Each month, we feature an Ohio Legacy City on our #GOPCThread Series, #OHCommunitySpotlight. This month we travel to the shores of Lake Erie and spotlight Euclid, an inner-ring suburb of Cleveland with a unique history all its own.
The year is 1809 and David Dille has just founded the Euclid Township. It would take another 120 years for #Euclid to officially become a city. Back then it only had a population of 12,753 people. Now, the suburb is home to 48,928 people!
A group photo from the Euclid Historical Society of Euclid Survey Township. 41 employees of the Connecticut Land Company contracted by Superintendent Moses Cleaveland to survey the estimated 3,000,000 acres of land purchased by the company the previous year for $1,200,000 from the State of Connecticut.
Euclid is a majority black suburb (62.1%) about 15 minutes outside of Cleveland.
The city has fairly even renter-ownership (55% to 45%), and a median household income of $40,342. From 1940-70, the population expanded by 400% to a peak of 71,552!
This population boom was attributed to the wartime industrialization during the 40s, when over 140 firms moved into the city. Deindustrialization took its toll; by the 00’s nearly all longtime large manufacturers left, along with ⅓ of the population.
As you might suspect, @CityofEuclid is named after the famed mathematician. Eukleides, who we now know as Euclid, was known for his treatise on geometry, "Elements".
The village used to rely on farming, but thanks to its prime location along Euclid Creek and its proximity to Lake Erie industries like saltworks and ship building came in.
Fun Fact: Euclid resident William Coleman proved fish taken from Lake Erie could be preserved with salt.
A picture of Euclid Creek taken in winter through the trees. Park benches can be seen lined along the shore. A small waterfall can be seen further along the creek.
A closer shot of Euclid Creek rushing beneath a short, yet sheer cliff face. It's clear where the water has eroded the land away over time. It's snowing.
The creek is one of the highlights of suburban life here. Particularly down in Highland Picnic Area, off the Highland Rd. entrance of Euclid Creek Reservation, which is part of the Cleveland Metroparks. A great place to hang out with family or friends!
Picture of a family sitting at a picnic table on a sunny day, in the distance you can see another family playing volleyball on the lawn in front of the jungle gym.
A close up of the empty picnic area and jungle gym taken by the Cleveland Metroparks.
Euclid Creek Reservation has more than 2.5 miles worth of trail, and also provides access to former Bluestone quarries, CCC camp, Wildwood Marina, Villa Angela Park and Beach, AND Euclid Beach. There's still time to participate in the 2022 Cleveland Metroparks Trail Challenge!
Picture taken by the Cleveland Metroparks of the entrance to one of the trails, a sign reads “Cleveland Metroparks: Fitness Trail”.
A map from the Cleveland Metroparks website showing the 4 different trails that go the length of the entire Euclid Creek Reservation.
The Euclid Creek Reservation Trail Guide from the Cleveland Metroparks website, which describes the reservation,as well as park rules and trail etiquette on the left side. The right side has emergency contact information. In between are pictures of Euclid Beach, Villa Angela Park, Upper Highlands Park, the Oxbow Lagoons, and Euclid Creek.
Euclid has also had massive influence on the history of planning and development. In 1926, SCOTUS granted local governments the power to determine which properties or zones in towns are most suitable for specific uses in Euclid v. Ambler, now known as "Euclidean Zoning".
Euclidean Zoning (AKA "exclusionary" zoning) separated land use by type: recreational, industrial, commercial etc. and is the most widespread zoning code in the US.
Its also responsible for the country's sprawling suburbia, and has some negative environmental and social effects.
Euclidean zoning pushed homes away from business and recreational districts, which led to greater automobile dependency in the US. The result: increased air pollution and congestion. According to the EPA, transportation is the largest source of emissions in the U.S.
A pie chart made by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2022, titled “Total U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Economic Sector in 2020”. The chart is divided as follows: 27% Transportation, 25% Electric Power, 24% Industry, 13% Commercial & Residential, and 11% Agriculture.
Recently, Euclidean zoning has begun to evolve into what's known as "mixed use" zoning. @SustainableCode has written an article about the different types of mixed use zoning as well as some of its benefits that you can read here:
In addition to the shift toward mixed-used zoning, increased support of public transit systems is one way to mitigate some of the fallouts of Euclidean Zoning.
Read about more reasons for Ohio to invest in public transit here:
The community hasn't forgotten about its history of zoning either. @EuclidMuseum hosted the Euclid Zoning Centennial on Nov 18th. Just before Turkey Day!
Euclid now has a strong interest in green solutions. The city houses 4 wind turbines. The largest of which, kept in Lincoln Electric World Headquarters on East 222nd St, just went through its 10-year-maintenance check up.
A picture of a wind turbine on a cloudy day, with a sign in front that reads “Lincoln Electric World Headquarters”. A street sign on the lower left side reads “E 222 Street”
The city also installed 689 solar panels across the roof of City Hall and the Euclid Public Library as part of their Going Green Project. The goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 30% by 2030, and is supported by a variety of incentives.
Of course we must talk about the stunning @EuclidLibrary!
Serving for more than 85 years, the recently-renovated EPL offers a variety of services and an excellent community space. Relax inside or out by the impressive sight of the library's memorials.
A picture of the outside of the EPL. A sign on the front lawn (right) reads “Euclid Public Library”. The building is on the left, a warm yellow glow coming through the windows.
The teens section of the library. The columns feature hand painted murals with
A shelf full of programming brochures and calendars. A sign reads “This Week. Monday: STEAM Monday, Tuesday: Story Time 10:30-11:30am and 6-7pm, Thursday: Story Time 10:30-11:30am”
A picture of the art gallery hallway. Framed Art currently hangs aesthetically by string along the walls.
The EPL's Director Kacie V. Armstrong @kcloves2read has recently been named the 2022 Librarian of the Year by the Ohio Library Council and its no wonder why.
Congratulations are in order! Great work!
Other #iconic residents of Euclid include Sunita Williams @Astro_Suni, the first Indian-American to make a spacewalk. While Euclid is a majority black city (62.1%), it is equally important to acknowledge the achievements of its AAPI Community.
Located directly next to the Library is the Euclid Public High School, home of the Panthers! Students started the year on a real high note, as the Mighty Marching Panthers became Grand Champions at the midwestern Battle of the Bands.
ICYMI: Bluestone Courts Coalition (BCC) held their first annual Arts Fest in September of this year. And last month, Step Forward @StepFwrdToday celebrated the grand opening of their newest Neighborhood Opportunity Center.
This city has a strong passion for both the arts and STEM so there is always something going on worth talking about in Euclid. Make sure you check out the @EuclidObserver, who reports on all of these events, to keep track of the on-goings in the city!
Cover Photo by stu_spivack via Wikimedia
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