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Westlake, Ohio
Westlake Porter Public Library
Westlake Porter Public Library
Official seal of Westlake, Ohio
Seal
Motto(s): 
Pride, tradition, community
Location of Westlake in Ohio (left) and in Cuyahoga County, Ohio (right)
Location of Westlake in Ohio (left) and in Cuyahoga County, Ohio (right)
Country United States
State Ohio
County Cuyahoga
Dover Township first settled October 10, 1810
Dover Village incorporated 1911
City of Westlake incorporated 1957
Government
 • Type Mayor-council
Area
 • Total 15.94 sq mi (41.28 km2)
 • Land 15.93 sq mi (41.27 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2)  0%
Elevation
709 ft (216 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 34,228
 • Density 2,148.25/sq mi (829.44/km2)
  census
Time zone UTC−5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Code
44145
Area code(s) 440
FIPS code 39-83622
GNIS feature ID 1061762

Westlake is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. It is a suburb located about 12 miles west of downtown Cleveland. In 2020, the city had a population of 34,228 people.

History of Westlake

The area that is now Westlake was first settled by European Americans on October 10, 1810. At that time, it was known as Dover Township.

Over the years, parts of Dover Township separated to form other towns. In 1901, the northern part became Bay Village. In 1912, a southern part joined North Olmsted.

The remaining residents of Dover Township then formed Dover Village in 1913. This new village also included a small piece of Olmsted Township.

To avoid confusion with another city named Dover in Ohio, Dover Village changed its name to Westlake in 1940. Westlake officially became a city in 1957.

Geography of Westlake

Westlake is located at 41°27′16″N 81°55′43″W.

The city covers a total area of about 15.93 square miles (41.27 square kilometers). All of this area is land.

People and Population

Westlake has grown quite a bit over the years. Here's how its population has changed:

Historical population
Census Pop.
1920 1,754
1930 2,453 39.9%
1940 3,200 30.5%
1950 4,912 53.5%
1960 12,906 162.7%
1970 15,689 21.6%
1980 19,475 24.1%
1990 27,018 38.7%
2000 31,719 17.4%
2010 32,729 3.2%
2020 34,228 4.6%
Sources:

Community Life

In 2010, there were 32,729 people living in Westlake. There were 13,870 households and 8,443 families. The city had about 2,055 people per square mile.

Most people in Westlake are White (91.2%). Other groups include Asian (4.9%), African American (1.6%), and people of two or more races (1.6%). About 2.5% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

Many different languages are spoken in Westlake. While most people speak English (81.3%), others speak Arabic (1.62%), Spanish (1.5%), Greek (1.3%), German (0.7%), and Chinese (0.7%).

The average age of people in Westlake in 2010 was 45 years old. About 21.5% of residents were under 18.

Economy and Jobs

Crocker Summer 080 (2)
Crocker Park in 2006

Westlake is home to several important companies. These include Nordson, American Greetings, Hyland Software, and TravelCenters of America. These companies provide many jobs for people in the area.

One popular place in Westlake is Crocker Park. It's a large area with shops, restaurants, and places to live. It's designed to look like a small French town.

Major Employers

Here are some of the biggest employers in Westlake, based on a 2021 report:

# Employer # of employees
1 University Hospitals Health System 3,202
2 Hyland Software, Incorporated 1,987
3 American Greetings Corporation 1,167
4 TA Operating, LLC 835
5 Westlake City School District 707
6 City of Westlake 413
7 Equity Administrative Services 412
8 The Cleveland Clinic Foundation 395
9 Budget Dumpster, LLC 333
10 KeyBank National Association 199

Arts and Culture

Westlake has many places for arts and culture.

  • The Westlake Porter Public Library serves the community.
  • Lakewood Country Club is a golf course that has hosted professional golf tournaments.
  • The Clague House Museum shows the history of Westlake, back when it was called Dover. This historic house was built in 1876.
  • Clague Playhouse is a community theater. It puts on five plays each season, including both classic and modern shows.
  • The White Oaks Restaurant and Dover Gardens Tavern were once secret bars (called speakeasies) during the Prohibition era. This was a time when alcohol was illegal in the United States.

Education in Westlake

The Westlake City School District is known for its high quality. It often ranks among the top school districts in Ohio. The district's goal is to "Educate for Excellence."

The schools in Westlake include:

  • Westlake Elementary School (for grades K–4)
  • Dover Intermediate School (for grades 5–6)
  • Lee Burneson Middle School (for grades 7–8)
  • Westlake High School (for grades 9–12)

Westlake High School has its own TV station, WHBS-TV. It stands for the Westlake High school Broadcasting System. You can watch it on local cable channels in the Westlake area.

Notable People

Many well-known people have connections to Westlake, including:

  • Travis Kelce, an NFL tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs.
  • Bernie Moreno, a U.S. Senator from Ohio.
  • Jake Paul, a popular YouTuber and boxer.
  • Logan Paul, a YouTuber, actor, and WWE wrestler.
  • Brian K. Vaughan, a writer for comics and television.

Sister Cities

Westlake has partnerships with other towns around the world, called "sister cities." These partnerships help people from different places learn about each other's cultures.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Westlake (Ohio) para niños

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