History of Cleveland, OH

Cleveland was founded in 1796 by the river Cuyahoga River by General Moses Cleaveland, after whom the city was named. It grew into a major center of activity because of its location on the river and the coast and numerous canals and railways. The port city, Cleveland is connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Saint Lawrence Seaway. The city's economy relies on various sectors such as manufacturing, financial services, health care, biomedical, and higher education. The total gross domestic product (GDP) of Greater Cleveland MSA was $ 135 billion in 2019. Combined with Akron MSA, Cleveland's capital city - The seventh Akron was $ 175 billion in 2019, the largest in Ohio, accounting for 25% of state GDP.

Named as the "Gamma -" global city by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network, major cultural centers include the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, the Cleveland Orchestra, The Playhouse Square, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Known as "The Forest City" among many other nicknames, Cleveland serves as the center of the Cleveland Metroparks nature program. The city's major sports teams include the Cleveland Browns, the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Cleveland Indians, and the Cleveland Monsters.

Cleveland's location on the Cuyahoga River and Lake Erie has been key to its growth. Ohio and the Erie Canal combined with train links helped the city become an important business center. Metal and many other manufactured goods emerged as leading industries. The city has become more diverse economically apart from its manufacturing sector.

Established in 1914, the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland is one of the twelve banks in the US Federal Reserve Banks. Its downtown building, located on East 6th Street and Superior Avenue, was completed in 1923 by Cleveland building company Walker and Weeks. Headquarters of the fourth regional Federal Reserve System, the bank employs 1,000 people and maintains branch offices in Cincinnati and Pittsburgh. The chief executive and president are Loretta Mester.