Saturday, November 15, 2008

Akron Industry

Akron thrived on the Ohio and Erie canal because of its location at the "summit", a spot that once connected Lake Erie to the Ohio River. When B.F. Goodrich started his tire business in the small village the population increased by 200% and the land area went from 7,254 to 16,120 acres.

To rebuild it's cultural and economic success, the city hosts the National Hamburger Festival every summer, a tribute to Akron's role in the invention of the hamburger. Also, the Soap Box Derby encourages children from around the country to race their gravity powered cars down a steep hill. The Goodyear World of Rubber Museum honors the company that made Akron flourish in the early 20th century.

Akron has turned from the booming industries into a business center where many people make a living. I don't believe that it is just a city in the Cleveland area because it has its own history, however, they are connected by the Cuyahoga Valley's towpath and they do share some history when they were both key spots on the canal.

Akron cannot compete with other metropolitan centers because it lacks the ability to grasp people's attention. It has some areas of interest like Quaker Square and the Art Museum, but the overall brilliance of Akron left when the rubber industry declined in the 1970s.

3 comments:

First Knight said...

To clarify my question on a metropolitan area, I was speaking of the Cleveland, Akron, Canton corridor. You may still think it is not a major center, but I wonder if that changes your mind somewhat. Reserve your judgement for the Cleveland trip.

Your entry shows you did some research. It reads like a chamber of commerce pamphlet on Akron.

Sethna said...

I like seeing that you actually read what I recommend. It makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside.

Nice incorporation of facts and figures into your writing.

Fosch said...

I can tell that you didn't just answer the questions, you actually went and looked up facts and numbers to mix them into your response. Very educational.