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| Home - City Guide - Cleveland - City Overview | ||
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City Overview Cleveland stands on the southern shore of Lake Erie at the mouth of the Cuyahoga River - a city of trees, neighbourhoods and historic buildings. Long derided as 'the mistake on the lake', Cleveland has, in the past, been perceived as nothing more than a non-descript Midwestern industrial town where the people have funny accents and nothing interesting ever happens. Visitors who take in this pleasant conurbation, however, are often surprised at its vibrant downtown, its various and distinct neighbourhoods and its lively urban atmosphere. True, its roots are certainly more prosaic than those of New York, Los Angeles or Boston, but Cleveland has outgrown its industrial past and become a comely, cultural, friendly city. The area around present-day Cleveland was hardly settled prior to the American Revolution. In its aftermath, however, much of the American interior was opened up for settlement. In 1796, a man by the name of Moses Cleaveland arrived with the Connecticut Land Company and drew up the plan for the town that would later bear his name (the 'a' was dropped in 1834 in order to fit the city's name on a newspaper's masthead). The city saw little growth, however, until 1825 when the Erie Canal was opened, establishing a water route between Lake Erie and the Atlantic. Subsequent railroad development advanced Cleveland further and by 1855 it had become a hub for lumber, ore, coal and farm produce. Later still, it developed as a centre for metal fabrication and oil refining and by the 1930s it had the vibrant look and feel of a major city. Today, Cleveland still possesses a strong industrial base, although its economy has diversified into the service sector as well as science and technology. Unlike many American cities, Cleveland's downtown is not only lively, it is the focal point around which the rest of the city nestles. In the middle of the downtown area is the historic Public Square, a European-style square with statues and fountains. The lakefront, having benefited from committed renewal, is home to the stunningly designed Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, which, when it was built during the last decade, epitomised not only the renewal of Cleveland's downtown but the city's growing cultural presence as well. More recent additions to Cleveland's downtown include Jacobs Field, home to the Cleveland Indians baseball team, and Cleveland Browns Stadium, where the Cleveland Browns play football. The downtown neighbourhoods, such as the trendy Warehouse District and Flats, and the historic Tower City District have similarly prospered. Cleveland enjoys long, hot summers during which its citizens enjoy the many outdoor restaurants and bars or stay home and cook meals on the barbecue. During its cold, sometimes snowy winters, the city's cultural attractions, including theatre, symphony, opera and museums, thrive. The city offers all the trappings of any American city - shopping, sightseeing, excellent service - and, although it possesses a historic flavour popular with tourists, it is most definitely a city that is moving forward. |
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