Solon, Ohio facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Solon
City
Solon City Hall
Flag Logo
Location in Cuyahoga County and the state of Ohio
Country	United States
State	Ohio
County	Cuyahoga
Area
• Total	20.43 sq mi (52.91 km2)
• Land	20.31 sq mi (52.61 km2)
• Water	0.11 sq mi (0.30 km2)
Elevation	1,040 ft (320 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	24,262
• Density	1,194.35/sq mi (461.15/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	44139
Area code(s)	440
FIPS code	39-72928
GNIS feature ID	1046426
Website	https://www.solonohio.org/

Solon (pronounced SOH-lun) is a city in Ohio, United States. It is located in the southeastern part of Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Solon is a suburb of Cleveland and is part of the larger Cleveland metropolitan area. In 2020, about 24,262 people lived there.

History of Solon

Early Settlers and Farming Life

The first settlers arrived in Solon in 1820. They came from Connecticut to live in an area called the Connecticut Western Reserve. The township was named after Lorenzo Solon Bull. He was the son of Isaac Bull, one of the first people to settle there. People say Lorenzo's middle name was chosen because it came from "Solon," a famous lawmaker from Ancient Greece. He was known as the "father of democracy."

Early settlers faced many challenges. In Solon, it was hard to drain the land because of wetlands. But they worked hard to overcome these problems. Solon Township became a good place for farming. Farmers grew corn and wheat. They also had dairy farms, including five cheese factories. By 1850, the population of Solon Township reached 1,034 people.

Railroads and Town Growth

Railroads helped Solon grow a lot. Cleveland, a nearby city, was a major railroad center. In 1857, a railroad line was built through Solon. This line connected Cleveland to Youngstown, Ohio.

How Solon Became a City

Solon was planned like many towns in New England. It had a public square in the town center. A main road, called SOM Center Road (now Ohio 91), was built through Solon. This road connected Solon with other towns like Orange and Mayfield.

Solon Township included the current City of Solon and the villages of Bentleyville and Glenwillow. In 1927, Solon became a village. It officially became a city in 1961. The city is run by a mayor and a city council.

Planning and Development

Solon was one of the first cities to use a special plan for its land. This plan helped the city have strong industries. It also protected its neighborhoods from industrial activities. Most shops and businesses are in the town center. This makes them easy for everyone to reach.

Solon also has many green spaces. There are 687 acres (2.78 km2) of city parks and recreation areas. It also has 360 acres (1.46 km2) of Cleveland Metroparks and three golf courses.

In 1991, a major highway, US 422, was finished. It runs east-west just north of the town center. This highway makes it easy to travel across Northeast Ohio. It connects Cleveland, Solon, and goes all the way into Pennsylvania.

Geography and Climate

Solon's Location and Size

The United States Census Bureau says Solon covers about 20.49 square miles (53.07 km2). Most of this area, about 20.36 square miles (52.73 km2), is land. The rest, about 0.13 square miles (0.34 km2), is water.

Weather in Solon

Solon has a humid continental climate. This means it has four clear seasons. Summers are hot, and winters are cold and snowy. The highest temperature ever recorded was 101°F (38°C) in 1918. The lowest was -25°F (-32°C) in 1994.

Solon gets a lot of rain and snow, about 42.78 inches (108.7 cm) each year. This is partly because of the "lake effect" from nearby Lake Erie. Solon is also on the western edge of the North American snowbelt.

People and Population

Income and Education

In 2010, the average income for a family in Solon was about $112,156. The average income per person was $47,505. Only a small number of families, about 2.0%, lived below the poverty line.

Many adults in Solon have a good education. About 57.0% of people over 25 years old have a bachelor's degree or higher.

Languages and Diversity

In 2000, most people in Solon, 90.8%, spoke English. Other languages spoken included Russian (1.9%), Chinese (1.4%), Spanish (1.1%), and German (0.8%).

Solon has a diverse population with many immigrants. One reason for this diversity is the success of Solon's public schools. The city also has many places of worship, including over a dozen churches and synagogues.

2010 Census Information

The census of 2010 showed there were 23,348 people living in Solon. There were 8,352 households and 6,769 families. The city had about 1146.8 people per square mile (442.8 per km2).

The racial makeup of the city was mostly White (77.5%). There were also African American (10.6%), Asian (10.0%), and a small number of Native American (0.1%) residents. About 1.5% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

About 41.5% of households had children under 18. Most households (68.7%) were married couples living together. The average household had 2.78 people, and the average family had 3.13 people.

The average age in Solon was 43.1 years. About 27.8% of residents were under 18. About 12.4% were 65 or older. The population was 48.7% male and 51.3% female.

Economy and Jobs

Solon's Industrial Growth

In 1929, the Bready Cultimotor tractor company was the first industrial business to come to Solon. Since then, many large international companies have made Solon their home. Some even have their main offices for North America or the whole world here.

Solon is a suburb of Cleveland, but it has enough jobs for its residents. This means people don't have to leave the city to find work.

Main Industries and Employers

Today, Solon has many businesses in five main industries:

• Electronic and electrical equipment
• Industrial and commercial machinery
• Measuring and controlling devices and instruments
• Chemicals and related products
• Fabricated metal products

More than 8,000, or 75%, of Solon's 10,700 manufacturing jobs are in these five areas.

Some of the major companies in Solon include:

• Nestlé (which includes Stouffer Foods)
• Swagelok
• Pentair
• Signature of Solon Country Club
• Keithley Instruments
• Arrow Electronics

There is also a branch of the Cleveland Clinic in Solon.

The Robbins Company, which makes tunnel boring machines, is also based in Solon. It started in 1952 and employs over 150 people in the city.

Top Employers in Solon

Here are the top employers in Solon, based on a 2017 report:

Arts and Culture

The Solon Center for the Arts is located in the historic Old City Hall.

Solon Center for the Arts

The Solon Center for the Arts offers many classes. You can learn about art, music, dance, and theater there. The center also has a special program for seniors (people over 55). It's called "Act II: Aging Creatively through the Arts" and focuses on theater and music.

Music and History

Solon is home to the Solon Philharmonic Orchestra. This orchestra also hosts an annual Young Artists Concerto Competition.

The Solon Historical Society was started in 1968. It is in the old Disciple Church. The society has a museum with items from the 1800s and 1900s. Many of these items honor the city's founders. The museum has old household items, furniture, soda bottles, and school desks. It is open on the second Sunday of every month.

Education in Solon

Solon City Schools

Most students in Solon and nearby Glenwillow go to schools in the Solon City School District. This school district is often ranked as one of the top 10 in Ohio. It has also received praise from magazines like Newsweek and U.S. News & World Report.

Solon Schools have won awards like the Red Quill and Red Quill Legacy awards from the ACT organization. They have also received the National Blue Ribbon School recognition many times. This is one of the highest honors for American schools. In 2017, Niche.com ranked the Solon school district as the best in the United States.

Solon High School

Solon High School has about 1,600–1,700 students each year. Solon Middle School and Orchard Middle School each have 700–900 students. Each elementary school has 400–600 students. In total, the district has about 4,700–5,000 students.

The district has six schools for grades K–12 and one preschool:

• Solon High School (grades 9–12)
• Solon Middle School (grades 7–8)
• Orchard Middle School (grades 5–6)
• Lewis Elementary School (grades K–4)
• Parkside Elementary School (grades K–4)
• Roxbury Elementary School (grades K–4)
• Joseph V. Regano Early Learning Center (Preschool)

The former Arthur Road Elementary School closed after the 2015–2016 school year. It was used as a public preschool and office building before being torn down in 2022.

Private Schools

St. Rita School is a private Catholic school in Solon. It is connected to the St. Rita Roman Catholic Parish Church. The school offers programs for preschool, elementary, and middle school students. St. Rita School has also received the National Blue Ribbon School award.

City Services

Police Department

As of 2014, the Solon Police Department had 46 officers. It also had 14 dispatchers, 16 correction officers, and 8 office staff. There was also an animal warden, 19 auxiliary police, and 6 school guards.

Famous People from Solon

• Steve Dettelbach (born 1965), who is the current director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. He was also a U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.
• Michael Lerner (1941-2023), an actor.
• Georgia T. Robertson (1852–1916), an educator and author.
• Phil Robinson (born 1980), a state representative from Ohio.
• Evelyn Svec Ward (1921–1989), an American artist who worked with fiber.
• Elizabeth Lowe Watson (1842–1927), a lecturer and leader for religious and voting rights.

Images for kids

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  Solon City Hall

• 

  Flag of Solon, Ohio

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  Location of Solon in Cuyahoga County, Ohio

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  Logo of Solon, Ohio

See also

In Spanish: Solon (Ohio) para niños