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region of Ohio
North America > United States of America > Midwest > Ohio > Northeast Ohio

Northeast Ohio ("NEO") is usually defined as a 13-county region, with a population of more than 4 million (as of the 2000 US Census), surrounding the Cleveland Area and the mid-sized cities of Akron, Canton and Youngstown. The Combined Statistical Area of Cleveland-Akron-Elyria, with a population of 3 million, is the 14th largest Combined Metropolitan Area in the United States. The metropolitan hub of the region, Greater Cleveland, is the five-county Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor MSA accounting for nearly 50% of the NEO population.

Counties

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Northeast Ohio is defined within the region as including 18 counties including:

Ashland County, Ashtabula County, Columbiana County, Cuyahoga County, Erie County, Geauga County, Holmes County, Huron County, Lake County, Lorain County, Mahoning County, Medina County, Portage County, Richland County, Stark County, Summit County, Trumbull County, Tuscarawas County, Wayne County

Regions

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Cities

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Cleveland - the Hub of Northeast Ohio
  • 1 Akron, the County Seat of Summit County, formerly known as the Rubber Capital, has made the transition from the world's tire manufacturing hub to its high-tech Polymers Research Center, now referred to as the Polymer Capital. It is also the home of the All-American Soap Box Derby.
  • 2 Canton, the County Seat of Stark County, is the "Birthplace of Professional American Football".
  • 3 Cleveland, the County Seat of Cuyahoga County, is the "Rock and Roll Capital of the World" and home to one of the five richest collections of arts and culture institutions in the US.
  • 4 Youngstown, the County Seat of Mahoning County, birthplace of the football penalty flag. Home of the Butler Institute of American Art, the world’s largest collection of American art. Also contains the Mill Creek Metro Park.

Other destinations

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State parks and resort lodges

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For camping and getaway rental reservations on any of Ohio's Parks tel. ☏ +1-866-644-6727.

  • 2 Beaver Creek State Park, 12021 Echo Dell Road, East Liverpool (Columbiana County). 53 non-electric camp sites, horseman's camp, Little Beaver Creek canoe trips, fishing, 16 mi (26 km) of hiking trails and two mountain biking technical trails. Beaver Creek State Park (Q4878039) on Wikidata Beaver Creek State Park on Wikipedia (updated May 2023)
  • 3 Findley Lake State Park, 25381 State Route 58, Wellington (southern Lorain County). 272 non-electric camp sites, fully stocked camp store, sand volleyball, basketball court, two horseshoe pits, 93 acres (38 hectares) lake, two launch ramps, canoes, rowboats, paddleboats and 10 mi (16 km) of hiking trails. Findley State Park (Q49489045) on Wikidata (updated May 2023)
  • 4 Geneva State Park, 4499 Padanarum Road, Geneva (Ashtabula County). A full facility campground with electricity, showers and flush toilets. Deluxe Cedar Cabins on the Lake Erie lakefront, six-lane boat ramp, canteen, concession area, 383 docks, 3 mi (4.8 km) of multi-use trails, 300 ft (91 m) guarded swimming beach and Geneva Lake Resort Lodge and Conference Center. Geneva State Park (Q5533035) on Wikidata Geneva State Park on Wikipedia (updated May 2023)
  • 5 Guilford Lake State Park, 6835 East Lake Road, Lisbon (Columbiana County). On the west fork of the Little Beaver Creek, 41 electric camp sites, play area, fishing dock, drinking water, showers, flush toilets, picnic tables, fire-rings, launching ramps, seasonal dock rentals, 600 ft (180 m) public swimming beach, bathhouse, changing booths, showers, volleyball, basketball courts, horseshoe pits. Guilford Lake State Park (Q49496719) on Wikidata (updated May 2023)
  • 6 Jefferson Lake State Park, 501 Twp. Rd. 261A, Richmond (Jefferson County). 97 non-electric camp sites, latrines, water fountains, picnic tables, fire rings, public beach, bathhouse, showers, toilets, fishing, hunting, volleyball, basketball courts, horseshoe pits, 18 mi (29 km) of multiple-use trails through the park for hikers, horseback riders and mountain bikers, any season. Jefferson Lake State Park (Q49507219) on Wikidata (updated May 2023)
  • 7 Mosquito Lake State Park, 1439 State Route 305, Cortland (Trumbull County). 234 campsites, 218 have electrical hookups, boat launching area, unlimited horsepower boating on 7,850 acres (3,180 hectares) lake, fishing, hunting, several hiking trails, 10 mi (16 km) of bridle trails, snowmobilers access to 14 mi (23 km) of shoreline and 15 mi (24 km) of wooded trails, mountain biking is permitted on 5 mi (8.0 km) of multiple-use trail, basketball, volleyball, horseshoe courts and 600 ft (180 m) beach. Mosquito Lake State Park (Q113085463) on Wikidata Mosquito Lake State Park on Wikipedia (updated May 2023)
  • 8 Portage Lakes State Park, 5031 Manchester Rd., Akron (Summit County). 74 non-electric campsites, 400 horsepower limit on lake, 8 boat launch ramps, boat rentals, fishing, hunting, beach, 5 mi (8.0 km) of hiking trails, volleyball courts, horseshoe pits, basketball court, hunting waterfowl in designated areas. Portage Lakes State Park (Q16919503) on Wikidata Portage Lakes State Park on Wikipedia (updated May 2023)
  • 9 Punderson State Park, 11755 Kinsman Rd., Newbury (Geauga County). Natural lake, resort manor house, family cottages, golf course, winter sports park, sledding, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, 196-site campground, showerhouses, flush toilets, electricity, pet camping, twenty-six cottages, manor house features a dining room, meeting rooms, outdoor, indoor swimming pools, championship-rated, 18-hole public golf course, pro shop, boat rentals, fishing, 14 mi (23 km) of hiking trails, tennis court, volleyball, basketball courts and cross country ski trails. Punderson State Park (Q7260083) on Wikidata Punderson State Park on Wikipedia (updated May 2023)
  • 10 Pymatuning State Park, 6260 Pymatuning Lake Rd., Andover (Ashtabula County on the north part of the border of Ohio and Pennsylvania). Twenty-six family cottages, thirty-two standard cottages, beach, 331 camping sites have electric hookups, 21 sites are non-electric, nature center, basketball, volleyball courts, playgrounds, 14,000 acres (5,700 hectares) lake, five boat-launch ramps, fishing, hunting, 2 mi (3.2 km) of well marked trails, ice skating, ice boating, ice fishing and cross-country skiing. Pymatuning State Park (Q1647378) on Wikidata Pymatuning State Park (Ohio) on Wikipedia (updated May 2023)
  • 11 West Branch State Park, 5708 Esworthy Road, Ravenna (Portage County). 29 full service camping sites, 155 camping sites with 50-amp electric hook-ups, 14 non-electric sites, heated showers, flush toilets, laundry facilities, 700 ft (210 m) sand beach, showerhouse, change booth, snack bar, year-round fishing, hunting, 2,650 acres (1,070 hectares) lake, 12 mi (19 km) of hiking trails, 20 mi (32 km) of bridle trails, horse camp, playground and volleyball court. West Branch State Park (Q7984549) on Wikidata West Branch State Park on Wikipedia (updated May 2023)

Note

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The mailing address and actual location of these parks may be two different locations: For more detailed information on these and other Ohio State Parks, contact the Ohio Department of Natural Resources - Division of Parks and Recreation[dead link].

Understand

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When visiting or even thinking of Cleveland, the integration of the economies, communities, media coverage, culture and arts is extraordinarily interwoven with all of NEO (as can be proven by analyzing commute patterns among the counties). Unlike the vast majority of large US cities that have grown through annexation of outlying areas in their central counties and beyond (e.g., Chicago or Columbus), the City of Cleveland proper only encompasses 1/3 of Cuyahoga County, which has nearly 60 municipalities. It would be a mistake, frequently made, to consider the City of Cleveland as a point of direct comparison with other major US Cities. NEO simply isn't structured like most US metropolitan regions, in part, because of its rich history of individual centers of industry in the 1800s merging together into one super-metropolis throughout the 1900s.

Although Cleveland is the largest city in the region, the other large cities in Northeast Ohio like Akron, Youngstown, Canton, and Warren, all have their own distinct identities. It might not go over well, for example, to tell someone in Akron that their city is "part of the Cleveland area", even if it is shown that way in some official tourism campaigns or Census and demographic maps.

Northeast Ohio has been hit hard by the loss of manufacturing and, to a lesser extent, the economic crises of the 21st century, and locals may complain about the area among themselves. However, they usually don't take kindly to outsiders trash-talking Ohio. Northeast Ohioans tend to be stubbornly proud of their little corner of the world, as evidenced by the cult-like following of the Browns through losing season after losing season. People in Northeast Ohio would want outsiders to see the better parts of living here, such as the booming food and restaurant scene in Cleveland, beautiful Lake Erie shorelines, parks and outdoor activities, and the growing strength of certain sectors (namely healthcare, energy, and even insurance) among other things.

Get in

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By plane

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By car

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Northeast Ohio is served by the following interstate highways:

  • I-71 connects Cleveland to Medina and then runs southwest toward Columbus.
  • I-76 serving Akron and Youngstown and connecting to beyond Pennsylvania to the east.
  • I-77 starts in Cleveland and runs south through Akron, Canton, New Philadelphia and beyond.
  • I-80 is the Ohio Turnpike (a toll road) that runs across the northern part of the state, serving Cleveland, Akron and Youngstown (where I-80 and I-76 criss cross).
  • I-90 also serves the far northern part of the state, including Cleveland, Lorain, Elyria, Mentor, Painesville and Ashtabula.

By train

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Cleveland and Elyria are served by Amtrak, although the only trains that serve the two pass through in the middle of the night. Direct service is available to Chicago, New York, and Washington DC, with connections to other destinations. There is also an Amtrak station in Alliance in Stark County

By boat

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Get around

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Most points within NEO are easily accessible by auto with longer distances less than 1.5 hours in driving time. Most of NEO's counties are served by public transit systems that have cooperative linkage points among them (in order from largest system to smallest):

The Heart of Rock 'n Roll is in Cleveland
Pro Football Hall of Fame - Canton
McKinley Monument - Canton
President Garfield's Home Mentor

Northeast Ohio is home to Amish communities and visitors can travel through rural land and small towns taking great care for the horses and buggies along the way. Find food and crafts for which the Amish community is famous, primarily centered in Geauga County (east of Cleveland) and Holmes County (southwest of Canton) which is the center of the largest Amish settlement in the world, known as Ohio's Amish Country.

The Hall of Fame Cycle is a route through the region that visits several Halls of Fame and museums. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is in Cleveland, while the Pro Football Hall of Fame is in Canton. Museums can be found throughout the region, with a particularly high concentration in Cleveland. Visitors who enjoy animals have two zoos to choose from: the Akron Zoo, and the Cleveland Metropark Zoo.

The U.S. Presidential Libraries and Monuments of two US Presidents are found in Northeast Ohio. The James Garfield Cabin is in Moreland Hills (formerly part of Orange Township), and the Garfield Home is in Mentor. Garfield Memorial can be seen in the Lakeview Cemetery in Cleveland. The William McKinley Presidential Library and Memorial is in Canton. Additionally, visitors can pay homage to the Presidents' wives at the First Ladies National Historic Site in Canton; the site is the Victorian family home of US Presidential First Lady Ida Saxton McKinley and now serves as an educational center on the subject of contributions by the wives of US Presidents and other women with significant roles in historical US politics.

Sports

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Progressive Field (formerly Jacobs Field) - home of the Cleveland Indians

Outdoors

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Brandywine Falls in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Outdoor destinations include the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, which is Ohio's only National Park. It stretches across (north-south) the middle of Northeast Ohio. The North Coast Beaches are a large number of public beaches located along the southern shore of Lake Erie. The Metropark Systems include the Cleveland Metroparks, the Lake County Metroparks, the Lorain County Metroparks, the Mill Creek MetroParks (Youngstown & Mahoning County) and the Summit County MetroParks.

The Ohio & Erie Canal Byway offers paths to follow alongside or near the Ohio and Erie Canal throughout NEO.

Learn

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Northeast Ohio's network of 55 colleges and universities comprises the second largest concentration of educational institutions in the nation (after New York City). Outstanding university and vocational training programs, coupled with exceptional liberal arts colleges, provide abundant educational opportunities.

Northeast Ohio offers a variety of educational institutions. Among the area's colleges and universities are:

Cuyahoga County

  • Baldwin-Wallace College, Berea
  • Capital University, Cleveland Center
  • Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland
  • Cleveland College of Jewish Studies, Beachwood
  • Cleveland Institute of Art
  • Cleveland State University
  • Cuyahoga Community College
  • David N. Myers College, Cleveland
  • John Carroll University, University Heights
  • Notre Dame College of Ohio, South Euclid
  • Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine, Cleveland
  • Ursuline College, Pepper Pike

Summit County

  • University of Akron
  • University of Akron Community Technical College

Portage County

  • Kent State University, Kent
  • Hiram College, Hiram
  • Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine, Rootstown

Lake County

  • Lake Erie College, Painesville
  • Lakeland Community College, Willoughby

Lorain County

  • Oberlin College, Oberlin
  • Lorain County Community College, Elyria

Stark County

  • Malone College, Canton
  • Mount Union College, Alliance
  • Kent State University Stark Campus
  • Stark State College of Technology, Canton
  • Walsh University, North Canton

Mahoning County

  • Youngstown State University
  • YSU College of Health Human Services

Columbiana County

  • Allegheny Wesleyan College, Salem
  • Kent State University East Liverpool Campus
  • Kent State University Salem Campus

Trumbull County

  • Kent State University Trumbull Campus, Warren

Wayne County

  • The College of Wooster
  • Ohio State University's Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center and the Agricultural Technical Institute

Work

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Enjoy your visit, but you'll probably want to stay. Northeast Ohio is a global corporate center where national and international corporations grow and develop from the area’s strong, diversified economy. Poised as the leading center of commerce between New York City and Chicago, NEO has been ranked by Fortune magazine as the sixth best location in North America to conduct business. Five major industries have evolved to become the economic strength of the region: Health & Medicine, Science & Engineering, Biotechnology & Biomedical, Manufacturing and Education.

Twenty-four companies headquartered in Northeast Ohio are on the 2008 list of Fortune 1000 U.S. corporations. More than 37% of the Fortune 500 companies are present in Northeast Ohio through corporate headquarters, major divisions, subsidiaries and sales offices. In addition, more than 150 international companies have a presence there.

Northeast Ohio has a diverse mix of business activity, including the following Fortune 1000 Company Headquarters (according to the 2008 list):

  • 119 Goodyear Tire and Rubber, Akron - Rubber
  • 175 Progressive Corporation, Mayfield Heights - Insurance
  • 207 Eaton Corporation, Cleveland - Motor Vehicle/Parts
  • 209 FirstEnergy, Akron - Utilities
  • 226 National City Corporation, Cleveland - Banking
  • 247 Parker-Hannifin Corporation, Cleveland - Aerospace
  • 316 Sherwin Williams Company, Cleveland - Paint and Coatings
  • 321 KeyCorp, Cleveland - Banking
  • 376 Aleris International, Beachwood - Metals
  • 395 TravelCenters of America, Westlake - Highway Retail
  • 457 Timken Company, Canton - Bearings and Specialty Steel
  • 505 Lubrizol Corporation, Wickliffe - Lubricants and Chemicals
  • 591 Nacco Industries, Cleveland - Industrial Equipment
  • 619 RPM International, Medina - Chemicals
  • 743 PolyOne, Avon Lake - Chemicals
  • 807 Medical Mutual of Ohio, Cleveland - Health Insurance
  • 820 Lincoln Electric, Cleveland - Arc Welding Equipment
  • 822 Cleveland-Cliffs, Cleveland - Mining & Crude Oil
  • 836 Ferro, Cleveland - Chemicals
  • 852 JM Smucker, Orrville - Food Consumer Products
  • 895 Applied Industrial Technologies, Cleveland - Bearings
  • 922 Jo Ann Stores, Hudson - Specialty Retailer
  • 944 A. Shulman, Akron - Chemicals
  • 957 American Greetings, Cleveland - Greeting Cards

Not only are there great places to dine and things to eat in Northeast Ohio, but these cuisines, several of which define American Food, were born here:

  • Ballpark/Stadium Mustard the popular brown mustard comes from Cleveland.
  • Hamburgers invented by the Menches brothers of Akron.
  • Hot Dogs, while obviously descending from the global sausage family and much debate exists about naming the American treat, the first frankfurter wrapped in a bun (a "Hot Dog") was invented by Harry M. Stevens of Niles in 1904.
  • Ice Cream Cones the cornucopia ice cream cone was also invented by the Menches.
  • Lifesavers Candies invented in 1912 by Clarence Crane of Cleveland (also the father of famous American poet Hart Crane).
  • Maple Syrup go to Geauga County in Northeast Ohio, the Village of Burton is the heart of maple country. Pancake Breakfasts offered in Geauga County and other places on Sundays in March are a great way to warm up from the dismal, rainy early-spring weather.
  • Candy Buckeyes where else would you go for this delicious snack but the Buckeye State? A candy composed of a peanut-butter center partially covered in chocolate to resemble its poisonous namesake.
  • Salisbury Steak created by and named for Clevelander Dr. James H. Salisbury who desired to perfect the meat curing process (you can pay homage to him at Lakeview Cemetery near University Circle.) Just ask the Menches brothers who must claim, "It's just a fancy hamburger covered in gravy."
  • Chef Boyardee, also known as Hector Boiardi, first canned his pasta and sauce in Cleveland.
  • Jo-Jo potatoes are breaded, fried potato wedges often served with fried chicken.

Drink

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Northeast Ohio is home to numerous wineries and breweries.

Stay safe

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Whilst places like Cleveland, Akron, and Youngstown have their share of violent crime (all three cities frequently rank among the USA's most dangerous cities), tourists should not have to worry about safety if the basic precautions are taken and if they know where to go. As with a lot of Midwesterners, most people in NEO are incredibly welcoming and will go out of their way to help you if need be.

Go next

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This region travel guide to Northeast Ohio is a usable article. It gives a good overview of the region, its sights, and how to get in, as well as links to the main destinations, whose articles are similarly well developed. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.
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