East Cleveland, Ohio

East Cleveland is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. The population was 13,792 at the 2020 census, and was estimated to be 13,402 in 2024. East Cleveland incorporated as a village in 1895 and became a city in 1911. This charter included provisions for women's suffrage, which at the time was unheard of east of the Mississippi River. Before the charter passed, the city of Cleveland unsuccessfully attempted to annex the emerging municipality in 1910 and again in 1916.

East Cleveland is home to General Electric's historic Nela Park, the world's first industrial park. Nela Park, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975, continues to operate today as the functional headquarters for GE Lighting and is the city's second largest employer. Huron Hospital, a satellite hospital of the Cleveland Clinic, was the city's largest employer. Huron Hospital was a notable health care facility, being the only Level-II trauma center between Cleveland's MetroHealth Medical Center, located on West 25th Street, and Hillcrest Hospital, located in Mayfield Heights. Huron Hospital closed in early spring of 2011.

By the Great Depression a great number of homes along "Millionaires' Row" were demolished or abandoned. Although commercial properties and fast-food chains replaced many Euclid Avenue homes during the second half of the 20th century, East Cleveland is still home to 18 of the original "Millionaire's Row" homes, while only six are left in the city of Cleveland.

After World War II, development of other suburbs within the region brought a number of changes to East Cleveland. By the 1960s, African Americans constituted an increasingly large portion of the city's population. By 1984, East Cleveland was one of the largest primarily black communities in Ohio, with a population of 36,957.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and (0.23%) is water.

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census 2020 Census

As of the 2023 American Community Survey, there are 6,746 estimated households in East Cleveland with an average of 1.97 persons per household. The city has a median household income of $22,883. Approximately 44.3% of the city's population lives at or below the poverty line. East Cleveland has an estimated 53.7% employment rate, with 15.8% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 84.9% holding a high school diploma.

The median age in the city was 39.1 years.

Racial and ethnic composition

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

|+<big>East Cleveland, Ohio – racial and ethnic composition</big>

! Race / ethnicity (NH = non-Hispanic)

!Pop. 1980

! Pop. 1990

! Pop. 2000

! Pop. 2010

! % 1980

! % 1990

! % 2000

! % 2010

| White alone (NH)

| 4,634

| 1,751

| 1,219

| 796

| style='background: #ffffe6; |630

| 12.54%

| 5.29%

| 4.48%

| 4.46%

| style='background: #ffffe6; |4.57%

| Black or African American alone (NH)

| 31,641

| 30,886

| 25,291

| 16,532

| style='background: #ffffe6; |12,314

| 85.62%

| 93.32%

| 92.92%

| 92.65%

| style='background: #ffffe6; |89.28%

| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)

| 24

| 35

| 46

| 38

| style='background: #ffffe6; |31

| 0.06%

| 0.11%

| 0.17%

| 0.21%

| style='background: #ffffe6; |0.22%

| Asian alone (NH)

| 161

| 213

| 61

| 40

| style='background: #ffffe6; |44

| 0.44%

| 0.64%

| 0.22%

| style='background: #ffffe6; |0.32%

|Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)

| 4

| 0

| style='background: #ffffe6; |5

| x

| 0.01%

| 0.00%

| style='background: #ffffe6; |0.04%

| Other race alone (NH)

| 57

| 26

| 34

| 16

| style='background: #ffffe6; |64

| 0.15%

| 0.08%

| 0.12%

| 0.09%

| style='background: #ffffe6; |0.46%

| Mixed race or multiracial (NH)

| 355

| 242

| style='background: #ffffe6; |474

| 1.30%

| 1.36%

| style='background: #ffffe6; |3.44%

| Hispanic or Latino (any race)

| 440

| 185

| 207

| 179

| style='background: #ffffe6; |230

| 1.19%

| 0.56%

| 0.76%

| 1.00%

| style='background: #ffffe6; |1.67%

|Total

|36,957

|33,096

|27,217

|17,843

|style='background: #ffffe6; |13,792

|100.00%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |100.00%

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, East Cleveland had a population of 13,792 and a median age of 44.8 years. 20.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 22.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 90.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 86.7 males age 18 and over.

As of the 2020 census, 100.0% of residents lived in urban areas while 0.0% lived in rural areas.

As of the 2020 census, there were 6,881 households in East Cleveland, of which 21.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 12.4% were married-couple households, 32.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 48.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 51.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

As of the 2020 census, 25.4% of the city's 9,220 housing units were vacant; the homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 15.5%.

! Race !! Number !! Percent

| White || 639 || 4.6%

| Black or African American || 12,403 || 89.9%

| American Indian and Alaska Native || 33 || 0.2%

| Asian || 47 || 0.3%

| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 7 || 0.1%

| Some other race || 110 || 0.8%

| Two or more races || 553 || 4.0%

In 2018, East Cleveland was ranked as the 4th poorest city in the United States. Moreover, the city had a 41.8% poverty rate along with a $19,953 median household income.

2010 census

As of the 2010 Census, there were 17,843 people, 8,286 households, and 4,043 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 12,523 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 4.58% White, 93.25% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.21% from some other races and 1.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 1.00% of the population.

There were 8,286 households, of which 24.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 16.5% were married couples living together, 26.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 51.2% were non-families. 46.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.11 and the average family size was 3.03.

The median age in the city was 42.6 years. 22.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.6% were from 25 to 44; 28.6% were from 45 to 64; and 18.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 45.1% male and 54.9% female.

2000 census

As of the 2000 Census, there were 27,217 people, 11,210 households, and 6,423 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 13,491 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 4.56% White, 93.39% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.17% from some other races and 1.43% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 0.76% of the population.

There were 11,210 households, out of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 21.2% were married couples living together, 30.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.7% were non-families. 38.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 3.20.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 29.7% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 79.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 72.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $20,542, and the median income for a family was $26,053. Males had a median income of $26,123 versus $21,960 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,602. About 28.0% of families and 32.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 45.5% of those under age 18 and 22.5% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

thumb|[[General Electric's Nela Park was the world's first industrial park.]]

Per the 2012 Economic Census there are 1,105 locally owned businesses in East Cleveland. Of these firms 944 are owned by minorities and 733 by women. The portion of firms owned by minorities and women are significantly higher than both the state and national average.

A complete road repair of both Euclid Ave and Superior Ave has also led to interest and land purchases in the vicinity.

{| class="wikitable"

!% of firms owned by women

!% of firms owned by minorities

|East Cleveland

|66.33%

|85.43%

|Ohio

|33.91%

|13.56%

|United States

|35.76%

|28.79%

Parks and recreation

The Forest Hill Park boasts three baseball diamonds, tennis courts and walking trails that have retained the natural green space as intended by John D. Rockefeller Jr. when he deeded the park to East Cleveland and the City of Cleveland Heights. Forest Hill Park is the largest single body of green park space between two large metroparks on the far east and west sides of Cleveland, Ohio. The city also features Pattison Park and Hawley Park.

Government

East Cleveland is a charter city that is granted its authority under the home rule provisions of the Ohio constitution.

Prior to 1985, East Cleveland had been under the leadership of a Commission and City Manager. In 1985 voters grew frustrated with that form of government after two commissioners were charged with theft in office, and after a revolving door of city managers resulted in little stability and a reduction in services. Citizens for Sound Government, a group of residents, led a petition drive to elect a strong mayor and to create a five-member city council. Attorney Darryl E. Pittman became the first mayor to lead the city since 1908. He was sworn in on January 1, 1986.

After two years on the job, in Pittman's second two-year term, Ohio's State Auditor declared on September 9, 1988 that East Cleveland was in fiscal emergency. The fiscal emergency designation came when the water and sewer fund were found to have deficits in excess of $2 million. Pittman was defeated in 1989 by Wallace D. Davis, the council president and a funeral home owner. Prior to his defeat, Pittman convinced former U.S. Rep. Louis Stokes to support a congressional amendment that made East Cleveland a "direct entitlement city" under HUD. That designation gave the city the authority to receive more than $1 million a year in block grant funding directly from HUD.

Davis borrowed $2.5 million that had to be paid back in eight years to get the city out of fiscal emergency. His administration made the last payment in 1997, but the city remained in fiscal emergency throughout Mayor Emmanuel Onunwor's eight-year term in office, and after he was indicted and convicted on federal charges of racketeering and corruption in 2004. Onunwor was sentenced to nine years in federal prison in September 2004. He was replaced by Council President Saratha Goggins who finished the remainder of his term.

Eric J. Brewer became the city's fourth elected mayor on January 1, 2006 and served one term. Brewer had been an investigative journalist. He negotiated an agreement with Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson to take over East Cleveland's water department in 2008, resulting in significant savings to help the city as it struggled through fiscal emergency. The deal resulted in the transfer of city employees to Cleveland as part of the 25-year agreement.

During his primary re-election campaign in 2009, Brewer accused the police union of releasing photographs depicting him wearing women's lingerie.

Gary Norton, a Democrat first elected to the city council in 2006, was elected mayor after defeating Brewer by a nearly 2-1 margin in the Democratic primary election. He took office in January 2010. He did not face a challenger in the general election.

After two unsuccessful recall attempts, Gary Norton and city council president Thomas Wheeler were defeated in a special recall election on December 6, 2016. Norton lost 548 to 528 and Wheeler lost 229 to 211. The city council's vice president, Brandon King, assumed Norton's position as mayor. King won the September 2016 Democratic primary for mayor, and was elected on in November 2017 to serve out the remainder of Norton's term.

Sandra Morgan, granddaughter of inventor Garrett Morgan, was appointed interim mayor in February 2025.

List of mayors

{| class="toccolours collapsible collapsed" width=60% align="left"

! style="background:#F5DEB3"| Mayors of East Cleveland, Ohio

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

! Image

! Mayor

! Years

! Notes

|- style="height:2em"

| 100px

| Darryl E. Pittman

| September 1985 –

| First mayor since 1914. First African-American mayor of East Cleveland.

| 100px

| Wallace D. Davis

| 1990 –

| Emmanuel Onunwor

| 1998 – September 1, 2004

| First mayor in the United States to have been born in Africa Resigned on September 1, 2004 after being convicted for racketeering, extortion, mail fraud, and tax evasion.

| Saratha Goggins

| 2004–2006

| City Council President Goggins served as interim mayor after the resignation of mayor Emmanuel Onunwor First female African-American mayor of East Cleveland Defeated by Eric J. Brewer who earned 54.90% of the vote to her 29.96% in the Democratic primary in 2005

| Eric J. Brewer

| – January 2010

| Gary Norton

| January 2010 – December 6, 2016

| Elected January 2010 Removed after recall election on December 6, 2016.

| Brandon King

| December 6, 2016 – February 2025

| Elected to the City Council in 2014. Assumed position of mayor on December 6, 2016 after Gary Norton was recalled in special election. Elected as mayor in November 2017. Resigned from office in February 2025 after being indicted for Theft in Office. Convicted on May 29, 2025 and sentenced to probation and community service.

| Sandra Morgan

| February 2025 – June 1, 2025

| Appointed by a local judge as interim mayor in February 2025 after mayor Brandon King was indicted for Theft in Office

Arrest of Arnold Black

On April 28, 2012, Detective Randy Hicks, Officer Jonathan O'Leary, and other members of the East Cleveland Police Department arrested Arnold Black on suspicion of drug activity. Hicks punched Black as O'Leary stood by. Black was then placed in a holding cell after his arrest and was later released. Black claimed that the police beat him while he was handcuffed and locked him in a storage closet for four days with no toilet and nothing to eat or drink but a carton of milk. In the resulting lawsuit, the police were unable to produce dashboard camera video of the beating or any police reports of the arrest. A jury initially awarded Black $22 million, including $10 million from Police Chief Ralph Spotts. The city appealed the verdict and the Eighth District Court of Appeals overturned the decision. The Ohio Supreme Court also refused to hear Black's appeal. However at a subsequent re-trial in 2019 Black was awarded US$20 million in compensatory damages and US$30 million in punitive damages.

East Cleveland City Schools

The East Cleveland City School District provides public education to more than 3000 students in seven new or renovated buildings that were updated as part of a $94 million state-sponsored school construction project. Voters in 1997 agreed to add another $10 million to the $94 million for operating costs.

According to the Ohio Department of Education reports from January 2016, nearly 30% of high school students attending East Cleveland City Schools fail to graduate on time. Students are falling behind state expectations in English, Language Arts, and Mathematics. The district also lags behind the state in the performance index score. During the 2014–2015 school year, East Cleveland City Schools’ performance index score was 66.8. This was the lowest it had been in four years.

East Cleveland Public Library operates the Main Branch at 14101 Euclid Avenue. In December 2009 the Caledonia Branch at 960 Caledonia Avenue, and the North Branch at 1425 Hayden Avenue were closed due to budget cuts and the decline in population. East Cleveland Public Library became a member of CLEVNET in 1985.

Infrastructure

thumb|[[Superior station on the RTA Red Line ]]

East Cleveland is a major public transportation hub for northeast Ohio with a total of 80 (approximately one-third) of the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority bus routes beginning or ending inside the city.

The GCRTA's Red Line's eastern terminus is located at the Windermere Rapid Station, located on Euclid Avenue in East Cleveland. Destinations along the Red Line include University Circle, Cleveland State University, Tower City Center/Public Square, the West Side Market, and Hopkins International Airport. Passengers boarding GCRTA buses with stops in East Cleveland have access to an even wider range of employment, educational, recreational and cultural destinations throughout the Cleveland area.

Medical care

East Cleveland is home to several medical care facilities including the Candlewood Park Healthcare Center and the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Health Center. Candlewood Park Healthcare Center offers care for senior citizens including outpatient care, behavioral healthcare and rehabilitation services. The Stephanie Tubbs Jones Health Center, which is also a Cleveland Clinic facility, specializes in many different areas including cardiology, chronic disease services, diabetes, internal medicine, and general surgeries.

Notable people

Ed Benedict, animator
Clarence Berger, professional baseball player
Stephen Blum, ethnomusicologist
Yvette Nicole Brown, actress
Christine Chubbuck, news reporter, first televised suicide
JaQuan Hardy, professional football player
John Henton, actor and comedian
Dale T. Knobel, historian and academic administrator
Michael Madison, serial killer
Ruth McKenney, author and journalist
Dante Moore, college football player
Eleanor Parker, actress
Art Sansom, cartoonist
Bruce F. Scharschmidt, physician
Burt E. Skeel, pilot
Ernest Sprague, football player, public official, and engineer
Mike Trivisonno, radio broadcaster
David John Walkowiak, prelate
Bert Wolstein, real estate developer, sports team owner, and philanthropist

References

External links

City of East Cleveland – official website