Rocky River, Ohio
Encyclopedia
Rocky River is an affluent western suburb
of Cleveland, Ohio
, United States
located in Cuyahoga County
approximately nine miles west of Public Square in downtown Cleveland. The city is named for the river
that forms its eastern border. The population was 20,213 at the time of the 2010 census.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 5.6 square miles (14.5 km²), of which, 4.8 square miles (12.4 km²) of it is land and 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²) of it (15.45%) is water.
Most of Rocky River's eastern border follows the river bearing its name, which runs through the Rocky River Reservation of the Cleveland Metroparks
system, adjacent to the city's eastern neighbor, Lakewood. A small strip of Cleveland itself also borders Rocky River; however, the two cities are not directly connected by roads. Lake Erie
lines the entire northern border of the city while the city of Fairview Park
marks the southern border. On Rocky River's western border are the cities of Bay Village to the northwest and Westlake to the southwest.
of 2000, there were 20,735 people, 9,709 households, and 5,437 families residing in the city. The population density
was 4,360.8 people per square mile (1,685.4/km²). There were 10,166 housing units at an average density of 2,138.0 per square mile (826.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.83% White, 0.41% African American, 0.07% Native American, 1.33% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.27% from other races
, and 1.08% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.20% of the population.
There were 9,709 households, out of which 22.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.2% were married couples
living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.0% were non-families. 40.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.5% 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 2.90.
In the city the population was spread out with 20.9% under the age of 18, 4.3% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 24.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 82.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $71,636, and the median income for a family was $94,361. Males had a median income of $62,727 versus $32,145 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $34,663. About 1.5% of families and 2.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.3% of those under age 18 and 3.8% of those age 65 or over.
Museum. It features over 1200 pieces of a distinctive form of American art pottery created by R. Guy Cowan
and his associates at the Cowan Pottery Studio from 1913-1931. It was one of the nation's leading potteries during the 1920s, and the Cleveland area's only major pottery.
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
of Cleveland, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
located in Cuyahoga County
Cuyahoga County, Ohio
Cuyahoga County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. It is the most populous county in Ohio; as of the 2010 census, the population was 1,280,122. Its county seat is Cleveland. Cuyahoga County is part of Greater Cleveland, a metropolitan area, and Northeast Ohio, a...
approximately nine miles west of Public Square in downtown Cleveland. The city is named for the river
Rocky River (Ohio)
The Rocky River is a relatively short river which forms the western boundaries of the cities of Cleveland and Lakewood, Ohio. The city of Rocky River, on the west bank bordering Lakewood, is named after the river...
that forms its eastern border. The population was 20,213 at the time of the 2010 census.
Geography
Rocky River is at 41°28′31"N 81°50′45"W (41.475297, -81.845759).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 5.6 square miles (14.5 km²), of which, 4.8 square miles (12.4 km²) of it is land and 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²) of it (15.45%) is water.
Most of Rocky River's eastern border follows the river bearing its name, which runs through the Rocky River Reservation of the Cleveland Metroparks
Cleveland Metroparks
Cleveland Metroparks is an extensive system of nature preserves in Greater Cleveland, Ohio. The various reservations, which largely encircle the city of Cleveland, tend to follow the rivers and creeks that flow through the region...
system, adjacent to the city's eastern neighbor, Lakewood. A small strip of Cleveland itself also borders Rocky River; however, the two cities are not directly connected by roads. Lake Erie
Lake Erie
Lake Erie is the fourth largest lake of the five Great Lakes in North America, and the tenth largest globally. It is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume of the Great Lakes and therefore also has the shortest average water residence time. It is bounded on the north by the...
lines the entire northern border of the city while the city of Fairview Park
Fairview Park, Ohio
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 420,690 people, 7,856 households, and 4,713 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,742.2 people per square mile . There were 8,152 housing units at an average density of 1,736.1 per square mile...
marks the southern border. On Rocky River's western border are the cities of Bay Village to the northwest and Westlake to the southwest.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 20,735 people, 9,709 households, and 5,437 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 4,360.8 people per square mile (1,685.4/km²). There were 10,166 housing units at an average density of 2,138.0 per square mile (826.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.83% White, 0.41% African American, 0.07% Native American, 1.33% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.27% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.08% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.20% of the population.
There were 9,709 households, out of which 22.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.2% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.0% were non-families. 40.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.5% 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 2.90.
In the city the population was spread out with 20.9% under the age of 18, 4.3% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 24.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 82.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $71,636, and the median income for a family was $94,361. Males had a median income of $62,727 versus $32,145 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $34,663. About 1.5% of families and 2.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.3% of those under age 18 and 3.8% of those age 65 or over.
Public schools
The Rocky River City School District serves the entire city of Rocky River and a small portion of the city Fairview Park. In the 2010-2011 school year, the Rocky River City Schools served 2,529 students and earned the highest designation, excellent with distinction, on the Ohio Department of Education's report card. The district tied for the second highest rating in the state of Ohio and outperformed all other Northeast Ohio districts.| School | Grades | Enrollment | White | Black | Asian | Hispanic | Multi-Racial | Economically Disadvantaged | Limited English Proficient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goldwood Primary School | K-2 | 464 | 89.7% | N/A | N/A | 2.8% | 4.1% | 10.4% | 4.1% |
| Kensington Intermediate School | 3-5 | 556 | 91.6% | N/A | 2.0% | 2.0% | 3.5% | 10.1% | 2.3% |
| Rocky River Middle School | 6-8 | 632 | 91.1% | N/A | 2.6% | 2.2% | 2.5% | 13.2% | N/A |
| Rocky River High School | 9-12 | 878 | 93.5% | N/A | 2.6% | 1.5% | 1.6% | 10.8% | 1.2% |
Private schools
- St. Thomas Lutheran School — co-ed Pre-K to 8th grade school affiliated with the Lutheran church with roughly 80 students
- Ruffing Montessori — co-ed Pre-K to 8th grade MontessoriMontessori methodMontessori education is an educational approach developed by Italian physician and educator Maria Montessori. Montessori education is practiced in an estimated 20,000 schools worldwide, serving children from birth to eighteen years old.-Overview:...
school with about 300 students - St. Christopher School — co-ed K to 8th grade school affiliated with the Roman Catholic ChurchRoman Catholic ChurchThe Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
serving around 520 students - Lutheran High School WestLutheran High School WestLutheran High School West, located in Rocky River, Ohio, is a high school affiliated with the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod . Its goal is to provide an "educationally rich experience in a Christ-centered environment"....
— co-ed high school affiliated with the Lutheran church serving about 450 students - Magnificat High SchoolMagnificat High SchoolMagnificat High School is a Catholic all-girls college preparatory high school located in Rocky River, Ohio, a residential suburb west of Cleveland, Ohio. It was founded in 1955 and is sponsored by the Sisters of the Humility of Mary...
— female-only high school affiliated with the Roman Catholic ChurchRoman Catholic ChurchThe Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
with around 870 students
Churches
- Buna Vestire Romanian Orthodox Church
- First Church of Christ, Scientist
- Lighthouse Alliance Church
- Our Savior’s Rocky River Lutheran Church
- Rockport United Methodist Church
- Rocky River Presbyterian Church
- Rocky River United Methodist Church
- St. Christopher Roman Catholic Church
- St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church
- St. Peregrine’s Catholic Chapel of the Traditional Roman Rite
- St. Thomas Lutheran Church
- Venue Church
- Westshore Unitarian Universalist Church
Notable natives and residents
- Carter CamperCarter CamperCarter Camper is an American professional ice hockey player who is currently playing for the Providence Bruins in the American Hockey League .Camper, who is Jewish, was born in Rocky River, Ohio....
, ice hockey player - Birthplace of George SteinbrennerGeorge SteinbrennerGeorge Michael Steinbrenner III was an American businessman who was the principal owner and managing partner of Major League Baseball's New York Yankees. During Steinbrenner's 37-year ownership from 1973 to his death in July 2010, the longest in club history, the Yankees earned seven World Series...
, businessman and one-time owner of the New York YankeesNew York YankeesThe New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
. - Birthplace of Pat McCormickPat McCormick (comic)Pat McCormick was an American actor and comedy writer known for playing Big Enos Burdette in Smokey and the Bandit and its two sequels. He wrote for a number of performers such as Red Skelton, Phyllis Diller and Johnny Carson as well as for shows including Get Smart...
, comic actorActorAn actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
and writerWriterA writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
. - Birthplace of Chris HovanChris HovanChristopher James Hovan is an American football defensive tackle for the Virginia Destroyers. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of 2000 NFL Draft. He played college football at Boston College....
, professional American footballAmerican footballAmerican football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player for the St. Louis Rams - Birthplace of Kevin BarnesKevin BarnesKevin L. Barnes is the singer, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter for the indie rock group Of Montreal, part of the Elephant 6 Collective. Barnes started the band on his own and, although providing several stories as to the origin of the name, is said to have named it after a failed romance...
, front manRock musicRock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
and songwriterSongwriterA songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
for the indie rockIndie rockIndie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band of MontrealOf MontrealOf Montreal is an American rock band from Athens, Georgia. It was founded by frontman Kevin Barnes in 1996, named after a failed romance with a woman "of Montreal." The band is one of the bands of the Elephant 6 collective...
. - Martin SavidgeMartin SavidgeMartin Savidge is an Edward R. Murrow and Emmy Award-winning American television news correspondent for NBC News and special correspondent and former anchor for public television's Worldfocus nightly news program, where he is currently in the role of a special correspondent...
, award-winning American television news correspondent for NBC NewsNBC NewsNBC News is the news division of American television network NBC. It first started broadcasting in February 21, 1940. NBC Nightly News has aired from Studio 3B, located on floors 3 of the NBC Studios is the headquarters of the GE Building forms the centerpiece of 30th Rockefeller Center it is...
, was a resident when he graduated from Rocky River High School in 1976. - Clint BrownClint Brown (baseball)Clinton Harold Brown was a professional baseball player.He was a right-handed pitcher over parts of fifteen seasons with the Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox...
, pitcherPitcherIn baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
for the Cleveland IndiansCleveland IndiansThe Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
and the Chicago White SoxChicago White SoxThe Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
, was a resident when he died in 19551955 in baseball-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Brooklyn Dodgers over New York Yankees ; Johnny Podres, MVP*All-Star Game, July 12 at County Stadium: National League, 6-5 -Other champions:*Caribbean World Series: Cangrejeros de Santurce...
. - Herb ScoreHerb ScoreHerbert Jude Score was a Major League Baseball pitcher and announcer.-Athletic career:Score came up as a rookie in with the Cleveland Indians...
, pitcherPitcherIn baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
, and long-time radio broadcasterPresenterA presenter, or host , is a person or organization responsible for running an event. A museum or university, for example, may be the presenter or host of an exhibit. Likewise, a master of ceremonies is a person that hosts or presents a show...
(1968–97) for the Cleveland IndiansCleveland IndiansThe Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
, his home and where he died in 20082008 in baseball-Major League Baseball:* Regular Season Champions* World Series Champions – Philadelphia Phillies** American League Champions – Tampa Bay Rays** National League Champions – Philadelphia Phillies* Postseason – October 1 to October 29...
.
Library
Rocky River Public Library is home to the Cowan PotteryCowan Pottery
The Cowan Pottery Studio was founded by R. Guy Cowan in Lakewood, Ohio, United States in 1912. It moved to Rocky River, Ohio in 1920, and operated until 1931, when the financial stress of the Great Depression resulted in its bankruptcy...
Museum. It features over 1200 pieces of a distinctive form of American art pottery created by R. Guy Cowan
R. Guy Cowan
Reginald Guy Cowan was an American potter and designer. He founded Cowan Pottery and was a leading figure in the Cleveland School of artists....
and his associates at the Cowan Pottery Studio from 1913-1931. It was one of the nation's leading potteries during the 1920s, and the Cleveland area's only major pottery.