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Ronald BrantMy Hometown ProjectGPH 110011.24.14The City Of Akron “In Northeast Ohio, Nothing is given. Everything is earned. You work for what you have.” This is a quote from the world famous basketball star, Lebron James. Lebron is known for his skills as an American Basketball icon, but he is also very close to his hometown. He understands and respects the history of the city he calls home. Mr. James and I share the same hometown; Akron, Ohio. Akron is the 5th largest city in Ohio. Akron has rich history that has not only changed my life but also many lives around the world, whether some people realize it or not. Now let’s take a trip to the pride of Northeast Ohio, the city of Akron. The City of Akron is located in Northeast Ohio in Summit County. Akron is located in the Great Lakes region of Ohio, approximately 39 miles south of Lake Erie. According to the 2010 census, the city has a total area of 62.37 square miles, roughly 99.5% land and .5% water (wiki). Akron is located about 45 minutes from the much larger city Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland and Akron actually share the same combined statistical area. Akron also has many great surrounding communities and townships. I’m from the southern part of Summit County in a suburb called Green. The City of Green is a part of the “LA” region as we like to call it, also known as lower Akron. Many other suburbs surround Akron including: Fairlawn, Barberton, Cuyahoga Falls, Norton, Stow, Tallmadge, Silver Lake, and Mogadore. Akron formed Joint Economic Development Districts with Springfield, Coventry, Copley, and Bath townships. Akron gets to taste a little part of each weather season throughout the year. Akron has a humid continental climate, with cold but manageable winters; wet but cool springs; warm and humid summers; and cool, rather dry autumn. With the humid summers Akron does experience normal to more intense thunderstorms. The month with the most overcast is December, and the month most sunny is normally July, which is also the month with the most precipitation mostly due in part from the intense thunderstorms. Snowfall averages 47 inches per winter, lighter than in the snowbelt areas to the north around Cleveland, but the area is still influenced by lake effect snowfall from Lake Erie. Akron truly has a rich history that has had a great effect on the world we live in today. In 1811, Paul Williams settled near the corner of what is now Buchtel Avenue and Broadway, the co-founding of a town at the summit of the developing Ohio and Erie Canal. Beginning in the 1900’s, the American trucking industry was started. It was then Akron's “Rubber Capital of the World” era began when the four major tire companies: Goodrich Corporation (1869), Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company (1898), Firestone Tire and Rubber Company (1900),and General Tire (1915) were headquartered within the city. As the world changed dramatically with Henry Ford and the creation of the model T, so did the rubber industries in Akron. This is the reasoning why the city adopted the nickname of “Rubber City Capital of the world”. During the 1910–1920 decade Akron became a boom town being America's fastest growing city with a 201.8% increase in population. Rubber companies responded to the rapped growth by building affordable housing for workers. Goodyear's president, Frank Seiberling, built the Goodyear Heights neighborhood for employees. My Grandfather worked for Goodyear and raised his family, including my Mother, in the Goodyear Heights neighborhood. Like Seiberling, Harvey Firestone built the Firestone Park neighborhood for his employees. Of the 208,000 citizens, almost one-third were immigrants and their children from places including Europe and West Virginia. In addition to the history of the Rubber industries Akron has a very strong artistic culture. Akron is home to E. J. Thomas Hall, the largest of three Akron performance halls. Including Regular acts from the Akron Symphony Orchestra, Tuesday Musical Club, and Children's Concert Society (wiki). The Akron Art Museum located also downtown, features artwork produced since 1850 along with national and international exhibitions. Officially opening in 1922 as the Akron Art Institute located in the basement of the Akron-Summit County Public Library. It moved to its current location at the renovated 1899 old post office building in 1981. In 2007, the art museum more than tripled in size with the additions of the John S. and James L. Knight Building, which then went on to receive the American Architecture Award from the Chicago Athenaeum(wiki). There are numerous attractions and points of interest in the Akron area for tourists. The Akron Art Museum has been operating since 1922. Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens is the estate of F.A. Seiberling, founder of Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company which ranks seventh on the list of Largest Historic Homes in the United States. Stan Hywet is found within the Sand Run Metro Park, the 104 acres of land features a visitor center, hiking trails, three ponds, gardens, and many great special programs throughout the year. Akron also features a Zoo. The Akron Zoo is located just outside the downtown area, featuring exotic animals from all over the world. Akron is a host to numerous national Events that appel to many different skillsets and hobbies. Such as, the PGA World Golf Championships travel to Akron each year for the Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club. The All-American Soap Box Derby is a youth racing program which has its World Championship finals at Derby Downs (wiki). The city of Akron is also home to a tremendous University, The University of Akron. The University of Akron is a public research university, it is a part of the University System of Ohio and is regarded as a world leader in polymer research. The University of Akron offers about 200 undergraduate and more than 100 graduate majors. With an enrollment of approximately 27,000 students from throughout Ohio, the United States, and 71 different foreign countries, The University of Akron is one of the largest principal campuses in Ohio. The University is most well-known for its College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering, which is located in a 12-story reflective glass building that overlooks downtown Akron. The Polymer Science building adds a great unique touch to the skyine of downtown Akron. When the university opened for business in 1872 it was a single building campus, housed in what is now known as "Old Buchtel." Tragedy struck the small college on December 20, 1899, when Old Buchtel burned to the ground. Later a new Buchtel Hall was opened in 1901. The new Buchtel Hall, which itself was gutted by fire in 1971, survives to this day but had some blackening on the exterior up until a 2011 restoration (UofA). In 1913, Buchtel College trustees transferred the institution and all its assets to the city of Akron, and Buchtel College became the Municipal University of Akron. At this time, the enrollment was 198 students. The city of Akron's rapid growing population led to strong growth for the university. Over the next several decades the university continued to add new buildings to accommodate its growing student population, acquiring more property through donations and purchases (UofA). In 1963, Ohio Governor Jim Rhodes approved the university as a state-assisted institution. Enrollment in 1964 was 10,000 students (UofA). In 1967, it fully became a state university, giving it its current name of The University of Akron. Under the direction of its 15th president, Dr. Luis M. Proenza, The University of Akron underwent a $627 million construction project. The project was called “A New Landscape for Learning”, given the title from Dr. Proenza. The project has resulted in 22 new buildings, 18 major additions and renovations, and 34 acres of green space added to the main campus. The project included a new College of Arts & Sciences Building, Honors Residence Hall and classroom complex, a new Student Recreation and Wellness Center, and a new Student Union. Multiple new parking decks were constructed to address high demand for parking and several public streets were closed to consolidate the campus. InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field, was constructed on campus. The new Football stadium opened for its first game on September 12th, 2009, with a sellout crowd. The stadium replaced the Rubber Bowl, which was located 3 miles from campus and had been built in 1940. The University of Akron campus is made up of 82 buildings on 222 acres near or located in downtown Akron with a total property value of $1.84 billion. All said and done Akron has turned into one of the premier University’s in Northeast Ohio. Both my parents attended the University. My mother playing softball and competing for national championships, while obtaining her Degree in Education. My father played Football for the University and also graduated with an Education Degree. My brother, just this past May, graduated from the University of Akron with a Sports Management degree. Along with my immediate family I also have other family members and many friends who have graduated or attended this great University. Having this wonderful university in the heart of the city, creates a festive city feeling, and it’s just a great place to be and live! Although the Rubber and Tire Industry ultimately helped build this great American city, it has since drifted away. The Industry expanded at an extraordinary rate. During the 1950s–60s Akron surged as use of the automobile did. With great growth came a great fall. The Tire industry as we know it was never the same. With the demand of tire dropping the Companies began to absorbed one and other and this led to layoffs and union strikes. During this time period the world was faced with great controversy due to the racial wars across the nation. Hitting the city of Akron, as hard as just about any American city in this era. The historic Rubber Bowl was used by the National Guard of the United States as a base during the racial Wooster Avenue Riots of 1968. Like many other industries of the Rust Belt, both the tire and rubber experienced major decline resulting from multiple labor union strikes occurring from the 70s–80s. By the early 1990s, Goodyear was the last major tire manufacturer based in Akron.The Rubber Industry has connected Akron to the rest of the world for many years. Although the fallout as of late, I feel Akron and the history this city has, has helped change the world and link us to many things that have or have an opportunity to change the world. Other than the rubber and tire industries, Akron has some very interesting and special links to the world we live in. I have already explained the importance of rubber and the tire to the Auto industry, and the importance of The University of Akron, but there more. Akron has rich history and even some links to the future. Before immigrants came to this great land of America, there where Indian villages and tribes already living here. Ohio and specifically northeast Ohio has a great deal of history due to the Natives of the land. In Northeastern Ohio, the first humans were the Paleo-Indians, who as early as 12,500 years ago called, what became the Akron area home (tribes). These people descended from the people who last crossed the Bering Straight during the final Ice Age. Unfortunately, there is little known about the Paleo-Indian People. Archaeologists discovered Clovis and Folsom spear point types that show these people hunted large Arctic mammals like caribou, mastodon, and mammoth. A warming climate meant a retreating ice sheet, and with this the mammals and their Paleo-Indian hunters migrated out of Ohio.(tribes)The city of Akron has great walking trails and some historic national parks. The Cuyahoga Valley National park is a great place to take your family for a day and walk these amazing and beautiful trails. The park is a refuge for native plants and wildlife, and provides routes of discovery for visitors. The winding Cuyahoga River gives way to deep forests, rolling hills, and open farmlands. Walk or ride the Towpath Trail to follow the historic route of the Ohio & Erie Canal.(park) The city of Akron has terrific links to the past with the history of the land and the industries. Akron has a link to the world like none other; LeBron James. LeBron James is a hometown kid, raised in the struggling inner-city. He is a true role model to children all around the world. LeBron when to St. Vincent St. Mary High School, a Catholic Private High School located in downtown Akron(James). LeBron James also known as LBJ, is arguably the best basketball player in the world. His talent and athleticism alone put him in a category of his own. But some of his fans talk more of his Character far more than his 2 NBA Championship rings or his 3 Ohio high school state championships, or even his 4 MVP trophies. LeBron is a tremendous basketball player but an even better man. James has been ranked by Forbes as one of the world's most influential athletes throughout his career. A philanthropist, James is an active supporter of the Boys & Girls Club of America, Children's Defense Fund, and ONEXONE. He has also established his own charity foundation called the LeBron James Family Foundation, based in the city of Akron. Since 2005, the foundation has held an annual bike-a-thon in Akron to raise money for various causes. In 2013, he was reported by ESPN as the most popular player in the NBA for the second time in his career. In 2014, he was named the most popular male athlete in America by the Harris Poll. He has led the league in jersey sales six times. (James) In March 2008, James became the first black man—and third man overall after Richard Gere and George Clooney—to appear on the cover of Vogue, posing with Gisele Bündchen. LeBron is a very powerful man in today’s world. (James)James is being put into the category of Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, for his skills on the courts but for his future as a business man and overall power ranking, LeBron James’ future is bright. And the fact that he is linked to my hometown is an amazing thing. He can help change the world and link Akron along with his success. The City of Akron is a great place to live and an all American city. Akron has a rich History and true American culture. Akron has changed the world we live in. The history and culture of Akron alone make it a remarkable place, but the future is still up and coming for this great City. This great American city may not be the biggest in terms of population but it has made its mark in the world we live in today. Works citedAkron, Ohio. (2014, November 16). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 23:53, November 23, 2014, from "University of Akron." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 12 June 2014. Web. 07 Dec. 2014."Black, White & Beyond: Multiculturalism in Greater Akron, An Interactive History." Black, White & Beyond: Multiculturalism in Greater Akron, An Interactive History. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Dec. 2014United States. National Park Service. "Cuyahoga Valley National Park (U.S. National Park Service)." National Parks Service. U.S. Department of the Interior, 05 Dec. 2014. Web. 07 Dec. 2014"LeBron James." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 12 July 2014. Web. 07 Dec. 2014. ................
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