Cuyahoga County is located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, across the U.S.-Canada maritime border. As of the 2020 census, its population was 1,264,817, making it the second-most-populous county in the state.

The county seat and largest city is Cleveland. The county is bisected by the Cuyahoga River, which gave the county its name. “Cuyahoga” is an Iroquoian word meaning "crooked river". Cuyahoga County is the core of the Greater Cleveland Metropolitan Area and of the Cleveland–Akron–Canton combined statistical area.

Former U.S. President James A. Garfield was born in what was at the time Cuyahoga County's Orange Township.

History

Cuyahoga County in 1874

After the discovery of the New World, the land that became Cuyahoga County was originally part of the French colony of Canada (New France), which was ceded in 1763 to Great Britain and renamed Province of Quebec. In the late 18th century the land became part of the Connecticut Western Reserve in the Northwest Territory, then was purchased by the Connecticut Land Company in 1795.

Cuyahoga County was created on June 7, 1807 and organized on May 1, 1810. It was later reduced by the creation of Huron, Lake, and Lorain Counties. It was named after the Cuyahoga River.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,246 square miles (3,230 km²), of which 457 square miles (1,180 km²) is land and 788 square miles (2,040 km²) (63%) is water. It is the second-largest county in Ohio by total area. A portion of Cuyahoga Valley National Park is located in the southeastern portion of the county.

Adjacent counties

Lake County (northeast)
Geauga County (east)
Summit County (southeast)
Medina County (southwest)
Lorain County (west)
Portage County (southeast)

Demographics

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±%
1810	1,459	—
1820	6,328	+333.7%
1830	10,373	+63.9%
1840	26,506	+155.5%
1850	48,099	+81.5%
1860	78,033	+62.2%
1870	132,010	+69.2%
1880	196,943	+49.2%
1890	309,970	+57.4%
1900	439,120	+41.7%
1910	637,425	+45.2%
1920	943,495	+48.0%
1930	1,201,455	+27.3%
1940	1,217,250	+1.3%
1950	1,389,532	+14.2%
1960	1,647,895	+18.6%
1970	1,721,300	+4.5%
1980	1,498,400	−12.9%
1990	1,412,140	−5.8%
2000	1,393,978	−1.3%
2010	1,280,122	−8.2%
2020	1,264,817	−1.2%
2021	1,249,387	−1.2%
Source: U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020

Largest ancestries (2010)	Percent
German	17.4%
Irish	13.0%
Italian	9.2%
Polish	8.6%
English	6.3%
Slovak	3.3%

Cuyahoga County population (Source: 2000 United States census)

As of the 2010 census, 1,280,122 people, 571,457 households, and 319,996 families were residing in the county. The population density was 2,800 people/sq mi (1,081/km²). The 621,763 housing units averaged 1,346 per sq mi (520/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 63.6% White, 29.7% African American, 0.2% Native American, 2.6% Asian (0.9% Indian, 0.7% Chinese, 0.3% Filipino, 0.2% Korean, 0.2% Vietnamese, 0.1% Japanese), 1.8% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. About 4.8% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race (3.1% Puerto Rican, 0.7% Mexican, 0.1% Dominican, 0.1% Guatemalan). Further, 16.5% were of German, 12.8% Irish, 8.8% Italian, 8.1% Polish, 5.9% English, 3.7% Slovak, and 3.1% Hungarian heritage.

Sizable numbers of Russians (1.7%), French, (1.4%), Arabs (1.4%), Ukrainians (1.2%), and Greeks (0.7%) were residing in the county; as their first language, 88.4% spoke English, 3.7% Spanish, and 4.9% some other Indo-European language. In addition, 7.3% of the population were foreign-born (of which 44.4% were born in Europe, 36.3% in Asia, and 12.1% in Latin America).

Of the 571,457 households, 28.5% had children under 18 living with them, 42.4% were married couples living together, 15.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.9% were not families. About 32.8% of all households consisted of single individuals, and 12.1% consisted of someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.39, and the average family size was 3.06.

The age distribution in the county was as follows: 25.0% under 18, 8.0% between 18 and 24, 29.3% between 25 and 44, 22.2% between 45 and 64, and 15.6% who were 65 or older. The median age was 37 years old. For every 100 females, there were 89.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.2 males.

The median income in the county was $43,603 for a household and $58,631 and for a family. The county’s per capita income was $26,263. About 10.3% of families, 19.4% of those under age 18, and 9.3% of those age 65 or over, and 13.1% of the population as a whole was living below the poverty line.

Transportation

Airports

Cuyahoga County is served by international, regional, and county airports, including:

Cuyahoga County Airport
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (Cleveland)
Cleveland Burke Lakefront Airport (Cleveland)

Major highways

I-71
I-77
I-80 / Ohio Turnpike
I-90
I-271
I-480
I-490
US 6
US 20
US 42
US 322
US 422
SR 2
SR 3
SR 8
SR 10
SR 14
SR 21
SR 43
SR 82
SR 87
SR 91
SR 94
SR 174
SR 175
SR 176
SR 237
SR 252
SR 254
SR 283
SR 291

Rail

Cuyahoga County receives intercity passenger service by Amtrak by way of Lakefront Station in Cleveland, with destinations such as Chicago, New York, Boston, Washington, DC, and many more.

The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad offers scenic excursion service through the Cuyahoga Valley National Park by way of their Rockside Station in Independence.

Freight rail service is provided by Norfolk Southern, CSX Transportation, Wheeling and Lake Erie Railroad, Cleveland Commercial Railroad, and several other small companies. Norfolk Southern has the largest presence in the county, operating three different lines and several terminal yards.

Public transportation

The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority, also known as RTA, provides public transportation to Cuyahoga County through a combination of conventional bus, rapid-transit bus, and rail transit services, as well as on-demand services. Several other county agencies also serve Cuyahoga County, mostly through downtown Cleveland.

Greyhound, Barons Bus Lines, and Megabus provide public transportation beyond Cuyahoga County to destinations across the United States.

Recreation

Cuyahoga County is served by the Cleveland Metroparks system. Its 16 reservations provide more than 21,000 acres (8,500 ha) of green space and recreational amenities. The county is home to part of Cuyahoga Valley National Park, which extends southward into Summit County.

Culture

Theaters

Beck Center (Lakewood)
Cabaret Dada (Cleveland)
Cassidy Theater (Parma Heights)
Cleveland Play House (Cleveland)
Cleveland Public Theater (Cleveland)
Dobama Theater (Cleveland Heights)
East Cleveland Theater (East Cleveland)
Huntington Playhouse (Bay Village)
Karamu House (Cleveland)
Near West Theatre (Cleveland)
Playhouse Square Center (Cleveland)

Classical Music

Cleveland Orchestra performs in Severance Hall

Museums

Cleveland Museum of Art
Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Cleveland Museum of Natural History
Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage Beachwood
Great Lakes Science Museum Cleveland
International Women Air & Space Museum Cleveland

Retail

Cuyahoga County has many options for shopping. Some of the well known shopping areas include:

In Strongsville, SouthPark Mall: stores include Dillard's, Macy's, Aldo, Banana Republic, Chico's, Forever 21, H&M, Swarovski, Williams-Sonoma.
In Beachwood, Beachwood Place: stores include Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, Dillard's, Coach, True Religion, Lacoste, H&M, Michael Kors.
In Woodmere, Eton Square: stores include Anthropologie, Apple Store, Brooks Brothers, Tiffany & Co., The North Face, Orvis, Sur La Table.
In Lyndhurst, Legacy Village: stores include Z Gallery, Crate & Barrel, Arhaus Furniture, Ethan Allen, Restoration Hardware, Nordstrom Rack, The Cheesecake Factory.
In Westlake, Crocker Park: stores include Apple Store, Banana Republic, Nordstrom Rack, Guess, Lucky Brand Jeans, Arhaus Furniture.
In North Olmsted, Great Northern Mall & Great Northern Plazas: stores include Dillard's, Macy's, Dicks Sporting Goods, Bed Bath & Beyond, JC Penney, Chico's, Forever 21, H&M, Best Buy, Pets Mart, Home Depot, Marcs Grocery, K&G, Jo-Ann Fabrics, Pier 1 Imports, Five Below, DSW, Ulta Beauty, Burlington Coat Factory.

Communities

Map of Cuyahoga County, Ohio with Municipal and Township Labels

Cities

Villages

Townships

Chagrin Falls Township
Olmsted Township
Nineteen paper townships

Education

Colleges and universities

Cuyahoga County is home to a number of higher-education institutions, including:

Baldwin Wallace University (Berea)
Bryant and Stratton College (Parma)
Cleveland Bartending School (Cleveland Heights)
Case Western Reserve University (Cleveland)
Cleveland Institute of Art (Cleveland)
Cleveland Institute of Music (Cleveland)
Cleveland State University (Cleveland)
Cuyahoga Community College (Cleveland, Highland Hills, Westlake, and Parma)
DeVry University (Seven Hills)
John Carroll University (University Heights)
Notre Dame College (South Euclid)
Kent State University College of Podiatric Medicine (Independence)
Stautzenberger College (Brecksville)
Ursuline College (Pepper Pike)

Cuyahoga County, Ohio facts for kids

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