North Ridgeville is a city located along the eastern border of Lorain County, Ohio, United States. The city's population was 35,280 as of the 2020 census. A part of the Cleveland metropolitan area, North Ridgeville is the fastest-growing city in northern Ohio. It has been ranked the 13th safest city in the United States and the safest in Ohio.

Located from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, and west of downtown Cleveland, North Ridgeville is the third-largest city in Lorain County and the 37th most populous city in Ohio. North Ridgeville is home to a 350,000 square foot Riddell Sports Group production and distribution center, where National Football League and NCAA helmets and pads are produced. It is also home to a campus of Lorain County Community College and a branch of University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center.

History

thumb|left|Samuel C. Cahoon House, built in 1850

The first settlement of what is now North Ridgeville was made in 1810. The village was named for a ridge near the original town site.

The city of North Ridgeville has a post office, with the zip code of 44039. This zip code covers most of the city. Some sections of the city use zip codes 44035, 44011 and 44044..

Located in eastern Lorain County, it borders the following municipalities and townships:

  • Avon, Lorain County - north
  • Westlake, Cuyahoga County - northeast
  • North Olmsted, Cuyahoga County - east
  • Olmsted Township, Cuyahoga County - southeast
  • Columbia Township, Lorain County - southeast corner
  • Eaton Township, Lorain County - south
  • Elyria, Lorain County - west
  • Sheffield, Lorain County - northwest corner

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, North Ridgeville had a population of 35,280. The median age was 43.7 years, 21.5% of residents were under the age of 18, and 21.4% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 96.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.3 males age 18 and over.

99.8% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.2% lived in rural areas.

There were 14,148 households in North Ridgeville, of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 57.9% were married-couple households, 13.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 22.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 24.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

! Race !! Number !! Percent

|-

| White || 31,494 || 89.3%

|-

| Black or African American || 662 || 1.9%

|-

| American Indian and Alaska Native || 62 || 0.2%

|-

| Asian || 567 || 1.6%

|-

| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 10 || 0.0%

|-

| Some other race || 419 || 1.2%

|-

| Two or more races || 2,066 || 5.9%

|-

| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 1,614 || 4.6%

|}

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 29,465 people, 11,500 households, and 8,486 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 12,109 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 95.0% White, 1.5% African American, 0.2% Native American, 1.2% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.3% of the population.

There were 11,500 households, of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.3% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 26.2% were non-families. 21.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 2.97.

The median age in the city was 40.7 years. 23.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.1% were from 25 to 44; 28.9% were from 45 to 64; and 15% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.1% male and 50.9% female.

2000 census

As of the census

Parks and recreation

  • Sandy Ridge Reservation
  • South Central Park
  • Frontier Park
  • Palmer Field
  • Shady Drive Complex
  • Soccer Complex
  • Victory Park Ohio
  • South Central Splash Pad
  • Root Road Park
  • Ranger stadium

Education

North Ridgeville has a public library, a branch of the Lorain Public Library.

Public schools

thumb|North Ridgeville Academic Center

The North Ridgeville City School District is managed by a directly elected school board. The district was given a mediocre report card by the Ohio Department of Education for the years 2015–16. It had a grade of F for "Gap Closing" as well as "K-3 Literacy", while receiving a B for "Graduation Rate".

Public primary and intermediate schools include:

  • Early Childhood Learning Community, on Mills Creek Ln. (Pre-K thru K)
  • Liberty Elementary School, on Jaycox Rd. (1–2)
  • North Ridgeville Academic Center, on Bainbridge Rd. (3–8)

There is also the Ranger High Tech Academy for STEM students grades 2 through 8.

Public high schools include:

  • North Ridgeville High School (NRHS), on Bainbridge Road and Pitts Boulevard.
  • Lorain County Joint Vocational School, located in Oberlin, on OH-SR 58 South.

In November 2013, the citizens of North Ridgeville passed a bond issue for the replacement of the North Ridgeville Middle School, Elizabeth Wilcox Elementary, and the Rangers Stadium. The new Rangers Stadium was completed by mid-2016, the inaugural football game took place on September 2, 2016. The North Ridgeville Academic Center, for grades 3–8, and the new stadium has been constructed on the property adjacent to the current North Ridgeville High School, on Bainbridge Road.

Private schools

Private schools include:

  • Saint Peter School, Grades K-8.
  • Lake Ridge Academy, Grades K-12.

Higher education

Lorain County Community College, which is based in nearby Elyria, operates the University Partnership Ridge Campus in eastern North Ridgeville, adjacent to Interstate 480.

Transportation

North Ridgeville is served by many highways, including I-80 (Ohio Turnpike), the Outerbelt South Freeway Interstate 480 (Ohio), U.S. Route 20, Ohio State Route 10, Ohio State Route 83, and Ohio State Route 113.

Notable people

  • Joe Charboneau, baseball player for the Cleveland Indians
  • Charles O. Hobaugh, astronaut
  • Martin Mull, actor and musician
  • Dav Pilkey, author of Dog Man and Captain Underpants
  • Don Pope, third-place finisher in the 2006 World's Strongest Man competition

References

  • City website