Westlake is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. It is a suburb located 12 miles (19 km) west of downtown Cleveland. The population was 34,228 at the 2020 census.

Westlake, Ohio
Westlake Porter Public Library
Official seal of Westlake, Ohio
Motto(s): 
Pride, tradition, community
Location of Westlake in Ohio (left) and in Cuyahoga County, Ohio (right)
Location of Westlake in Ohio (left) and in Cuyahoga County, Ohio (right)
Coordinates: 41°27′16″N 81°55′43″W / 41.45444°N 81.92861°W / 41.45444; -81.92861
CountryUnited States
StateOhio
CountyCuyahoga
Dover Township first settledOctober 10, 1810
Dover Village incorporated1911[1]
City of Westlake incorporated1957[1]
Government
 • TypeMayor-council
 • MayorDennis M. Clough (R)[2]
Area
 • Total
15.94 sq mi (41.28 km2)
 • Land15.93 sq mi (41.27 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2)  0%
Elevation709 ft (216 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
34,228
 • Density2,148.25/sq mi (829.44/km2)
 census
Time zoneUTC−5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Code
44145
Area code440
FIPS code39-83622[5]
GNIS feature ID1061762[4]
Websitewww.cityofwestlake.org

History

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The area now known as the city of Westlake was first settled by European Americans on October 10, 1810. At the time, it was part of Dover Township.

In 1901, the northern part of the township seceded to form Bay Village.[6] In 1912, a southern portion left to join North Olmsted. The remaining township residents formed Dover Village in 1913, taking with it a portion of Olmsted Township.

In order to avoid confusion with the city of Dover in Tuscarawas County,[7] Dover Village was renamed Westlake in 1940.[8] The village of Westlake became a city in 1957.[1]

In September 1966, a house in Westlake which had recently been bought by John R. Compton, a black pastor, was firebombed. No one was injured, although the bombing did cause around $10,000 of damage, equivalent to $93,908 in 2023.[9] According to the Cleveland Press, the mayor of Westlake, Alexander R. Roman, "criticized the parties involved in the sale of the home... He said no one was notified so the community could be prepared to accept a Negro family."[10][11]

Geography

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Westlake is located at 41°27′16″N 81°55′43″W / 41.45444°N 81.92861°W / 41.45444; -81.92861 (41.454439, −81.928657).[12]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 15.93 square miles (41.26 km2), all land.[13]

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note
19201,754
19302,45339.9%
19403,20030.5%
19504,91253.5%
196012,906162.7%
197015,68921.6%
198019,47524.1%
199027,01838.7%
200031,71917.4%
201032,7293.2%
202034,2284.6%
Sources:[5][14][15]

Income

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The median income for a household in the city was $72,917, and the median income for a family was $98,223 (these figures had changed to $63,252 and $90,397 respectively as of a 2007 estimate).[16] Males had a median income of $60,429 versus $36,999 for females. The per capita income for the city was $56,515. About 1.3% of families and 2.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.7% of those under age 18 and 2.8% of those age 65 or over. Of the city's population over the age of 25, 50.1% hold a bachelor's degree or higher,[17] while 81.3% spoke English, 1.62% Arabic, 1.5% Spanish, 1.3% Greek, and 0.7% German and Chinese.[18]

2010 census

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As of the census[19] of 2010, there were 32,729 people, 13,870 households, and 8,443 families living in the city. The population density was 2,054.6 inhabitants per square mile (793.3/km2). There were 14,843 housing units at an average density of 931.8 per square mile (359.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 91.2% White, 1.6% African American, 0.1% Native American, 4.9% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.6% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 2.5% of the population.

There were 13,870 households, of which 26.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.4% were married couples living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.1% were non-families. Of all households 34.2% were made up of individuals, and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 3.01.

The median age in the city was 45 years. Of the residents 21.5% were under the age of 18; 5.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.8% were from 25 to 44; 31% were from 45 to 64; and 19% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.4% male and 52.6% female.

2000 census

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As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 31,760 people, 12,830 households, and 8,186 families living in the city. The population density was 1,995.2 inhabitants per square mile (770.4/km2). There were 13,648 housing units at an average density of 858.5 per square mile (331.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 91.65% White, 0.95% African American, 1.36% Native American, 4.21% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.33% from other races, and 1.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 1.27% of the population.

There were 12,826 households, out of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.9% were married couples living together, 5.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.1% were non-families. Of all households 32.0% were made up of individuals, and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 22.8% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 26.6% from 45 to 54, and 18.2% who were 55 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.3 males.

Economy

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Crocker Park in 2006

Companies headquartered in Westlake include Nordson,[20] American Greetings,[21] Hyland Software,[22] and Scott Fetzer Company,[23] TravelCenters of America, and Equity Trust.

Crocker Park is a lifestyle center and mixed-use development compromising 1,050,000 sq ft (98,000 m2) of retail space, 650 residential units, and 100,000 sq ft (9,300 m2) of office space based on a small French town-type setting.

Top employers

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According to the city's 2021 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[24] the top employers in the city are:

# Employer # of employees
1 University Hospitals Health System 3,202
2 Hyland Software, Incorporated 1,987
3 American Greetings Corporation 1,167
4 TA Operating, LLC 835
5 Westlake City School District 707
6 City of Westlake 413
7 Equity Administrative Services 412
8 The Cleveland Clinic Foundation 395
9 Budget Dumpster, LLC 333
10 KeyBank National Association 199

Arts and culture

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Westlake is served by the Westlake Porter Public Library.

Also found in Westlake is Lakewood Country Club, "the only Northern Ohio Club to host the PGA-based, Web.com televised golf tour."[25]

Clague House Museum showcases the history of Westlake (formerly Dover). This house was built in 1876.

Clague Playhouse is a community theatre producing five plays a season from the classic and contemporary repertoire.

The White Oaks Restaurant was a lucrative speakeasy during the Prohibition era.[26] Dover Gardens Tavern was also a speakeasy with an upstairs ballroom during Prohibition.

Education

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The Westlake City School District consistently places within the top 4% of statewide districts on the state education report card.[27] The district received an achievement grade of 89.0% for the Performance Index and a grade of 95.% for the Indicators Met on the Ohio Department of Education's 2013–2014 District Report Card.[28]

The district mission statement is "We Educate for Excellence."[27]

  • Westlake Elementary School (grades K–4)
  • Dover Intermediate School (grades 5–6)
  • Lee Burneson Middle School (grades 7–8)
  • Westlake High School (grades 9–12)

Westlake High School is home to WHBS-TV, the Westlake High school Broadcasting System. WHBS-TV is seen on channels 99 and 18 on AT&T U-Verse and WOW! cable, respectively, in the Westlake area.[29]

Notable people

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Sister cities

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Westlake's first sister city partnership with the Town of Tralee in Ireland was founded in 2009 and is recognized by Sister Cities International. In 2012 Westlake also became sister city to the Canadian town of Kingsville, Ontario.[33]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "About Our City". Archived from the original on December 29, 2006. Retrieved December 31, 2006.
  2. ^ "Mayors Office". cityofwestlake.org. Archived from the original on June 2, 2009. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  3. ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  4. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Westlake, Ohio
  5. ^ a b c "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  6. ^ Hadsell, Reign S.; Rutherford, Hazel (1986). A History and Civics of Dover Village. Dover Village Board of Education. p. 41.
  7. ^ Stanton, Lysa; Pfister, Dave (August 8, 2011). "Dover becomes Westlake". Westlake-Bay Village Observer. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  8. ^ Mangus, Michael; Herman, Jennifer L. (2008). Ohio Encyclopedia. North American Book Dist LLC. p. 574. ISBN 978-1-878592-68-2.
  9. ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  10. ^ "Silence about sale hit in home arson". Cleveland Press. September 26, 1966.
  11. ^ "Burn cleric's $23,250 home in white suburb". Jet. Johnson Publishing Company. October 13, 1966. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  12. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  13. ^ "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 20, 2011. Retrieved January 6, 2013.
  14. ^ "Number of Inhabitants: Ohio" (PDF). 18th Census of the United States. U.S. Census Bureau. 1960. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
  15. ^ "Ohio: Population and Housing Unit Counts" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
  16. ^ "American FactFinder - Results". Archived from the original on February 10, 2020. Retrieved April 6, 2009.
  17. ^ http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/39/3983622.html
  18. ^ "Data Center Results".
  19. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 6, 2013.
  20. ^ "Nordson Corporation: Private Company Information". Bloomberg. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
  21. ^ Cho, Janet H. (September 28, 2016). "American Greetings unveils Creative Studios world headquarters at Crocker Park in Westlake (photos)". Cleveland Plain Dealer. cleveland.com. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
  22. ^ "Hyland Software, Inc.: Private Company Information". Bloomberg. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
  23. ^ "The Scott Fetzer Company: Private Company Information". Bloomberg. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
  24. ^ City of Westlake CAFR
  25. ^ "Golf". Lakewood Country Club. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
  26. ^ "History - White Oaks".
  27. ^ a b "About". Westlake City Schools. Archived from the original on February 27, 2013. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
  28. ^ "Westlake City School District PDF Report" (PDF). Ohio Department of Education. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 4, 2016. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
  29. ^ "WHBS TV". Westlake City Schools. Archived from the original on November 15, 2013. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
  30. ^ "Three Republicans on Ohio's primary ballot battle to face U.S. Sen. Brown in November". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  31. ^ "How national Vine video star Logan Paul went from Westlake standout athlete to master of 6-second comedy (videos)". The Plain Dealer. April 22, 2014. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
  32. ^ Dawidziak, Mark (January 19, 2009). "' Lost' writer Brian K. Vaughan is a Cleveland native". Cleveland.com.
  33. ^ "Sister City Program | Westlake, OH - Official Website". www.cityofwestlake.org. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
  34. ^ "Tralee Twins with Westlake, Ohio". Archived from the original on August 21, 2010. Retrieved December 26, 2009.
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