The city's nickname is "Crossroads of the Nation." This name came from where the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad once crossed the Southwestern Electric Line. This line connected Cleveland and Wooster, Ohio. Even though the old railroad stopped running in 1931, the nickname and city seal now show where Interstate 71 and the Ohio Turnpike meet today.

History of Strongsville
- Early Development and Important People
- Historic Places in Strongsville
Geography and Nature
Population and People
Education in Strongsville
- Strongsville Teachers' Strike (2013)
Transportation
Places to Visit in Strongsville
Famous People from Strongsville
See also

History of Strongsville

Strongsville was founded by settlers who came to the new Connecticut Western Reserve. The city is named after John Stoughton Strong, who led the group. He arrived in 1816 with his family and other pioneers. They cleared land and built log cabins.

The area was surveyed and divided into lots for John Stoughton Strong to sell. Strongsville officially became "Township No. 5, 14th range" on February 25, 1818. Later, it became a village in 1923 and then a city in 1961.

Early Development and Important People

John Stoughton Strong, who was from Vermont, was very important in helping Strongsville grow. He brought in new settlers from other states by trading cattle. Over the years, he helped build settlements, roads, businesses, schools, and churches.

He had the first mill built in 1820 on the Rocky River in Albion. The mill is gone now, but its dam and foundation can still be seen in Bonnie Park. He also encouraged skilled people, like Dr. William Baldwin, to move to the town. The John Stoughton Strong House is now a historic landmark.

Many main streets in Strongsville are named after other important people and landowners from the city's past, such as Howe, Drake, Shurmer, and Whitney.

A Historic American Landscapes Survey photograph of the Alanson Pomeroy House.

The Pomeroy House was built in 1847. It was known as "the Homestead" for over 100 years. Alanson Pomeroy, the owner, was an important resident. He hosted members of his church and offered a spare room to travelers.

During the American Civil War, the Homestead was a stop on the Underground Railroad. This was a secret network that helped enslaved people escape to freedom. Alanson Pomeroy hid them on his property. From Strongsville, these people were taken to boats on the Rocky River to travel to Canada. The Alanson Pomeroy House is also a historic landmark. Today, it's a restaurant called Don's Pomeroy House Restaurant & Pub.

In 1853, the family of John D. Rockefeller moved to Strongsville. John D. Rockefeller later became a very famous businessman.

On April 11, 1965, a strong F4 tornado hit Strongsville. It was part of a larger group of tornadoes that day.

Historic Places in Strongsville

Several buildings in Strongsville are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important historical sites.

Alanson Pomeroy House
John Stoughton Strong House
Strongsville Town Hall
Valerius C. Stone House

Geography and Nature

Strongsville is located at 41°18′46″N 81°49′55″W. The city covers about 24.64 square miles (63.79 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a very small amount of water.

The east branch of the Rocky River flows through Strongsville. It enters from North Royalton and leaves towards Berea. Valley Parkway runs along the river. This area is part of the Cleveland Metroparks and is called Mill Stream Run. It includes Bonnie Park and Ranger Lake. This park has places for picnics, two small ponds, and sports fields. Bonnie Park is a great spot for hiking, horseback riding, and paved trails.

Population and People

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1930	1,349	—
1940	2,216	64.3%
1950	3,504	58.1%
1960	8,504	142.7%
1970	15,182	78.5%
1980	28,577	88.2%
1990	35,308	23.6%
2000	43,858	24.2%
2010	44,750	2.0%
2020	46,491	3.9%
2021 (est.)	46,042	2.9%
Sources:

In 2010, there were 44,750 people living in Strongsville. There were 17,659 households and 12,563 families. The city had about 1,817 people per square mile (701 people per square kilometer).

Most of the people in Strongsville are White (92.0%). There are also African American (1.9%), Asian (4.1%), and other racial groups. About 2.0% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

The average age in Strongsville in 2010 was 44.2 years old. About 23.3% of residents were under 18, and 16.1% were 65 or older.

Education in Strongsville

Strongsville has a public school system that serves students from preschool through high school.

Strongsville High School is for students in grades 9 to 12.
Strongsville Middle School is for grades 6-8.
There are five elementary schools for students in pre-kindergarten through 5th grade: Chapman, Kinsner, Muraski, Surrarrer, and Whitney.
A private Catholic school, St. Joseph and John's, serves children up to 8th grade.

In 2012, citizens voted to approve money to build a new middle school. This new school combined the old Center and Albion middle schools. The money also helped with renovations to the high school and technology upgrades for the elementary schools. The new middle school opened for the 2016–2017 school year.

School Name	Address	School Mascot	Grades
Strongsville High School	20025 Lunn Rd	Mustangs	9th - 12th Grade
Strongsville Middle School	13200 Pearl Rd	Mustangs	6th-8th Grade
Chapman Elementary	13883 Drake Road	Chargers/Mustangs	K-5th Grade
Kinsner Elementary	19091 Waterford Parkway	Cobras	K-5th Grade
Muraski Elementary	20270 Royalton Road	Wildcats	K-5th Grade
Surrarrer Elementary	9306 Priem Road	Roadrunners	K-5th Grade
Whitney Elementary	13548 Whitney Road	Bears	K-5th Grade
Strongsville Early Learning Preschool	19543 Lunn Rd	Mustangs	Preschool

Strongsville Teachers' Strike (2013)

In 2013, the Strongsville Education Association organized a labor strike that lasted for eight weeks. Teachers stopped working to protest issues like their contracts, pay raises, and health insurance costs.

The teachers believed the school board had enough money to meet their requests. However, the Strongsville Board of Education stated that the school district was losing money. After many discussions, the strike finally ended after eight weeks.

Transportation

The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority provides bus service in Strongsville, helping people get around the city.

Places to Visit in Strongsville

Here are some interesting places you can visit in Strongsville:

Beebetown - A historic neighborhood.
Brunswick Auto Mart Arena - An ice rink in Strongsville.
Ehrnfelt Recreation and Senior Center - A community center.
Freedom Trail - A mile-long paved walkway that honors war veterans from Strongsville. It has a gazebo with a list of veterans.
Gardenview Horticultural Park - A beautiful garden park.
Mill Stream Run Reservation - Part of the Cleveland Metroparks, with the Rocky River running through it.
The Pomeroy House - A historic building that was once a stop on the Underground Railroad.
Preserve of Strongsville - Strongsville's only national preserve.
Southpark Mall - A large shopping mall.
Strongsville Business & Technology Park - A big area for businesses and industries.
Strongsville Commons and Clock Tower - A central spot where many events happen, like the Strongsville Homecoming and the Winter Lighting Ceremony.
Strongsville Historical Society and Village - This place has original historic buildings from the 1800s and early 1900s. It also has a replica of the log cabins built when Strongsville was founded. They host a Harvest Festival every September.
Strongsville Water Tower - This water tower was once painted by Ziggy comic strip creator Tom Wilson. In 2019, it was repainted green, covering the Ziggy figure.
Town Center Park - Opened in 2024, this park has a community pavilion, playgrounds, a food truck area, and courts for tennis, pickleball, sand volleyball, and basketball.
Walter F. Ehrnfelt Covered Bridge - A covered bridge.

Strongsville Clock Tower

Famous People from Strongsville

Many notable people have connections to Strongsville:

Zebedee Coltrin (1804–1887) - A Mormon pioneer.
Tom Dimitroff Sr. (1935-1996) - A football player and coach.
Bruce Drennan (1950-) - A sportscaster.
Walter F. Ehrnfelt (1932-2003) - A politician.
Asmahan Farhat (1990-) - A swimmer.
Jenny Fish (1949-) - An Olympic speed skater.
Nate Freese - A football player.
Morris E. Gallup (1825–1893) - A member of the Ohio House of Representatives.
Jackie Gayda (1981-) - A professional wrestler.
Olga D. González-Sanabria - A scientist and inventor.
Michael Green (1989-) - A soccer player.
Joe Haden - A football player.
Paul Hoernemann (1916-1965) - A college football coach.
Mark Hunter - A photographer and lead singer of Chimaira.
Tim Kamczyc (1990-) - A basketball player.
Drew Kaser - An NFL punter.
Reggie Lee (1974-) - An actor.
Fred McLeod (1952-2019) - A sportscaster.
Dayton Miller (1866–1941) - A physicist, astronomer, and acoustician.
Lorin Morgan-Richards (1975-) - An author and illustrator, known for children's literature.
Tom Patton - A politician.
Kyle Prandi (1979-) - An Olympic diver.
Mike Pruitt - A football player.
John D. Rockefeller (1839-1937) - A famous businessman and philanthropist.
William Rockefeller (1841–1922) - A businessman and co-founder of Standard Oil.
George Myron Sabin (1833-1890) - A federal judge.
Isaac Sowells (1982-) - A football player.
Herb Stein (1898-1980) - A football player.
Gary Suhadolnik - A politician.
Frances L. Swift (1837-1916) - A church and temperance leader.
Daniel Martin Varisco (1951-) - An anthropologist and historian.
Kyle Veris (1983-) - A soccer player.
Matt Warburton - A television writer.
Aaron White (1992-) - A professional basketball player.
D. J. Woods (1989-) - An AFL football player.

Strongsville, Ohio facts for kids

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