Greater Ohio Policy Center’s 2016 report, “From Akron to Zanesville: How Are Ohio’s Small and Mid-Sized Legacy Cities Faring?” found that, between 2000 and 2014, the trajectory of Ohio’s smaller legacy cities began to diverge from their larger peers, Cleveland and Cincinnati. The report also determined that Columbus’ relatively strong economic growth masked statewide challenges. Many of Ohio’s small and mid-sized legacy cities are showing signs of improvement since 2014, but they will require support from the state to be as strong as they were in 2000.
What 2018 Data Show:
Legacy city population loss is slowing. Ohio’s legacy cities of all sizes experienced dramatic population loss from 2000 to 2014. Many continued to lose population from 2014 to 2018 but at much lower rates. The state, overall, and the City of Columbus have experienced population growth.
Unemployment is down across Ohio’s legacy cities. Unemployment rates ticked down between 2014 and 2018, but levels in all size cohorts and the state as a whole continued to exceed those of 2000. The proportion of adults working or looking for a job — a key indicator of economic health — has remained relatively stable in legacy cities since 2014.
Poverty and per capita incomes are improving. Since 2014, all size cohorts have seen a steady decrease in the number of individuals living in poverty. Per capita incomes were also up in 2018 — with some cohorts even slightly surpassing their 2000 levels.
Housing values and vacancy have seen positive change but remain a challenge, especially in small and mid-sized cities. From 2014 to 2018, all size cohorts saw declines in home values and growth in long-term housing vacancy. However, median housing values have improved for the state as a whole since 2014; and the number of long-term vacant housing units has decreased statewide — suggesting Ohio’s housing markets are starting to stabilize and, in some places, rebuild.
While the challenges facing Ohio’s smaller legacy cities remain, research surveying similar cities makes clear that these communities’ current conditions do not have to dictate their destiny.
On January 10, 2020, at noon, Sandusky City Manager, Eric Wobser, will present at the City Club of Cleveland to highlight the critical role that small legacy cities play in the State’s economy.
Sandusky is one of 16 Reinvention Cities that meet regularly under the leadership of the Greater Ohio Policy Center to advance state policies related to legacy city regrowth. At the sold-out City Club event, Mr. Wobser’s presentation will share lessons from Sandusky and focus on how small legacy cities can unlock their potential and address common challenges to improve overall quality-of-life and bridge gaps in community caused by sprawl, disinvestment, and inequity.
To learn more about Ohio’s Legacy Cities, visit: https://www.greaterohio.org/publications/akron-to-zanesville, and check out the January 2020 Update.