Ohio & Erie Canal in the mid-1800s. It's just a short walk from downtown Akron. Many homes in this area even have old canal locks in their backyards! The park here is part of the Cascade Locks Historic District. You can visit the restored Mustill House & Store, which was a general store for canal users from the 1820s to the late 1800s.

The Towpath Trail also runs through this area. This trail is popular with hikers and bikers. It will eventually stretch all the way from Lake Erie to New Philadelphia. In 1999, the average household income in Elizabeth Park Valley was $28,430.

Firestone Park

Harvey S. Firestone, the founder of Firestone Tire and Rubber Company, wanted to create a special neighborhood. He designed Firestone Park with tree-lined streets that curved around a central park. He imagined families of all income levels living together in different styles of homes. He also wanted churches, schools, and stores to be within walking distance.

Firestone hired Alling S. DeForest, his own landscape architect, to design the neighborhood. Firestone Park is located in south Akron, next to Coventry Township. It has easy access to two major highways, Interstate 77 and Interstate 277 / U.S. Highway 224. The Firestone Park neighborhood is known for its educated, working-class population with good incomes and home values. At the heart of the community is Firestone Park, a public park shaped like the original Firestone company emblem. It's surrounded by churches, a school, a community center, and a new library.

Goodyear Heights

In 1910, Frank A. Seiberling, who founded Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co., saw that there weren't enough homes for his workers. He believed that workers moving often was costing the company a lot of money. To fix this, Seiberling decided to buy a large piece of farmland near the Goodyear factories. Even though the company wasn't sure about the idea, Seiberling bought the land himself.

He hired his personal landscape architect to plan the neighborhood. They designed curved streets instead of a grid pattern. They also made sure the homes had modern conveniences like gas, electricity, and telephones. The main roads were even planned for streetcars. Goodyear Heights is mostly a neighborhood of single-family homes. It borders Tallmadge and has access to I-76. You can find local shops at Six Corners and along Eastwood Avenue. Goodyear Heights Metropolitan Park offers many fun activities. Most homes were built between 1940 and 1980. In 1999, the average household income in Goodyear Heights was $42,746, which was a bit higher than the city average.

Highland Square

Highland Square is known as one of Akron's most unique and artistic neighborhoods. It's a pleasant area where you can easily walk around. You'll find an organic grocery store, a library, a theater, and many restaurants and cafes. The Square is considered Akron's artsy and urban district. It has many historical and modern apartment buildings, making it more densely populated than other parts of Akron.

Many artists and musicians live in Highland Square. Their work can be seen in the shops and public art around the neighborhood. The Highland Theatre is a historic landmark that anchors the commercial part of the area. The Highland Square Neighborhood Association works to keep the area special. Every summer, they host the PorchRokr Music and Arts Festival. This festival features local artists and musicians performing on porches and lawns, drawing thousands of people.

The oldest feature in the region is the Portage Path. This historic pathway was used by Native Americans to carry their canoes between the Cuyahoga and Tuscarawas Rivers. A statue of an Indian stands at the corner of Portage Path and West Market Street, watching over this famous route. In 1999, the average household income in Highland Square was $42,958, slightly higher than the city average.

Wallhaven (Sunset view, Hunter's Lodge and Castle)

Wallhaven is a commercial and residential area located where Market Avenue, Exchange Street, and Hawkins Avenue meet. It's home to many of Akron's original and unique spots. You can find Swensons Hamburger stand here, which opened in 1934 and is famous for its burgers. Ken Stewart's Grille is also in Wallhaven, offering a fine dining experience. You'll also find banks, pharmacies, and other essential businesses.

Wallhaven includes several distinct subdivisions:

• Sunset View: This area has large, older homes, similar in size to those in Merriman Heights. Most were built between the early 1920s and mid-1930s. It's considered one of Akron's top vintage housing neighborhoods. The O'Neil Mansion, built by William O'Neil (founder of General Tire), is located here.
• Castle: Located around Castle Boulevard, this area features attractive homes from the mid-1920s to mid-1930s.
• Hunters Lodge: This area was once used by prominent Akron families for horse riding and hunting. It's centered around Hunter's Lodge Park.

Many large mansions, once part of "Millionaires Row," can be found along Market Street. Some are still private homes, while others are now offices or schools. For example, Our Lady Of The Elms, a top all-girls school, is located in what was once a grand Renaissance Revival Mansion.

Kenmore

Kenmore grew very quickly between 1910 and 1920 as a new residential area. It was built along the trolley line that connected southwest Akron and Barberton. Kenmore became its own self-sufficient city, with its own doctors, lawyers, and churches. Kenmore Boulevard was the main shopping and business center. In 1929, the residents of Kenmore asked to become part of the City of Akron.

Kenmore is located in the southwest part of Akron. It is divided by Interstate 277 and U.S. Highway 224. In 1999, the average household income in Kenmore was $39,776.

Lane - Wooster

The Lane – Wooster neighborhood is just west of downtown Akron. In the early 1900s, many African-American families moving to Akron from the south made this area their home. The Akron Zoo, which has been updated recently, is located in Lane Wooster. Miller South School for the Visual and Performing Arts, a school for grades 4-8, also draws students from all over Summit County. Wooster Avenue was recently renamed Vernon Odom Boulevard, honoring the neighborhood's African-American heritage. This is Akron's largest Black neighborhood.

The Innerbelt highway was built in the 1970s. While some say it helps Akron's growth, others believe it caused the city to lose some of its close-knit feeling. Lane Wooster is easy to get to from three highways: The Martin Luther King Jr. Freeway (Ohio State Highway 59), Interstate 76, and Interstate 77. In 1999, the average household income in Lane Wooster was $28,804.

Middlebury

Middlebury was the very first settlement in what is now Akron. It was a village on the Little Cuyahoga River. Today, Middlebury is located just east of the University of Akron. It's home to the world headquarters of Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company and Summa Hospital. Middlebury is accessible by Interstate 76 and Ohio State Highway 8.

Middlebury is one of Akron's most diverse neighborhoods. It has the highest percentage of homes built before 1940 compared to other Akron neighborhoods. Even though new housing development was slow in the 1990s, the average household income saw a large increase. In 1999, the average household income in Middlebury was $30,600.

North Hill

North Hill was a "melting pot" during Akron's growth, with many Italian immigrants settling here. The main roads still have older commercial buildings, mixed with car lots and mechanics. The area faced challenges when the bridge connecting it to downtown Akron closed. Even after a new bridge, the All-American Bridge, opened in 1981, it took time for businesses to return.

Many authentic Italian restaurants still stand, reminding people of the old North Hill. This was a place where Italian immigrants could speak their language and keep their traditions. While some Italian families still live here, the area has become much more diverse over time. In 1999, the average household income in North Hill was $40,240, which was similar to the city's average.

Rolling Acres

Rolling Acres has fewer homes than most Akron neighborhoods, with just over 1,000 housing units. Like Chapel Hill, Rolling Acres is a major commercial area, located on Akron's southwestern border. The now-closed Rolling Acres Mall used to be the main attraction here.

Rolling Acres has more undeveloped land than typical Akron neighborhoods. Romig Road, once busy with the mall and large stores, is now mostly empty. East Avenue has a mix of shops and homes. Auto dealers and other businesses are found along Vernon Odom Boulevard. Even though it's not mainly a residential area, there are always plans to build more homes here. The Mud Run Golf Course is in the center of the neighborhood. In 1999, the average household income in Rolling Acres was $41,467, just above the city average.

University Park

The University of Akron campus is the main feature of the University Park neighborhood. Areas south and east of the university are mostly working-class, with many homes rented by students. A group of shops on Exchange Street, called Spicertown, serves the area, along with other shops on East Market Street. University Park is easy to reach from Interstate 76 and Ohio State Highway 8.

Most people living in University Park are young adults, with over 90% of the population under 45 years old. More than half of adults aged 25 and over have attended college. Over 23% of University Park residents have a college or graduate degree, which is higher than the city average. In 1999, the average household income in University Park was $30,799.