westakron1

I’m must respectfully disagree. The relationship between Wadsworth and Akron does not mirror the relationship between Akron and Cleveland. Wadsworth was a small town(some would still refer to it as such) that developed into a bedroom community to Akron. Concerning Lorain/Elyria they would be satellite cities of Cleveland IMO. They don’t have some of the things that Akron has that makes it it’s own city. My wife grew up in Elyria and spending time there you certainly don’t feel as if you are in Cleveland but it feels more connected to Cleveland then Akron does imo.

Except the commuting data says the Cleveland MSA deserves credit for it. If 200+ year old county boundaries moved with the commuting market, Twinsburg and Macedonia would be in Cuyahoga County. Of course, I mentioned the same thing earlier in the thread. Sucks that Cleveland has the 31st biggest MSA instead of the 29th or 30th becuase of it. Ahem, Cleveland would be the 19th largest if combined w/Akron's MSA. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_metropolitan_statistical_areas I'm referring to adding the suburbs that are clearly in Clevelands orbit. Ignoring county lines.

Except the commuting data says the Cleveland MSA deserves credit for it. If 200+ year old county boundaries moved with the commuting market, Twinsburg and Macedonia would be in Cuyahoga County. Of course, I mentioned the same thing earlier in the thread. Sucks that Cleveland has the 31st biggest MSA instead of the 29th or 30th becuase of it.

I'm not arguing Akron should be considered a suburb of Cleveland but what you posted is anecdotal nonsense. I have family in Akron, Fairlawn, Ravenna and even out in Hartville. They visit the Cleveland area, MSA or whatever once a week and the city way more than once a year. They're always posting such on Facebook. So you're being a bit provincial too if you think people in Summit County are just visiting New Philadelphia. I visit Akron all the time when I'm back around Amrap. Why is regionalism such a struggle for some NE Ohioans? A larger MSA would be a benefit to people in both Akron and Cleveland regardless of city pride. I think the pride thing hits it on the head. Clevelanders want Cleveland to be bigger, because they feel it is because it is a draw from Akron and to a lesser extent Canton. Akronites understandably want their city to stand on its own and not be overshadowed by Cleveland. You're right a larger MSA would benefit both cities. What we should be doing is accepting that these regions are interconnected and figuring out how to brand Cleveland-Akron-Canton as a larger region. Play off the assets of all three. You can visit or live here and have the beaches on the lake, visit the Football hall of fame, see a Cavs game, work at First Energy, go to Cedar Point, get healthcare at the Cleveland Clinic, etc. Just don't use Cleveland+ again! Completely agree. Let's hope for wisdom on how to move forward as a region.

Listen, I don't know anyone in Akron who doesn't want Cleveland to prosper. I also believe in regionalism in NEO and these cities and areas should work on how work with each other. However, when people say Akron is a part of Cleveland they are mistaken. Most people who have been born in and/or raised in Akron may feel a connection to Cleveland when to comes to sports and entertainment but that is typically it. Do most suburbs or even satellite cities(which I've seen some people refer to Akron as) have their own museums, universities, hosptial system, childrens hosptial, zoo, airport etc? If Clevelanders feel miffed becuase they don't get population credit for Twinsburg or Macedonia that stinks. I would guess that most folks in Akron are fine being a medium sized midwestern city with an urban pop north of 500k, we don't see ourselves as Clevelands peer and we aren't in competion with the three Cs for who's the biggest metro in Ohio.

You're completely right. Its not consistent. Summit and Portage counties are very tied to the economy of Cleveland and many communities in those counties would not exist without Cleveland. Akron City itself is tied to Cleveland. Akron should be be part of the Cleveland MSA. Akron actively fights this though as they want their own identity, which is silly as it hurts both them and the region. Sorry my intial post was in response to what is quoted above. I do realize that MSA's are created on commuting pattern data and not arbitrarily.

I would never consider Akron to be a suburb of Cleveland. It's a city in its own right. But I think it's in the same metro area. There certainly is an argument for that, though living here I would argue it's more connected to Canton on that level. I also agree with those who believe that the communities north of the Turnpike are Cleveland suburbs in both Summit and Portage Counties.

Why in the world would Akron fight to be in the Cleveland MSA when Cleveland boosters call Akron a suburb of Cleveland. While Akron clearly isn't a peer of Cleveland it obvious to anyone who knows anything about the city and it's past or present that it's not suburb of Cleveland. I would expect for Akron and Canton to form a MSA before Akron and Cleveland.

Drove through it and it seemed very small for a city 200k.

You can get WTAM as far south as Charlotte NC at nights as I've listened to Cavs games when down there.

Yes, they are located in Cuyahoga Falls. You can see their "tower" from many miles away. As far as I know, yes. Which really bolsters the Cleveland Market as the Akron/Canton area has well over a million people. I can remember getting some Youngstown Channels at night, I remember watching them and seeing the local high school highlights. I also can remember getting Pittsburghs hip hop radio station when I would go kick at Mt. Union in Alliance.

Growing up Akron only had one channel, channel 23 was an ABC affeliate that covered both Akron and Canton. I don't remember Canton having any of the big four. As was mentioned above the fact that Cleveland picks up Akron as well as Canton makes it such a large market. As far as distance between the cities, I can get from downtown Akron to downtown Cleveland in about 35 minutes and I drive the speed limit, so they're pretty close. What is the driving time between Dayton and Cincy?

http://www.ohio.com/news/top_stories/59410842.html Akron has issued layoff notices to 201 employees — and more than half are police officers or firefighters. The 14-day notices went to 96 police officers, though this includes 21 high-ranking employees who are eligible to bump down into lower positions. See link for more details.

Is Cuyahoga Falls still over 50,000?

No, Akron will feel like a NYC after a day in Youngstown.

Thanks for these, I used to play basketball with a couple of guys from out that way. I've never visited the town and I don't now why I would so thanks for this view into the town.

Love it! My favorite city!

Love Adam's Morgan. My Aunt & Uncle used to have a shop over there in the mid 90's...lot's a fun as young cat with free reign to wander around that hood....as you said it's a lot more gentrified now.

I would expect Akron to be around 200K...and maybe, just maybe for Akron & Canton to actually be counted in the same MSA....

I'm mad I missed this but there's hip hop festival going on at Lock 3 in Akron next weekend.

I said nothing about "city feel". I was speaking in terms of ethnic diversity. Cleveland and Akron are distinctly separated by the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. I'm a bit confused by your comments...

Great job. I've got a friend with family in Toledo and he always talks about it's diversity in comparison to Akron.

When was it ever a cute Italian-American suburb?

Scrimmaged their High School in football..

Great job, I was just there yesterday but couldn't really take pics like I wanted cause my 5 month old was with me.