East Cleveland is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. The population was 13,792 at the 2020 census, and was estimated to be 13,402 in 2024. It is a suburb lying east and south of Cleveland and west of Cleveland Heights.

History

Historically East Cleveland was partially founded by Scottish immigrants, whose names can still be found in the city such as Shaw, McIlrath, and Eddy. East Cleveland incorporated as a village in 1895 and became a city in 1911. This charter included provisions for women's suffrage, which at the time was unheard of east of the Mississippi River. Before the charter passed, the city of Cleveland unsuccessfully attempted to annex the emerging municipality in 1910 and again in 1916.

East Cleveland is home to General Electric's historic Nela Park, the world's first industrial park. Nela Park, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975, continues to operate today as the functional headquarters for GE Lighting and is the city's second largest employer. Huron Hospital, a satellite hospital of the Cleveland Clinic, was the city's largest employer. Huron Hospital was a notable health care facility, being the only Level-II trauma center between Cleveland's MetroHealth Medical Center, located on West 25th Street, and Hillcrest Hospital, located in Mayfield Heights. Huron Hospital closed in early spring of 2011.

Euclid Avenue was the city's "Millionaires Row" and home to many wealthy industrialists, among them John D. Rockefeller. During the 1920s and 1930s, a number of homes on Euclid Ave were demolished and replaced with commercial buildings and parking lots. In the 1950s, during the construction of the Innerbelt Freeway, more of these historical houses were removed. In the 21st century, a small number of the original luxury homes survive.

After World War II, development of other suburbs within the region brought a number of changes to East Cleveland. By the 1960s, African Americans constituted an increasingly large portion of the city's population. By 1984, East Cleveland was one of the largest primarily black communities in Ohio, with a population of 36,957.

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and (0.23%) is water.

Most of the city is located in a relatively flat and relatively lower area contiguous with the city of Cleveland. A small portion of the city lies atop a steep hill, and is contiguous with the neighboring city of Cleveland Heights; it also lies in a relatively flat area at a higher elevation. Superior Road, Forest Hills Boulevard, Lee Road, Noble and North Taylor roads are the major through-streets ascending the hill. The McGregor Home and the Forest Hill Historic District are located on "the hill." The city is notable for its high amount of abandoned buildings.

Surrounding communities The University Circle neighborhood of Cleveland is immediately to the west of East Cleveland, on the other side of a railway viaduct that carries the RTA Red Line. Case Western Reserve University, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, and the Cleveland Museum of Art are in University Circle.

Demographics

According to realtor website Zillow, the average price of a home as of May 31, 2025, in East Cleveland is $71,484.

As of the 2023 American Community Survey, there are 6,746 estimated households in East Cleveland with an average of 1.97 persons per household. The city has a median household income of $22,883. Approximately 44.3% of the city's population lives at or below the poverty line. East Cleveland has an estimated 53.7% employment rate, with 15.8% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 84.9% holding a high school diploma.

The median age in the city was 39.1 years.

Racial and ethnic composition

+East Cleveland, Ohio – racial and ethnic composition Race / ethnicity (NH = non-Hispanic)Pop. 1980 Pop. 1990 Pop. 2000 Pop. 2010 % 1980 % 1990 % 2000 % 2010 White alone (NH) 4,634 1,751 1,219 796630 12.54% 5.29% 4.48% 4.46%4.57% Black or African American alone (NH) 31,641 30,886 25,291 16,53212,314 85.62% 93.32% 92.92% 92.65%89.28% Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 24 35 46 3831 0.06% 0.11% 0.17% 0.21%0.22% Asian alone (NH) 161 213 61 4044 0.44% 0.64% 0.22% 0.22%0.32%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)x included in the Asian category in the 1980 Censusx included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census 4 05 x x 0.01% 0.00%0.04% Other race alone (NH) 57 26 34 1664 0.15% 0.08% 0.12% 0.09%0.46% Mixed race or multiracial (NH)x not an option in the 1980 Censusx not an option in the 1990 Census 355 242474x x 1.30% 1.36%3.44% Hispanic or Latino (any race) 440 185 207 179230 1.19% 0.56% 0.76% 1.00%1.67%Total36,95733,09627,21717,84313,792100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, East Cleveland had a population of 13,792 and a median age of 44.8 years. 20.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 22.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 90.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 86.7 males age 18 and over.

As of the 2020 census, 100.0% of residents lived in urban areas while 0.0% lived in rural areas.

As of the 2020 census, there were 6,881 households in East Cleveland, of which 21.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 12.4% were married-couple households, 32.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 48.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 51.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

As of the 2020 census, there were 3,012 families residing in the city; the population density was . There were 9,220 housing units at an average density of .

As of the 2020 census, 25.4% of the city's 9,220 housing units were vacant; the homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 15.5%.

+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 639 4.6% Black or African American 12,403 89.9% American Indian and Alaska Native 33 0.2% Asian 47 0.3% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 7 0.1% Some other race 110 0.8% Two or more races 553 4.0%

In 2018, East Cleveland was ranked as the 4th poorest city in the United States. Moreover, the city had a 41.8% poverty rate along with a $19,953 median household income.

2010 census As of the 2010 Census, there were 17,843 people, 8,286 households, and 4,043 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 12,523 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 4.58% White, 93.25% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.21% from some other races and 1.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 1.00% of the population.

There were 8,286 households, of which 24.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 16.5% were married couples living together, 26.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 51.2% were non-families. 46.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.11 and the average family size was 3.03.

The median age in the city was 42.6 years. 22.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.6% were from 25 to 44; 28.6% were from 45 to 64; and 18.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 45.1% male and 54.9% female.

2000 census As of the 2000 Census, there were 27,217 people, 11,210 households, and 6,423 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 13,491 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 4.56% White, 93.39% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.17% from some other races and 1.43% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 0.76% of the population.

There were 11,210 households, out of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 21.2% were married couples living together, 30.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.7% were non-families. 38.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 3.20.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 29.7% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 79.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 72.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $20,542, and the median income for a family was $26,053. Males had a median income of $26,123 versus $21,960 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,602. About 28.0% of families and 32.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 45.5% of those under age 18 and 22.5% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Per the 2012 Economic Census there are 1,105 locally owned businesses in East Cleveland. Of these firms 944 are owned by minorities and 733 by women. The portion of firms owned by minorities and women are significantly higher than both the state and national average.

A complete road repair of both Euclid Ave and Superior Ave has also led to interest and land purchases in the vicinity. % of firms owned by women% of firms owned by minoritiesEast Cleveland66.33%85.43%Ohio33.91%13.56%United States35.76%28.79%

Parks and recreation The Forest Hill Park boasts three baseball diamonds, tennis courts and walking trails that have retained the natural green space as intended by John D. Rockefeller Jr. when he deeded the park to East Cleveland and the City of Cleveland Heights. Forest Hill Park is the largest single body of green park space between two large metroparks on the far east and west sides of Cleveland, Ohio. The city also features Pattison Park and Hawley Park.

Government

East Cleveland is a charter city that is granted its authority under the home rule provisions of the Ohio constitution.

Prior to 1985, East Cleveland had been under the leadership of a Commission and City Manager. In 1985 voters grew frustrated with that form of government after two commissioners were charged with theft in office, and after a revolving door of city managers resulted in little stability and a reduction in services. Citizens for Sound Government, a group of residents, led a petition drive to elect a strong mayor and to create a five-member city council. Attorney Darryl E. Pittman became the first mayor to lead the city since 1908. He was sworn in on January 1, 1986.

After two years on the job, in Pittman's second two-year term, Ohio's State Auditor declared on September 9, 1988 that East Cleveland was in fiscal emergency. The fiscal emergency designation came when the water and sewer fund were found to have deficits in excess of $2 million. Pittman was defeated in 1989 by Wallace D. Davis, the council president and a funeral home owner. Prior to his defeat, Pittman convinced former U.S. Rep. Louis Stokes to support a congressional amendment that made East Cleveland a "direct entitlement city" under HUD. That designation gave the city the authority to receive more than $1 million a year in block grant funding directly from HUD.