Historically, Greater Akron was known as the center of the United States'tire andrubber industry throughout the 20th century, and today one major tire company (Goodyear Tire and Rubber) still is based there. More recently, the area has become a center ofpolymer science research and manufacturing for the country,[2] and is home to fiveFortune 1000 corporations.
As of thecensus[5] of 2010, there were 703,200 people, 279,518 households, and 181,540 families residing within the MSA. The racial makeup of the MSA was 84.8%White, 11.9%African American, 0.20%Native American, 1.8%Asian, 0%Pacific Islander, 0.26% fromother races, and 1.34% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 1.2% of the population. 3.4% of the population were reported as foreign born, and 5.4% reported speaking a language other than English as the primary language in the home. In the MSA the population was spread out, with 18.7% the age of 14 or under, 14.4% from 15 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 27.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females, there were 94.1 males.
The median family income in 2007 dollars in the MSA was $61,537, and the median household income in the MSA was $47,336. Males had a median income of $38,776 versus $26,532 for females. Theper capita income for the MSA was $36,564 in 2007 dollars.
University of Akron, located inAkron; a large regional public research university with about 15,000 students. It serves as Summit County's largest university and one of the largest employers.[12]
Kent State University, located inKent; a large regional public research university with about 35,000 students. It serves as Portage County's largest university and employer.[13]
Hiram College, located inHiram in northwestern Portage County; a small liberal arts college of around 1,200 students.[14]
The Akron area is served in print by the dailyAkron Beacon Journal, formerly the flagship newspaper of the Knight Newspapers chain; the weekly "The Akron Reporter"; and the weeklyWest Side Leader newspapers and the monthly magazineAkron Life.The Buchtelite newspaper is published by theUniversity of Akron.[16]
Akron is part of theCleveland-Akron-Canton TV market, the 18th largest market in the U.S.[17] Within the market,WEAO (PBS),WVPX (ION), andWBNX-TV (The CW) are licensed to Akron. However, while WEAO serves the city of Akron specifically, WBNX and WVPX identify themselves asAkron/Cleveland, serving the entire market. Akron has no native news broadcast, having lost its only news station when the former WAKC became WVPX in 1996. WVPX and Cleveland'sWKYC later provided a joint news program, which was cancelled in 2005.[18][19]
Cuyahoga Valley National Park[46] is a national park located inSummit County and lies between the majorOhio cities ofCleveland andAkron. It is the only national park located inOhio and consists of over 33,000 acres. Waterfalls, rolling hills, caves, winding river scenery attract many park visitors. Over 125 miles of trails traverse the steep narrow ravines, rolling floodplain, and lush farmland throughout the park. The park offers an array of preserved and restored displays of 19th (seeHale Farm & Village) and early 20th century sustainable farming and pastoral, rural living, while catering to contemporary interests with art exhibits, outdoor concerts, and scenic excursion and special event railroad tours on theCuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad.[47]
TheSummit Metro Parks is a park district that manages over 11,000 acres (4,500 ha) inSummit County, including 14 developed parks, six conservation areas and more than 125 miles (201 km) of trails including the 33.5-mile (53.9 km) Hike and Bike Trail which follows the course of the oldAkron, Bedford and Cleveland Railroad.[48] The Freedom Trail is currently under construction, with phases one and two already complete. Phases one and two pass throughTallmadge,Munroe Falls, and Akron, and connect with the western end of the Portage Hike and Bike Trail inKent. Phase three will connect the Freedom Trail to the Towpath Trail in downtown Akron.[49]
The Portage Park District is a county park district inPortage County that manages 2,470 acres (1,000 ha) of parkland and 14 miles (23 km) of hiking trails.[51] Notable trails include the Headwater Trail which follows the formerCleveland and Mahoning Valley Railroad line and connectsMantua andGarrettsville. The Portage Hike and Bike Trail has several phases completed in and around Kent andRavenna, with direct connections to the Freedom and Bike and Hike Trails in Summit County.[52]
Nelson Kennedy Ledges State Park[53] is a 167-acre state park located nearGarrettsville inPortage County. The spectacular rock formations at Nelson-Kennedy Ledges have become trademarks of the park. These rock formations are among the few outcrops in northern Ohio still exposed to view and offer hiking trails ranging from easy to difficult. Activities located in the park include hiking and picnicking.
Portage Lakes State Park[54] is a 2,475 acre state park located inAkron around thePortage Lakes. There are approximately 2034 acres of water and 8 lakes within the park that can be used for boating, fishing, and swimming and an additional 411 acres of land that can be used for camping, hunting, and picnicking.
Tinkers Creek State Park[55] is a 370-acre state park located inStreetsboro inPortage County. Park activities include fishing on a 15-acre spring-fed lake, picnicking, hiking, and cross country skiing and ice fishing during winter.
West Branch State Park[56] is an 8,002 acre state park located nearRavenna inPortage County. The large 2,650-acre lake can be used for boating, fishing, and swimming and contains numerous boat launches. The 5,379-acres of meadows and woodlots can be used for numerous activities such as for camping, hiking, hunting and horseback riding. The park maintains 14 miles of hiking trails, 12 miles of mountain biking trails, and 20 miles of bridle trails.
Wingfoot Lake State Park[57] is a 690-acre state park located inMogadore inPortage County around Wingfoot Lake. The park was built in the 1960s by theGoodyear Tire and Rubber Company for their employees and corporate retreats. In 2009, the park was bought by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife. Facilities include enclosed and open pavilion shelters (some with fireplaces), playgrounds, badminton courts, horseshoe pits, bocce ball courts, an 18-hole mini-golf course, and an 18-hole disc golf course. Boating and fishing is also permitted on the 444 acre Wingfoot Lake.
^"Galleries".The Mary Schiller Myers School of Art. The University of Akron, Ohio. RetrievedNovember 11, 2011.
^"Perkins Stone Mansion". The Summit County Historical Society of Akron Ohio. Archived fromthe original on October 26, 2011. RetrievedNovember 11, 2011.
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