The Youngstown Hardhats were a semi-professional football team that played from 1972 to 1974 and 1976 to 1981. The team was based in Youngstown, Ohio , and competed in the Midwest Football League from 1972 to 1974 and 1976, and Mid-Atlantic Football League from 1977 to 1981.
106-629: In January 1972, owner R. James Erskine announced George Rodak as the head coach for the Hardhats, a new franchise competing in the Midwest Football League . Darrell Dess was named an assistant coach in February 1972. Erskine said it would cost around $ 100,000 for the Hardhats to play their first season. They played their home games at Struthers High School in 1972, with renovations to the locker rooms and training facilities costing
212-827: A downtown Heinen's supermarket. Cleveland's historic ecclesiastical architecture includes the Presbyterian Old Stone Church in downtown Cleveland, the onion domed St. Theodosius Russian Orthodox Cathedral in Tremont , and the Catholic Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist along with myriad other ethnically inspired Roman Catholic churches. The Cleveland City Planning Commission has officially designated 34 neighborhoods in Cleveland. Centered on Public Square, Downtown Cleveland
318-714: A foreign-born population of 30%. At this time, Cleveland saw the rise of radical labor movements, most prominently the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), in response to the conditions of the largely immigrant and migrant workers. In 1919, the city attracted national attention amid the First Red Scare for the Cleveland May Day Riots , in which local socialist and IWW demonstrators clashed with anti-socialists. The riots occurred during
424-578: A gradual economic recovery under Mayor George V. Voinovich in the 1980s. Downtown saw the construction of the Key Tower and 200 Public Square skyscrapers, as well as the development of the Gateway Sports and Entertainment Complex – consisting of Progressive Field and Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse – and North Coast Harbor, including the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame , Cleveland Browns Stadium , and
530-613: A high school diploma or equivalent. The median age was 36.6 years. As of 2020 , the racial and ethnic composition of the city was 47.5% African American, 32.1% non-Hispanic white , 13.1% Hispanic or Latino , 2.8% Asian , 0% Pacific Islander , 0.2% Native American, and 3.8% from two or more races . 85.3% of Clevelanders age five and older spoke only English at home, while 14.7% spoke a language other than English, including Spanish , Arabic , Chinese , Hungarian , Albanian , and various Slavic languages ( Russian , Polish , Serbian , Croatian , and Slovene ). The city's spoken accent
636-804: A homogeneous settlement of New England Protestants , it evolved into a city with a diverse religious composition. The predominant faith among Clevelanders today is Christianity ( Catholic , Protestant, and Eastern and Oriental Orthodox ), with Jewish, Muslim , Hindu , and Buddhist minorities. Within Cleveland, the neighborhoods with the highest foreign-born populations are Asiatown/Goodrich–Kirtland Park (32.7%), Clark–Fulton (26.7%), West Boulevard (18.5%), Brooklyn Centre (17.3%), Downtown (17.2%), University Circle (15.9%, with 20% in Little Italy), and Jefferson (14.3%). Recent waves of immigration have brought new groups to Cleveland, including Ethiopians and South Asians , as well as immigrants from Russia and
742-635: A naturalization ceremony of new immigrants. Cleveland's location on the Cuyahoga River and Lake Erie has been key to its growth as a major commercial center. Steel and many other manufactured goods emerged as leading industries. The city has since diversified its economy in addition to its manufacturing sector. Established in 1914, the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland is one of 12 U.S. Federal Reserve Banks . Its downtown building, located on East 6th Street and Superior Avenue ,
848-573: A residential street. In the late 1880s, writer Bayard Taylor described it as "the most beautiful street in the world". Known as Cleveland's "Crystal Palace", the five-story Cleveland Arcade (sometimes called the Old Arcade) was built in 1890 and renovated in 2001 as a Hyatt Regency Hotel. Another major architectural landmark, the Cleveland Trust Company Building , was completed in 1907 and renovated in 2015 as
954-606: A team from the World Football League would locate in Akron, Ohio . The Hardhats returned for the 1976 season, and posted another 8–2 record. Youngstown joined the Mid-Atlantic Football League in 1977, and, after, posting a 9–2 record in the regular season, lost in the championship game. They were considered the ninth-best semi-pro team in the country in 1977. They remained in the league for
1060-702: A team name of Dayton Spartans. They were later called the Cedarville Spartans . The Dayton franchise had previously played in the American Football Conference as the Dayton Triangles from 1959 to 1961. The Battle Creek Bears (also known as the Cereal City Bears) joined for the 1963 season, after initially being accepted into the league in 1962. Six teams participated in the 1963 season. The Arrows won
1166-802: A total of 13 times beginning in 1868. It was the river fire of June 1969 that spurred the city to action under Mayor Carl B. Stokes, and played a key role in the passage of the Clean Water Act in 1972 and the National Environmental Policy Act later that year. Since that time, the Cuyahoga has been extensively cleaned up through the efforts of the city and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA). In addition to continued efforts to improve freshwater and air quality, Cleveland
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#17327801536981272-523: Is 569 feet (173 m) above sea level ; however, the city lies on a series of irregular bluffs lying roughly parallel to the lake. In Cleveland these bluffs are cut principally by the Cuyahoga River , Big Creek, and Euclid Creek . The land rises quickly from the lake shore elevation of 569 feet. Public Square, less than one mile (1.6 km) inland, sits at an elevation of 650 feet (198 m), and Hopkins Airport, 5 miles (8 km) inland from
1378-626: Is a port city , connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Saint Lawrence Seaway . Its economy relies on diverse sectors that include higher education, manufacturing, financial services, healthcare, and biomedicals. The city serves as the headquarters of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland , as well as several major companies. The GDP for the Greater Cleveland MSA was US$ 138.3 billion in 2022. Combined with
1484-983: Is an advanced form of Inland Northern American English , similar to other Great Lakes cities, but distinctive from the rest of Ohio. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, Cleveland saw a massive influx of immigrants from Ireland, Italy , and the Austro-Hungarian , German , Russian , and Ottoman empires, most of whom were attracted by manufacturing jobs. As a result, Cleveland and Cuyahoga County today have substantial communities of Irish (especially in West Park), Italians (especially in Little Italy), Germans , and several Central -Eastern European ethnicities, including Czechs , Hungarians , Lithuanians , Poles , Romanians , Russians , Rusyns , Slovaks , Ukrainians , and ex- Yugoslav groups, such as Slovenes , Croats and Serbs . The presence of Hungarians within Cleveland proper was, at one time, so great that
1590-549: Is now exploring renewable energy. The city's two main electrical utilities are FirstEnergy and Cleveland Public Power . Its climate action plan , updated in December 2018, has a 2050 target of 100% renewable power , along with reduction of greenhouse gases to 80% below the 2010 level. In recent decades, Cleveland has been working to address the issue of harmful algal blooms on Lake Erie, fed primarily by agricultural runoff, which have presented new environmental challenges for
1696-865: Is the city's central business district, encompassing a wide range of subdistricts, such as the Nine-Twelve District , the Campus District , the Civic Center , East 4th Street , and Playhouse Square . It also historically included the lively Short Vincent entertainment district. Mixed-use areas, such as the Warehouse District and the Superior Arts District , are occupied by industrial and office buildings as well as restaurants, cafes, and bars. The number of condominiums , lofts , and apartments has been on
1802-424: Is the warmest month with a mean temperature of 74.5 °F (23.6 °C), and January, with a mean temperature of 29.1 °F (−1.6 °C), is the coldest. Normal yearly precipitation based on the 30-year average from 1991 to 2020 is 41.03 inches (1,042 mm). The least precipitation occurs on the western side and directly along the lake, and the most occurs in the eastern suburbs. Parts of Geauga County to
1908-815: The Akron MSA , the eight-county Cleveland–Akron metropolitan economy was $ 176 billion in 2022, the largest in Ohio. Designated as a global city by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network , Cleveland is home to several major cultural institutions, including the Cleveland Museum of Art , the Cleveland Museum of Natural History , the Cleveland Orchestra , the Cleveland Public Library , Playhouse Square , and
2014-452: The Cfa humid subtropical climate . Summers are hot and humid, while winters are cold and snowy. East of the mouth of the Cuyahoga, the land elevation rises rapidly in the south. Together with the prevailing winds off Lake Erie, this feature is the principal contributor to the lake-effect snow that is typical in Cleveland (especially on the city's East Side) from mid-November until the surface of
2120-568: The Cleveland metropolitan area , the 33rd-largest in the U.S. at 2.18 million residents, as well as the larger Cleveland– Akron – Canton combined statistical area with 3.63 million residents. Cleveland was founded in 1796 near the mouth of the Cuyahoga River as part of the Connecticut Western Reserve in modern-day Northeast Ohio by General Moses Cleaveland , after whom the city was named. The city's location on
2226-692: The Detroit Cowboys for the 1969 season. The Ypsilanti Vikings left the league before the season. A two-division structure of the league began in the 1969 season, with Dayton, Lackawanna, Grand Rapids, and Southwestern Michigan making up the Lakes division, and Detroit, Flint, Lansing, and Pontiac being in the Central division. Detroit was removed from the league in the middle of the season. † Midwest Football League champions. ‡ Won division. The Lansing All Stars won
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#17327801536982332-569: The Glenn Research Center in Cleveland. Jones Day , one of the largest law firms in the U.S., was founded in Cleveland in 1893. Healthcare plays a major role in Cleveland's economy. The city's "Big Three" hospital systems are the Cleveland Clinic , University Hospitals , and MetroHealth . The Cleveland Clinic is the largest private employer in the state of Ohio, with a workforce of over 55,000 as of 2022 . It carries
2438-680: The Great Lakes Science Center . Although the city emerged from default in 1987, it later suffered from the impact of the subprime mortgage crisis and the Great Recession . Nevertheless, by the turn of the 21st century, Cleveland succeeded in developing a more diversified economy and gained a national reputation as a center for healthcare and the arts. The city's downtown and several neighborhoods have experienced significant population growth since 2010, while overall population decline has slowed. Challenges remain for
2544-630: The Joliet Chargers , one on each team's field, following their MWL championship win. The first game was called the "Champions Bowl". Lansing won the first matchup on November 14, 1970, with a score of 33–7. Joliet won the second game on November 21, 1970, going up 21–3. The Lackawanna Lancers moved to Niagara Falls, New York , as the Niagara Falls Lancers , and the Detroit Cowboys moved back to Hamtramck to become
2650-798: The Madison Mustangs of the Central States Football League on July 22. The Cleveland Browns of the National Football League sent six contracted players to the Hardhats for their August 5 game against the Lansing All Stars . After posting an 8–2 regular season record in 1972, the Hardhats were defeated in the league championship game by the Indiana Caps . The Hardhats lost $ 20,000 over the course of their inaugural season, and Rodak
2756-799: The Midwest Professional Football League , Central States Football League , Southwestern Football League , Seaboard Football League , and Texas League. The 1972 season began on July 8, 1972. Players earned between $ 50 and $ 200 per game in 1972. On September 1, 1972, the Lansing All Stars were purchased by Ed Dubaj, Joe Cox, and three other buyers, from Gene Howard for a sale price of $ 18,500. League commissioner Keith Bacon resigned on November 12, 1972. † Midwest Football League champions. ‡ Playoff team. The Indiana Caps and Youngstown Hardhats each finished with 8–2 records during
2862-712: The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame , as well as Case Western Reserve University . Known as " The Forest City " among many other nicknames , Cleveland serves as the center of the Cleveland Metroparks nature reserve system. The city's major league professional sports teams include the Cleveland Browns ( football ; NFL ), the Cleveland Cavaliers (basketball; NBA ), and the Cleveland Guardians (baseball; MLB ). Cleveland
2968-697: The Union during the American Civil War . Decades later, in July 1894, the wartime contributions of those serving the Union from Cleveland and Cuyahoga County would be honored with the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument on Public Square. The Civil War vaulted Cleveland into the first rank of American manufacturing cities and fueled unprecedented growth. Its prime geographic location as a transportation hub on
3074-703: The Ypsilanti Vikings . The Detroit Rockets franchise rejoined the league in River Rouge, Michigan , as the River Rouge Steelers . The Dayton Colts played an exhibition game of basketball with the National Football League 's Cleveland Browns in March 1966 as a fundraiser. † Midwest Football League champions. The Pontiac Arrows were named league champions for the second straight season, and they went against players from
3180-480: The county seat of Cuyahoga County . Located along the southern shore of Lake Erie , it is situated across the Canada–United States maritime border and lies approximately 60 mi (97 km) west of Pennsylvania . Cleveland is the most populous city on Lake Erie, the second-most populous city in Ohio, and the 54th-most populous city in the U.S. with a population of 372,624 in 2020. The city anchors
3286-729: The former USSR , Southeast Europe (especially Albania ), the Middle East, East Asia, and Latin America. In the 2010s, the immigrant population of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County began to see significant growth, becoming a major center for immigration in the Great Lakes region. A 2019 study found Cleveland to be the city with the shortest average processing time in the nation for immigrants to become U.S. citizens . The city's annual One World Day in Rockefeller Park includes
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3392-646: The 1832 completion of the Ohio and Erie Canal . This key link between the Ohio River and the Great Lakes connected Cleveland to the Atlantic Ocean via the Erie Canal and Hudson River, and later via the Saint Lawrence Seaway . The town's growth continued with added railroad links . In 1836, Cleveland, then only on the eastern banks of the Cuyahoga, was officially incorporated as a city, and John W. Willey
3498-405: The 1960s, Cleveland's economy began to slow down, and residents increasingly sought new housing in the suburbs, reflecting the national trends of suburban growth following federally subsidized highways. Industrial restructuring , particularly in the steel and automotive industries, resulted in the loss of numerous jobs in Cleveland and the region, and the city suffered economically. The burning of
3604-524: The 1962 season. The 1962 season began on September 8, 1962, with four teams participating. The Mt. Clemens/Macomb County Arrows were declared league champions for the 1962 season, after beating the Dearborn Vikings 34–20 in the title game. † Midwest Football League champions. The Spartan Athletic Club received approval to join the league in April 1963, and they initially chose
3710-520: The 1968 due to financial reasons. The Dayton Colts were sold to Recreation Projects, Inc. in April 1968. The Michigan Arrows were purchased by a group from Fort Wayne, Indiana , and subsequently relocated to the city to become the Fort Wayne Tigers . The Flint franchise was part owned by Minnesota Vikings player Paul Krause . † Midwest Football League champions. * Record after eighth or ninth game of season. In
3816-623: The 1978 season, competing in the South High School stadium in Youngstown and coached again by Boggia. During the 1979 season, the Hardhats were considered ninth in the country for minor league football teams. They played in the Mid-Atlantic Football League again in 1980 and 1981. The team folded during the 1981 season. Midwest Football League (1962%E2%80%931978) The Midwest Football League (MFL)
3922-782: The Central Division and the Columbus Bucks won the Lakes Division. The Bucks were scheduled to play the second-place team in the Central Division, the Flint Wildcats, in the first round of the playoffs, but the opponent was replaced by the Michigan Barons due to eligibility concerns with Flint's roster. The Barons were made up of players from the Flint and Pontiac rosters. In the divisional round of
4028-432: The Central Division with a record of 12–1–1 and the Lackawanna Lancers won the Lakes Division after going 11–3. Lansing defeated Lackawanna, 20–8, in the first MFL Championship Game on November 8, 1969. The All Stars received a championship bonus of $ 500 after the game. John Abel, the commissioner for the league, died in March 1970. Keith Bacon became the new commissioner by July 1970. The Dayton Colts were suspended for
4134-418: The Central States Football League champion Racine Raiders in an exhibition game after the season on November 28, 1964. The Toronto team did not show up to a game against Lansing, and were subsequently removed from the league in the middle of the season. The Detroit Rockets were removed from the league after the season after they did not adhere to financial protocols. In searching for two new teams to join
4240-414: The Cleveland Transit System, the predecessor to the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority . After the war, Cleveland initially experienced an economic boom , and businesses declared the city to be the "best location in the nation". In 1949, the city was named an All-America City for the first time, and in 1950, its population reached 914,808. In sports, the Indians won the 1948 World Series ,
4346-487: The Cuyahoga River in June 1969 brought national attention to the issue of industrial pollution in Cleveland and served as a catalyst for the American environmental movement . Housing discrimination and redlining against African Americans led to racial unrest in Cleveland and numerous other Northern U.S. cities. In Cleveland, the Hough riots erupted from July 18 to 24, 1966, and the Glenville Shootout took place on July 23, 1968. In November 1967, Cleveland became
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4452-411: The East and West Sides, while Broadway–Slavic Village is sometimes referred to as the South Side. Several neighborhoods have begun to attract the return of the middle class that left the city for the suburbs in the 1960s and 1970s. These neighborhoods are on both the West Side (Ohio City, Tremont, Detroit–Shoreway, and Edgewater) and the East Side (Collinwood, Hough, Fairfax, and Little Italy). Much of
4558-434: The Great Lakes played an important role in its development as an industrial and commercial center. In 1870, John D. Rockefeller founded Standard Oil in Cleveland, and in 1885, he moved its headquarters to New York City, which had become a center of finance and business. Cleveland's economic growth and industrial jobs attracted large waves of immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe as well as Ireland . Urban growth
4664-405: The Hamtramck Chargers again. The Flint Wildcats returned for the 1971 season. The Wyoming Chiefs became the Wyoming Cowboys in 1971. The Dayton Colts returned to the league in 1971, moved to Columbus, Ohio , in April, and became the Columbus Bucks . The teams were divided into two divisions again for the season. The Central Division comprised Flint, Hamtramck, Lansing, and Wyoming, while
4770-476: The Lakes Division was made from Columbus, Michiana, Niagara Falls, and Pontiac. A divisional round of the playoffs was reinstated for the 1971 season. The league prevented players being paid salaries for 1971 after financial struggles the previous season. Bill Byrne , president of the Bucks, was elected vice president of the league in September 1971. † Midwest Football League champions. ‡ Playoff team. The Lansing All Stars won
4876-438: The NFL agreed to pay MFL teams $ 1,000 to sign a player off of their rosters. † Midwest Football League champions. * Record before final game of season. A franchise from Lackawanna, New York , joined the league in April 1968, as the Lackawanna Lancers . The Detroit Steelers moved to Hamtramck, Michigan , to become the Hamtramck Chargers for the 1968 season. The Lansing All Stars team folded before
4982-409: The November 20 game. Lansing won the November 26 game, 32–14. In September 1971, the league announced franchises in Indianapolis ; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania ; Dayton, Ohio; and Massillon, Ohio . The Indianapolis franchise was called the Indiana Caps , which competed in the Atlantic Coast Football League in 1970 as the Indianapolis Capitols . A team from Joliet, Illinois , was expected to join
5088-534: The South. Between 1910 and 1970, the black population of Cleveland, largely concentrated on the city's East Side, increased significantly as a result of the First and Second Great Migrations . Cleveland's Latino community consists primarily of Puerto Ricans , as well as smaller numbers of immigrants from Mexico, Cuba , the Dominican Republic , South and Central America, and Spain. The city's Asian community, centered on historical Asiatown, consists of Chinese , Koreans , Vietnamese , and other groups. Additionally,
5194-503: The U.S. during the Battle of Lake Erie in the War of 1812 . Locals adopted Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry as a civic hero and erected a monument in his honor decades later. Largely through the efforts of the settlement's first lawyer Alfred Kelley , the village of Cleveland was incorporated on December 23, 1814. In spite of the nearby swampy lowlands and harsh winters, the town's waterfront location proved to be an advantage, giving it access to Great Lakes trade. It grew rapidly after
5300-481: The all-star game on November 16, 1968, the Dayton Colts beat the team of league all-stars, 43–0. They were the first team in league history to go undefeated in a season after posting a 12–0 record. The Lansing All Stars rejoined the league for the 1969 season. The Southwestern Michigan Hawks were accepted into the league in April 1969. The Fort Wayne Tigers became the Grand Rapids Chiefs , and Grand Rapids paid $ 1,000 as an entry fee. The Hamtramck Chargers became
5406-459: The broader strike wave that swept the U.S. that year. Cleveland's population continued to grow throughout the Roaring Twenties . The decade saw the establishment of the city's Playhouse Square , and the rise of the risqué Short Vincent . The Bal-Masque balls of the avant-garde Kokoon Arts Club scandalized the city. Jazz came to prominence in Cleveland during this period. Prohibition first took effect in Ohio in May 1919 (although it
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#17327801536985512-435: The city and for northern Ohio. At the 2020 census, there were 372,624 people and 170,549 households in Cleveland. The population density was 4,901.51 inhabitants per square mile (1,892.5/km ). The median household income was $ 30,907 and the per capita income was $ 21,223. 32.7% of the population was living below the poverty line. Of the city's population over the age of 25, 17.5% held a bachelor's degree or higher, and 80.8% had
5618-450: The city and the county have significant communities of Albanians , Arabs (especially Lebanese , Syrians , and Palestinians ), Armenians , French , Greeks , Iranians , Scots , Turks , and West Indians . A 2020 analysis found Cleveland to be the most ethnically and racially diverse major city in Ohio. The influx of immigrants in the 19th and early 20th centuries drastically transformed Cleveland's religious landscape. From
5724-439: The city and the county include Aleris , American Greetings , Applied Industrial Technologies , Eaton , Forest City Realty Trust , Heinen's Fine Foods, Hyster-Yale Materials Handling , Lincoln Electric , Medical Mutual of Ohio , Moen Incorporated , NACCO Industries , Nordson Corporation , OM Group , Swagelok , Kirby Company , Things Remembered , Third Federal S&L , TransDigm Group , and Vitamix . NASA maintains
5830-425: The city ascends into the Heights on the east, where the region known as the " Snow Belt " begins. Extending from the city's East Side and its suburbs, the Snow Belt reaches up the Lake Erie shore as far as Buffalo . The all-time record high in Cleveland of 104 °F (40 °C) was established on June 25, 1988, and the all-time record low of −20 °F (−29 °C) was set on January 19, 1994. On average, July
5936-429: The city boasted the highest concentration of Hungarians in the world outside of Budapest . Cleveland has a long-established Jewish community , historically centered on the East Side neighborhoods of Glenville and Kinsman, but now mostly concentrated in East Side suburbs such as Cleveland Heights and Beachwood , location of the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage . The availability of jobs attracted African Americans from
6042-464: The city from Santa Monica, California in the Women's Air Derby . The Van Sweringen brothers commenced construction of the Terminal Tower skyscraper in 1926 and oversaw it to completion in 1927. By the time the building was dedicated as part of Cleveland Union Terminal in 1930, the city had a population of over 900,000. Cleveland was hit hard by the Wall Street Crash of 1929 and the subsequent Great Depression . A center of union activity ,
6148-402: The city saw significant labor struggles in this period, including strikes by workers against Fisher Body in 1936 and against Republic Steel in 1937. The city was also aided by major federal works projects sponsored by President Franklin D. Roosevelt 's New Deal . In commemoration of the centennial of Cleveland's incorporation as a city, the Great Lakes Exposition debuted in June 1936 at
6254-406: The city's North Coast Harbor , along the Lake Erie shore north of downtown. Conceived by Cleveland's business leaders as a way to revitalize the city during the Depression, it drew four million visitors in its first season, and seven million by the end of its second and final season in September 1937. On December 7, 1941, Imperial Japan attacked Pearl Harbor and declared war on the U.S. Two of
6360-418: The city's west side is led by president and CEO Christine Alexander-Rager. Formerly known as City Hospital, it operates one of two Level I trauma centers in the city, and has various locations throughout Greater Cleveland. In 2013, Cleveland's Global Center for Health Innovation opened with 235,000 square feet (21,800 m ) of display space for healthcare companies across the world. To take advantage of
6466-426: The city, with improvement of city schools, economic development of neighborhoods, and continued efforts to tackle poverty, homelessness , and urban blight being top municipal priorities. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 82.47 square miles (213.60 km ), of which 77.70 square miles (201.24 km ) is land and 4.77 square miles (12.35 km ) is water. The shore of Lake Erie
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#17327801536986572-420: The distinction of being one of the best hospital systems in the world. The clinic is led by Croatian-born president and CEO Tomislav Mihaljevic and it is affiliated with Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine . University Hospitals includes the University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center and its Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital . Cliff Megerian serves as that system's CEO. MetroHealth on
6678-416: The east receive over 44 inches (1,100 mm) of liquid precipitation annually. With its extensive cleanup of its Lake Erie shore and the Cuyahoga River, Cleveland has been recognized by national media as an environmental success story and a national leader in environmental protection. Since the city's industrialization, the Cuyahoga River had become so affected by industrial pollution that it "caught fire"
6784-402: The first major American city since the Great Depression to enter into a financial default on federal loans. The national recession of the early 1980s "further eroded the city's traditional economic base." While unemployment during the period peaked in 1983, Cleveland's rate of 13.8% was higher than the national average due to the closure of several steel production centers. The city began
6890-425: The first major American city to elect an African American mayor, Carl B. Stokes , who served from 1968 to 1971 and played an instrumental role in restoring the Cuyahoga River. During the 1970s, Cleveland became known as "Bomb City U.S.A." due to several bombings that shook the city, mostly due to organized crime rivalries. In December 1978, during the turbulent tenure of Dennis Kucinich as mayor, Cleveland became
6996-441: The first round of the playoffs. The Lansing All Stars defeated the Lackawanna Lancers, 60–0, and the Pontiac Firebirds beat the Michiana Hawks, 35–14, in the first round of the playoffs on October 24, 1970. Lansing won over Pontiac in the championship game, 28–6, on October 31, 1970, for their second straight championship win. Lansing later scheduled two games against the champions of the Midwest Professional Football League ,
7102-421: The golden age in Downtown Cleveland retail, centered on major department stores Higbee's , Bailey's, the May Company , Taylor's , Halle's , and Sterling Lindner Davis , which collectively represented one of the largest and most fashionable shopping districts in the country, often compared to New York's Fifth Avenue . In 1929, Cleveland hosted the first of many National Air Races , and Amelia Earhart flew to
7208-408: The growth has been spurred on by attracting creative class members, which has facilitated new residential development and the transformation of old industrial buildings into loft spaces for artists. Typical of the Great Lakes region , Cleveland exhibits a continental climate with four distinct seasons, which lies in the humid continental ( Köppen Dfa ) zone. The climate is transitional with
7314-435: The hockey team, the Barons , became champions of the American Hockey League, and the Browns dominated professional football in the 1950s. As a result, along with track and boxing champions produced, Cleveland was declared the "City of Champions" in sports at this time. Additionally, the 1950s saw the rising popularity of a new music genre that local WJW (AM) disc jockey Alan Freed dubbed " rock and roll ". However, by
7420-442: The hopes of joining the league for the 1966 season. Dayton was purchased by a new ownership group in 1965. † Midwest Football League champions. The Dayton Colts had to cancel and forfeit a game against Milan due to bad weather. Dayton scheduled the game to be played at a local high school football field, but the school would not allow the game to be played, citing a long-standing policy about wet fields. Dayton
7526-644: The increase since 2000 and especially 2010, reflecting downtown's growing population. Clevelanders geographically define themselves in terms of whether they live on the east or west side of the Cuyahoga River. The East Side includes the neighborhoods of Buckeye–Shaker , Buckeye–Woodhill , Central , Collinwood (including Nottingham ), Euclid–Green , Fairfax , Glenville , Goodrich–Kirtland Park (including Asiatown ), Hough , Kinsman , Lee–Miles (including Lee–Harvard and Lee–Seville), Mount Pleasant , St. Clair–Superior , Union–Miles Park , and University Circle (including Little Italy ). The West Side includes
7632-484: The lake freezes, usually in late January or early February. The lake effect causes a relative differential in geographical snowfall totals across the city. On the city's far West Side, the Hopkins neighborhood only reached 100 inches (254 cm) of snowfall in a season three times since record-keeping for snow began in 1893. By contrast, seasonal totals approaching or exceeding 100 inches (254 cm) are not uncommon as
7738-480: The lake, is at an elevation of 791 feet (241 m). Cleveland borders several inner-ring and streetcar suburbs . To the west, it borders Lakewood , Rocky River , and Fairview Park , and to the east, it borders Shaker Heights , Cleveland Heights , South Euclid , and East Cleveland . To the southwest, it borders Linndale , Brooklyn , Parma , and Brook Park . To the south, the city borders Newburgh Heights , Cuyahoga Heights , and Brooklyn Heights and to
7844-560: The league championship for a second year in a row after posting a record of 13–1, including a 9–1 record in league play. The Spartans, who finished second in the league in 1963 after going 6–3–1, played against the Hudson Bar in a game called the Semi-Pro Bowl on December 14, 1963. The All Stars placed third for the season with a record of 5–4–1. † Midwest Football League champions. Ed McCracken from Dayton
7950-992: The league for $ 1000, while the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns had agreements with the Columbus Bucks and Youngstown Hardhats (respectively), and the Detroit Lions had agreements with both the Indy Caps and Lansing All Stars , to act as farm teams . By April 1961, six cities had been approved for franchises in the Midwest Football League: Cleveland , Columbus , and Toledo, Ohio ; Grand Rapids, Michigan ; Indianapolis ; and Louisville, Kentucky . Players were to be paid $ 50 salaries per game played, with 30 players on each team's roster. The league played its games on Saturday nights. George Gareff from Columbus
8056-715: The league for the 1965 season, following the expulsion of the Detroit and Toronto franchises, commissioner Ed McCracken asked for a $ 300 new team fee with a security deposit of $ 200. The Macomb County Arrows became the Pontiac Arrows and the Dearborn Vikings became the Milan Vikings for the 1965 season. A Flint, Michigan , team called the Flint Blue Devils joined the league. A team from Sturgis, Michigan , played some games against league members in
8162-625: The league in 1972. Franchises in Youngstown, Ohio ; Indianapolis; and Warren, Michigan , were accepted into the league in December 1971. The Youngstown franchise was called the Youngstown Hardhats . Dayton and Louisville were prospective cities for new franchises in January 1972. The Michiana Hawks took a leave of absence from the league for the 1972 season due to financial problems. The Wyoming Cowboys and Pontiac Firebirds left
8268-555: The league were announced on January 31, 1962, as the Battle Creek Bears , Dearborn Vikings , Detroit Rockets , Lansing All Stars , Macomb County Arrows (also called the Mt. Clemens Arrows), and Toledo Thunderbirds. The Lansing All Stars were an independent team in the 1961 season. An application for a franchise from Dayton, Ohio , was approved on March 11, 1962. The Battle Creek, Dayton, and Toledo franchises did not play in
8374-848: The league, and the Hamtrmack Chargers moved back to Detroit before the season to become the Detroit Warriors . The Niagara Falls Lancers also left the league before the season. The Flint Wildcats became the Flint Sabres . Youngstown had an agreement with the Cleveland Browns to act as their farm team for the 1972 season. In March 1972, the MFL joined the Independent Professional Football Leagues of America, which included
8480-456: The neighborhoods of Brooklyn Centre , Clark–Fulton , Cudell , Detroit–Shoreway , Edgewater , Ohio City , Old Brooklyn , Stockyards , Tremont (including Duck Island ), West Boulevard , and the four neighborhoods colloquially known as West Park : Kamm's Corners , Jefferson , Bellaire–Puritas , and Hopkins . The Cuyahoga Valley neighborhood (including the Flats ) is situated between
8586-634: The open Cleveland Mall and share a common neoclassical architecture . They were built in the early 20th century as the result of the 1903 Group Plan. They constitute one of the most complete examples of City Beautiful design in the U.S. Completed in 1927 and dedicated in 1930 as part of the Cleveland Union Terminal complex, the Terminal Tower was the tallest building in North America outside New York City until 1964 and
8692-791: The other five teams in an all-star game on November 12, 1966. The River Rouge Steelers became the Detroit Steelers , the Flint Blue Devils became the Flint Wildcats , and the Pontiac Arrows moved back to Mt. Clemens to become the Michigan Arrows for the 1967 season. The Pontiac Firebirds joined the league as a new franchise. The Lansing All Stars signed their players to $ 1 per year contracts in 1967 due to financial constraints. In October 1967,
8798-718: The playoffs, Lansing defeated the Niagara Falls Lancers, 17–0, while Columbus beat the Barons, 34–0, on November 6, 1971. On November 13, 1971, Columbus won the league championship with a win over Lansing, by a score of 20–17. After the championship game, Lansing and Columbus played against the Pennsylvania Bruins of the Interstate League . The Columbus–Pennsylvania game was called the "Ohio Mini Super Bowl ", with Columbus winning 44–13 in
8904-467: The regular season, and played each other in a playoff for the championship on October 14, 1972. Indiana won, 26–14. Ted Plascik was named new league commissioner by January 1973. The league filed a lawsuit against its former commissioner Keith Bacon in May 1973 for $ 15,000 for financial fraud during his time as head of the league. Cleveland Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and
9010-470: The river and the lake shore allowed it to grow into a major commercial and industrial metropolis by the late 19th century, attracting large numbers of immigrants and migrants . It was among the top 10 largest U.S. cities by population for much of the 20th century, a period that saw the development of the city's cultural institutions. By the 1960s, Cleveland's economy began to slow down as manufacturing declined and suburbanization occurred. Cleveland
9116-544: The rural South arrived in Cleveland (among other Northeastern and Midwestern cities) as part of the Great Migration for jobs, constitutional rights, and relief from racial discrimination . By 1920, the year in which the Cleveland Indians won their first World Series championship , Cleveland had grown into a densely-populated metropolis of 796,841, making it the fifth-largest city in the nation, with
9222-663: The season due to financial conditions, but fielded an independent team and played games against members of the league. The Flint Wildcats did not return for the 1970 season. The Grand Rapids Chiefs became the Wyoming Chiefs , and the Southwest Michigan Hawks were renamed the Michiana Hawks . The Hawks played their home games in Buchanan, Michigan . A four-team playoff system was enacted for
9328-445: The season, with the regular season first-place team playing the third-place team and second place playing fourth place in the first round, and the winners of those games playing in a championship game. † Midwest Football League champions. ‡ Playoff team. * Tie in standings between Michiana and Lackawanna broken by a coin toss to determine playoff opponents. Michiana won and chose to face Pontiac in
9434-495: The southeast, it borders Warrensville Heights , Maple Heights , and Garfield Heights . To the northeast, along the shore of Lake Erie, Cleveland borders Bratenahl and Euclid . Cleveland's downtown architecture is diverse. Many of the city's government and civic buildings, including City Hall , the Cuyahoga County Courthouse , the Cleveland Public Library , and Public Auditorium , are clustered around
9540-472: The tallest in the city until 1991. It is a prototypical Beaux-Arts skyscraper. The two other major skyscrapers on Public Square, Key Tower (the tallest building in Ohio) and 200 Public Square, combine elements of Art Deco architecture with postmodern designs. Running east from Public Square through University Circle is Euclid Avenue , which was known as "Millionaires' Row" for its prestige and elegance as
9646-626: The team between $ 8,000 and $ 10,000 to perform. By April 1972, the Hardhats signed an agreement with the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League that the Browns would have first priority over other NFL teams in signing Hardhats players to contracts. The team held open tryouts in June 1972, with former Duke linebacker Dick Biddle in attendance. They played against the Washington Bears in an exhibition game on July 1, 1972, and against
9752-419: The time as the sixth-largest U.S. city. Its automotive companies included Peerless , Chandler , and Winton , maker of the first car driven across the U.S. Other manufacturing industries in Cleveland included steam cars produced by White and electric cars produced by Baker . The city counted major Progressive Era politicians among its leaders, most prominently the populist Mayor Tom L. Johnson , who
9858-415: The victims of the attack were Cleveland natives – Rear Admiral Isaac C. Kidd and ensign William Halloran. The attack signaled America's entry into World War II . A major hub of the " Arsenal of Democracy ", Cleveland under Mayor Frank Lausche contributed massively to the U.S. war effort as the fifth largest manufacturing center in the nation. During his tenure, Lausche also oversaw the establishment of
9964-597: Was a low-level professional American football minor league that played games from 1962 to 1978. The league was based mainly in Michigan , until the collapse of the Continental Football League in 1969, when it became more of a regional league. During its lifetime, the MFL had a working relationship with the National Football League (NFL), as the NFL had the right to sign any player at any time from
10070-428: Was accompanied by significant strikes and labor unrest, as workers demanded better wages and working conditions . Between 1881 and 1886, 70 to 80% of strikes were successful in improving labor conditions in Cleveland. The Cleveland Streetcar Strike of 1899 was one of the more violent instances of labor strife in the city during this period. By 1910, Cleveland had become known as the "Sixth City" due to its status at
10176-591: Was completed in 1923 by the Cleveland architectural firm Walker and Weeks . The headquarters of the Federal Reserve System's Fourth District, the bank employs 1,000 people and maintains branch offices in Cincinnati and Pittsburgh . Cleveland and Cuyahoga County are home to Fortune 500 companies Cleveland-Cliffs , Progressive , Sherwin-Williams , Parker-Hannifin , KeyCorp , and Travel Centers of America . Other large companies based in
10282-556: Was elected its first mayor. That same year, it nearly erupted into open warfare with neighboring Ohio City over a bridge connecting the two communities. Ohio City remained an independent municipality until its annexation by Cleveland in 1854. A center of abolitionist activity, Cleveland (code-named "Station Hope") was a major stop on the Underground Railroad for escaped African American slaves en route to Canada. The city also served as an important center for
10388-743: Was elected league commissioner in March 1964. The league also added teams in Toronto, Ohio , and Van Wert, Ohio . The Van Wert team was named the Van Wert Tigers , but they did not participate in the 1964 season. The Toronto team was the Toronto Tigers . The Cedarville Spartans became the Dayton Colts in 1964, and the Cereal City Bears did not return after the 1963 season. The Association of Minor Football Leagues
10494-733: Was established on July 22, 1796, by surveyors of the Connecticut Land Company when they laid out Connecticut 's Western Reserve into townships and a capital city. They named the settlement "Cleaveland" after their leader, General Moses Cleaveland , a veteran of the American Revolutionary War . Cleaveland oversaw the New England –style design of the plan for what would become the modern downtown area, centered on Public Square , before returning to Connecticut, never again to visit Ohio. The town's name
10600-517: Was fired as head coach in November 1972. They went 8–2 again in 1973 under head coach Bill Shunkwiler. Al Boggia was named head coach of the Hardhats in May 1974. The team went 5–4 in 1974, finishing second in the Lakes Division. The Hardhats posted a 38–6 record over three seasons. Despite this record, the Hardhats' owners announced in March 1975 that they would not field a team for the upcoming season, because of declining attendance and reports that
10706-652: Was formed in April 1964, with the Midwest Football League joining together with five of the other seven minor league football teams in the country. The other leagues to join were the Atlantic Coast Football League , Central States Football League , New England Football Conference , Southern Football League , and United Football League . McCracken was named secretary of the association. † Midwest Football League champions. The Lansing All-Stars played against
10812-435: Was initially league commissioner , with Homer VanHablenbeck from Detroit gaining the title by 1962. A group of Des Moines, Iowa , investors applied for a franchise in the league in April 1961. New teams were to pay a $ 2,000 fee to join the league and send a $ 5,000 security deposit to ensure the full season would be played. The Lakeview Athletic Club Bears joined the league on January 28, 1962. The six initial teams in
10918-589: Was not well-enforced in Cleveland), became law with the Volstead Act in 1920, and was eventually repealed nationally by Congress in 1933. The ban on alcohol led to the rise of speakeasies throughout the city and organized crime gangs, such as the Mayfield Road Mob , who smuggled bootleg liquor across Lake Erie from Canada into Cleveland. The era of the flapper marked the beginning of
11024-407: Was often shortened to "Cleveland", even by Cleaveland's original surveyors. A common myth emerged that the spelling was altered by The Cleveland Advertiser in order to fit the name on the newspaper's masthead . The first permanent European settler in Cleveland was Lorenzo Carter , who built a cabin on the banks of the Cuyahoga River. The emerging community served as an important supply post for
11130-500: Was placed a one-year probation by the league as punishment. The Pontiac Arrows were named league champions, and they went against players from the other four teams in an all-star game on November 13, 1965. John Abel from Pontiac was named commissioner of the league in January 1966, replacing McCracken, who resigned to be the head coach for the Dayton Colts. The Milan franchise was moved to Ypsilanti, Michigan , to become
11236-577: Was responsible for the development of the Cleveland Mall Plan . The era of the City Beautiful movement in Cleveland architecture saw wealthy patrons support the establishment of the city's major cultural institutions. The most prominent among them were the Cleveland Museum of Art , which opened in 1916, and the Cleveland Orchestra , established in 1918. In addition to the large immigrant population, African American migrants from
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