Streetsboro is a city in western Portage County, Ohio, United States. The population was 17,260 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Akron metropolitan area. The city was formed from most of the former Streetsboro Township of the Connecticut Western Reserve.

History

Long before settlers moved into the Connecticut Western Reserve, Seneca Indians traversed the area now called Streetsboro. They used Old Portage Trail, which crosses the southwest corner of the city, to go from Lake Erie to the Ohio River basin.

The founder of Streetsboro Township was Titus Street from Connecticut, who purchased the land in 1798. Streetsboro Township was and contained . The land was surveyed by Street's agents Ralph Cowles and Lemuel Punderson in the summer of 1822, and divided into lots of .

In 1825, a turnpike from Cleveland to Wellsville, Ohio, was laid by Frederick Wadsworth, Samuel Cowles, John Strauyhen, and Titus Street. Street agreed to give enough land to make it through the township. In 1827, the turnpike was completed. It followed much of the route of the present Ohio State Route 14.

Major growth began in Streetsboro with the opening of the Ohio Turnpike on October 1, 1955, and Exit 13 (now known as Exit 187) initially being the only interchange in Portage County. By 1957, with the growth of the automobile industry, Streetsboro experienced significant population growth, from just over 1,100 residents in 1950 to nearly 6,800 by 1960 and nearly 8,000 by 1970. Proximity to the Akron and Cleveland areas, along with direct access to Interstate 80 (Ohio Turnpike), Interstate 480, and State Routes 303, 43, and 14, have greatly contributed to the rapid growth of manufacturing, distribution, and commercial and residential development over the years. Streetsboro was primarily a farming community until 1970; it also was home to a small amusement park, Shady Lake Park, located on Route 14, which is now an apartment complex of the same name.

The village of Sugar Bush Knolls was incorporated from a small part of southern Streetsboro Township in 1964. Four years later, in 1968, Streetsboro voters decided to incorporate the remaining township as a village. Under Ohio law, a township that incorporates with less than 25,000 residents is classified as a village. Because it was already above 5,000 residents, the minimum population in Ohio for a village to become a city, Streetsboro officially became a city in 1971, once the 1970 US Census numbers were official.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is covered by water.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Streetsboro had a population of 17,260. The median age was 40.9 years. 19.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 16.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.1 males age 18 and over.

As of the 2020 census, there were 7,350 households in Streetsboro, of which 26.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 45.4% were married-couple households, 19.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 26.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

! Race !! Number !! Percent

|-

| White || 13,931 || 80.7%

|-

| Black or African American || 1,620 || 9.4%

|-

| American Indian and Alaska Native || 21 || 0.1%

|-

| Asian || 550 || 3.2%

|-

| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 15 || 0.1%

|-

| Some other race || 180 || 1.0%

|-

| Two or more races || 943 || 5.5%

|-

| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 481 || 2.8%

|}

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, 16,028 people, 6,562 households, and 4,316 families were residing in the city. The population density was . The 7,104 housing units averaged . The racial makeup of the city was 87.7% White, 7.9% African American, 0.2% Native American, 2.2% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 1.7% of the population.

Of the 6,562 households, 31.4% had children under 18 living with them, 50.3% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.2% were not families. About 26.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.8% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.43, and the average family size was 2.97.

The median age in the city was 37.9 years; 22.3% of residents were under 18, 8.3% were between 18 and 24; 30.5% were 25 to 44; 27% were 45 to 64; and 11.7% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.5% male and 51.5% female.

2000 census

As of the census

Voters in the district approved a $38.7 million bond issue in 2013 to fund expansion and renovations of the district's facilities. Included in the plans were the new building for Streetsboro High School along State Route 14, and an expansion and renovation of the former Campus Elementary to become Streetsboro Elementary School for preschool through grade three. Both of those projects were completed in December 2016, and the first classes held in January 2017. Additional plans included renovation of the former high school building to house Streetsboro Middle School, which enabled grade six to be moved to the middle school from Henry Defer Intermediate School, and repurposing the former middle school building. The new middle school was completed in 2018 for the start of the 2018–19 school year.

Media

Radio

  • WSTB 88.9 FM (Streetsboro High School – alternative rock Monday through Saturday, oldies on Sunday)
  • Record-Courier, a 7-day daily newspaper, serves Portage County.

Notable people

  • Hester A. Benedict (1838–1921), poet and writer
  • Matthew Hannan, professional wrestler
  • Henry H. Wyatt, Civil War–era Union soldier and Wisconsin state assemblyman

References

  • City website
  • City of Streetsboro Chamber of Commerce
  • City of Streetsboro The Visitors and Convention Bureau