Medina, Ohio

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Medina (Template:IPAc-en Template:Respell) is a city in Medina County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. The population was 26,094 at the 2020 census.<ref name="Akron Beacon Journal">Template:Cite web</ref> It lies about Template:Convert south of Cleveland and Template:Convert west of Akron within the Cleveland metropolitan area.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref>

History

File:Historical Collections of Ohio- An Encyclopedia of the State; History Both General and Local, Geography with Descriptions of Its Counties, Cities and Villages, Its Agricultural, Manufacturing, Mining (14586503258).jpg

Medina town square, 1887

Medina was founded on November 30, 1818,<ref name="Medina Bicentennial website"/> as part of the Connecticut Western Reserve. It was originally named Mecca, but an unincorporated community in Ohio already had that name,<ref name=ohiohistorycentral>Template:Cite web</ref> so the name was changed. Both Mecca and Medina are Saudi Arabian cities particularly significant in Islam.

Most early residents were farmers. In the 1830s, the community's growth was aided by the completion of the Ohio and Erie Canal, which helped transport agricultural products to markets.<ref name=ohiohistorycentral/> On January 31, 1835, Medina was incorporated as a village and as the county seat of Medina County.<ref name=ohiohistorycentral/> By 1855, the town's quarries were producing over $200,000 worth of stone per year.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 1857, many of the canal workers started a strike for higher wages; the striking workers were fired, and the four workers who started it were jailed in Albion, Ohio.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 1835, two enslaved women and two Native Americans arrived in Medina by stagecoach.<ref name= fruits1>Template:Cite web</ref> One of the enslaved women was the child of then-vice presidential candidate Richard Mentor Johnson and Julia Chinn.<ref name= fruits1/> The next day, Johnson's nephew arrived, in pursuit of the women, saying that he owned them both, they had escaped, and they had stolen a $1,000 bank check.<ref name= fruits1/><ref name= fruits2> Template:Cite web</ref> The women were arrested and charged with stealing.<ref name= fruits2/> Three local attorneys volunteered to represent them in court.<ref name= fruits2/> The women were then released to Johnson's nephew to stand trial in Kentucky.<ref name= fruits2/> Afterward, one of the Native Americans said that the women had asked for help escaping enslavement and their terrible treatment by their owners.<ref name= fruits2/> It was later found that the alleged theft was a lie in order to make sure the Ohio court returned them to their owners.<ref name= fruits2/>

Medina attorney Charles Olcott invented self-ballasting iron ships and received a patent in 1835.<ref>"Iron Ships". Rutland Weekly Herald (Rutland, Vermont). August 4, 1835. p. 2.</ref><ref name=ironships>"The Inventor of Iron Ships". Public Ledger (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania). August 14, 1835. p. 4.</ref> Olcott was originally from Connecticut and had been a student at Yale College when he came up with the early prototypes for his invention.<ref name=ironships/><ref>"Iron Steam Vessels". Alexandria Gazette (Alexandria, Virginia). August 19, 1839. p. 2.</ref> He was later a proponent of building long-distance railroad lines across Ohio.<ref>"Great Railroad". The Evening Post (New York, New York). October 4, 1838. p. 2.</ref>

In 1869, Amos Root founded the A.I. Root Company in Medina as a manufacturer of beehives and beekeeping equipment, and the town became a center for beehive manufacturing. The Root Company had 97 workers in 1886, making it the town's largest employer.<ref name=ohiohistorycentral/>

A disastrous fire hit the village in 1848, destroying the entire business district. With no facilities for extinguishing fires, the residents attempted to put out the fire using a bucket brigade, but to no avail, as the fire burned for four hours.<ref name= destruction/> None of the town's residents died in the fire,<ref name= destruction/> but the townspeople failed to budget for the needed firefighting equipment. In 1870, another large fire, which started in a wooden building with a barbershop, destroyed 45 buildings—all but two blocks of the business district—and nearly wiped out the town.<ref name= destruction>Template:Cite news Template:Dead link</ref> Even after the second calamitous fire struck, the town still had not organized a fire department beyond a bucket brigade. In 1877, after repeated dire warnings, the Council finally authorized the issuance of $3,000 worth of bonds to purchase a fire engine.

After the disastrous fire in 1870, much of the Medina Square, including the Town Hall and Engine House, was rebuilt under the supervision of onetime mayor and banker Harrison Gray Blake, who owned the Phoenix Building in the same city block. It took almost ten years to replace the buildings on Medina Square, hence their common Victorian style. Medina Square is now a recognized historic district, covering a nine-block area surrounding Uptown Park. The Community Design Committee and the Historic Preservation Board preserve the city's historic look and feel.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 1950, Medina had over 5,000 residents, and on May 6, 1952, it was chartered as a city.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Geography

Medina includes parts of Lafayette Township, Medina Township, Montville Township and York Township in Medina County.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert is water.<ref name="Gazetteer files">Template:Cite web</ref>

Demographics

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2020 census

As of the recent census of 2020, there were 26,094 people, 10,755 households, and 7,531 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,174.50 people per square mile (839.575 people per square km). There were 11,333 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the city was 88.3% White, 3.5% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 1.3% from other races, and 5.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.3% of the population.<ref name="Akron Beacon Journal"/>

2010 census

At the 2010 census,<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">Template:Cite web</ref> there were 26,678 people, 10,382 households, and 6,991 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,260.85 people per square mile (872.973 people per square km). There were 11,152 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the city was 93.3% White, 3.1% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.8% of the population.

There were 10,382 households, of which 38.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.7% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 32.7% were non-families. 27.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.13.

The median age in the city was 36.4. 28.3% of residents were under 18; 7.3% were between 18 and 24; 27.4% were from 25 to 44; 25.2% were from 45 to 64; and 11.7% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.1% male and 51.9% female.

Of the city's population over age 25, 34.4% held a bachelor's degree or higher.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2000 census

At the 2000 census,<ref name="GR2" /> there were 25,139 people, 9,467 households, and 6,683 families in the city. The population density was 2,215.7 people per square mile (855.14 people per square kilometer). There were 9,924 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the city was 94.60% White, 2.77% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.74% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races, and 1.41% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.00% of the population.

There were 9,467 households, of which 40.3% had children under age 18 living with them, 35.5% were married couples living together, 57.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.4% were non-families. 25.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.15.

29.9% of the population were under 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 33.8% from 25 to 44, 18.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.2% were 65 or older. The median age was 33. For every 100 females, there were 92.1 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 89.2 males.

The median household income was $50,226 and the median family income was $57,435. Males had a median income of $42,437 compared with $26,893 for females. The per capita income was $21,709. About 5.1% of families and 5.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.1% of those under 18 and 6.2% of those 65 or over.

Economy

Due to Medina's location, about 33 miles (53 km) south of Cleveland and 23 miles (37 km) west of Akron,<ref name="medinaohchamber.com">Template:Cite web</ref> many of its residents work in the Cleveland and Akron areas.<ref name=ohiohistorycentral/> Medina's median household income is $53,586, slightly above the Ohio median income.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

RPM International is among the companies based in Medina.

Education

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Medina High School

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Uptown Park, 2024

The Medina City School District serves the city. It has one high school, two middle schools, one alternative school (for students with behavioral problems), one preschool (for children aged 3–5 with disabilities) and five elementary schools. The newest elementary schools are Eliza Northrop and Ralph E. Waite Elementary School, both opened for the 2009–10 school year. Both Garfield and Heritage Elementary School were closed at the end of the 2023–24 school year due to redistricting. The current schools in the Medina City School District are:

A.I. Root Middle School
Claggett Middle School
Eliza Northrop Elementary School
Ella Canavan Elementary School
Evolve Academy (alternative school for students with behavioral problems)
Helping Hands Preschool (preschool for children aged 3–5 with disabilities)
H.G. Blake Elementary School
Medina High School
Ralph E. Waite Elementary School
Sidney Fenn Elementary School

The Medina County Career Center serves most of Medina County (except Wadsworth) to provide career education for 11th and 12th graders.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It also offers adult and continuing education for adults.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Other schools in Medina include St. Francis Xavier School, a Roman Catholic parochial school serving Preschool (Pre-K) through 8th grade,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Medina Christian Academy, a non-denominational Protestant parochial school serving Pre-K through 12th grade.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Medina County University Center is a quarter-mile south of the city and offers employers a well-trained workforce with opportunity for ongoing career development.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Medina also is home to the Walton School of Auctioneering.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Medina County District Library Main Library is in Medina.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Media

Medina is served by a daily newspaper, The Medina County Gazette <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> which is published every day of the week except Sundays and federal holidays, and a free weekly newspaper, The Medina Post,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> published every Saturday. In addition, the Akron Beacon Journal and the Cleveland Plain Dealer occasionally cover the city and Medina County. Medina is served by numerous television and radio stations from both the Greater Cleveland, Greater Akron and Greater Canton areas.

Transportation

Medina is served by the Medina Municipal Airport, which is 4.6 miles (7.41 km) east of the city.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> US-42 traverses the city. State routes include OH-3, OH-18 and OH-57. Medina is also served by the Medina Transit Authority, which runs buses around Medina and Medina County.

Rail service reached Medina in the 1800s, and at one time it was served by three rail lines, the Baltimore & Ohio, the Akron, Canton & Youngstown, and the Cleveland Southwestern interurban. Today the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railroad maintains numerous sidings and spurs serving many industries, mostly on the city's west side. Many other rights of way have been converted to hiking and biking trails.