Ravenna, Ohio

Ravenna is a city in Portage County, Ohio, United States. It is located 15 miles east of Akron. It was formed from portions of Ravenna Township in the Connecticut Western Reserve. The population was 11,724 in the 2010 Census and estimated at 11,361 in 2019. It is the county seat of Portage County.[6] Ravenna was founded in 1799, platted in 1808, and is named for the city of Ravenna, Italy.[7][8] The city is part of the Akron Metropolitan Statistical Area and the larger Cleveland–Akron–Canton Combined Statistical Area.

Ravenna, Ohio
City
Downtown Ravenna along Main Street in 2009
Location within Portage County
Ravenna, Ohio
Location in the United States and Ohio
Ravenna, Ohio
Ravenna, Ohio (Ohio)
Coordinates: 41°9′31″N 81°14′36″W
CountryUnited States
StateOhio
CountyPortage
Founded1799
Area
 • Total5.68 sq mi (14.71 km2)
 • Land5.63 sq mi (14.59 km2)
 • Water0.05 sq mi (0.12 km2)
Elevation1,132 ft (345 m)
Population
 • Total11,724
 • Estimate 
(2019)[4]
11,361
 • Density2,016.86/sq mi (778.74/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
44266
Area code(s)330, 234
FIPS code39-65592[5]
GNIS feature ID1061586[2]
Websitewww.ravennaoh.gov

History

On 25 May 1853, the Ohio Woman's Rights Association, founded in 1852 in Massillon, held its first statewide meeting in Ravenna. The attendees helped draft a petition to the Ohio General Assembly, requesting legislation that would grant women more rights.[9] In 1905, The A.C. Williams Co. is incorporated here. Through the 1920s, the company was recognized as the largest cast-iron toy manufacturer in the world.[10]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.68 square miles (14.71 km2), of which 5.63 square miles (14.58 km2) is land and 0.05 square miles (0.13 km2) is water.[11]

The following highways pass through Ravenna:

Ravenna is located south of Interstate 80/Ohio Turnpike exit 193, and north of Interstate 76 exit 38.

Government

Frank Seman was sworn in as mayor on January 1, 2016, succeeding Joseph Bica.[12][13]

Prior to Bica, the mayor of Ravenna was Kevin Poland. Poland replaced long-time mayor Paul Jones who retired and moved to Florida after a scandal investigation regarding his practices as mayor. Ravenna Police Chief Randy McCoy initiated formal investigations by the county prosecutor after learning that the FBI had begun conducting a formal investigation of the former Mayor. The major focus of the city's investigation involved the Mayor's son, Paul Jones Jr., who was paid more than $274,900 over eight years for a questionable mowing contract.[14][15][16]

In March, 2007, Jones was sentenced to sixteen months in a federal prison for various fraud charges.[17]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1830306—
18601,777—
18702,18823.1%
18803,25548.8%
18903,4175.0%
19004,00317.1%
19105,31032.7%
19207,21936.0%
19308,01911.1%
19408,5386.5%
19509,85715.4%
196010,91810.8%
197011,7807.9%
198011,9871.8%
199012,0690.7%
200011,771−2.5%
201011,724−0.4%
Est. 201911,361[4]−3.1%
Sources:[5][18][19][20]

2010 census

As of the census[3] of 2010, there were 11,724 people, 5,055 households, and 2,860 families living in the city. The population density was 2,082.4 inhabitants per square mile (804.0/km2). There were 5,566 housing units at an average density of 988.6 per square mile (381.7/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 91.1% White, 5.6% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 2.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.4% of the population.

There were 5,055 households, of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.8% were married couples living together, 14.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 43.4% were non-families. 35.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.96.

The median age in the city was 37.9 years. 22.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.6% were from 25 to 44; 26.5% were from 45 to 64; and 14.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.1% male and 51.9% female.

2000 census

As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 11,771 people, 4,980 households, and 2,997 families living in the city. The population density was 2,199.2 people per square mile (849.5/km2). There were 5,313 housing units at an average density of 992.6 per square mile (383.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 93.03% White, 4.42% Black, 0.25% American Indian, 0.39% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.23% from other races, and 1.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.91% of the population.

There were 4,980 households, out of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.0% were married couples living together, 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.8% were non-families. 33.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the city the population was spread out, with 23.7% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,650, and the median income for a family was $46,090. Males had a median income of $33,574 versus $25,320 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,862. About 6.0% of families and 10.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.9% of those under age 18 and 11.1% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Elementary and secondary education for students in Ravenna and Ravenna Township is provided by the Ravenna School District, which includes Ravenna High School for grades 9–12 and Brown Middle School for grades 5–8. The district reorganized its elementary buildings for the 2020–21 school year, closing Carlin Elementary and grouping grade levels together. Previously, the district had operated four neighborhood elementary schools each with grades 1–5. Kindergarten students attend West Park Elementary, Willyard Elementary houses the district's 1st and 2nd graders, and West Main Elementary houses grades 3 and 4. The district's preschool program and child care center are located in the former Carlin Elementary School building.[21]

Ravenna is also home to the Maplewood Career Center, a vocational school which serves high school-aged students from ten high schools in Portage and Summit counties and offers adult education programs.[22] The Bio-Med Science Academy, a public STEM school for grades 2–12, has a campus in Ravenna at the former Fortis College location that houses the program's 5th and 6th graders. Grades 2–4 are housed at Bio-Med's Shalersville campus and grades 7–12 are at the Rootstown campus.

Higher education

A campus of Fortis College, a small, private for-profit school, was located in northern Ravenna near State Route 14. It closed at the end of 2018 due to declining enrollment.[23]

Notable people
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See also
  • Ravenna Training and Logistics Site

Notes
  1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  2. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2013-01-06.
  4. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  5. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  6. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  7. Overman, William Daniel (1958). Ohio Town Names. Akron, OH: Atlantic Press. p. 116.
  8. "Ravenna, Ohio". Ohio History Central. Ohio Historical Society. 1 July 2005. Retrieved 2009-01-31.
  9. "First Women's Rights Movement". Ohio History Central. Ohio History Connection. 2017. Retrieved June 19, 2017.
  10. https://www.litemetals.com/the-move-to-ravenna
  11. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2012-01-24. Retrieved 2013-01-06.
  12. "Mayor Frank Seman". City of Ravenna. 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-01-19. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
  13. "Bica sworn in as Ravenna mayor: Goals include economic development". Record-Courier. January 5, 2010.
  14. Armon, Rick (2007-03-30). "Former Ravenna mayor charged: Paul Jones now faces state case on evidence from federal probe that will send him to prison". Akron Beacon Journal (Reprint)|format= requires |url= (help).
  15. Piltz, Marci. "Former Ravenna Mayor Paul Jones started federal sentence on May 9". Record-Courier. Archived from the original on 2012-02-06. Retrieved 2007-05-24.
  16. "Paul Jones sentenced to 16 months in prison". Retrieved 2007-05-24.
  17. "Former Mayor Paul Jones of Ravenna Sentenced to 16 Months in Jail for Mail and Tax Fraud Convictions". United States Department of Justice. 2007-03-23. Archived from the original on 2012-02-11. Retrieved 2008-07-22.
  18. "Number of Inhabitants: Ohio" (PDF). 18th Census of the United States. U.S. Census Bureau. 1960. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  19. "Ohio: Population and Housing Unit Counts" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
  20. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2018". American FactFinder 2018 Population Estimates. United States Census Bureau. July 1, 2018. Archived from the original on December 15, 2019. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  21. "About Us". Ravenna School District. 2011. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
  22. "Maplewood Career Center". Mwood.cc. Maplewood Career Center. 2010. Retrieved 15 March 2010.
  23. Gaetjens, Bob (February 9, 2018). "Fortis' Ravenna campus to close by end of 2018". Record-Courier. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  24. "Ravenna WWII hero Colonel Bill Bower, 'Doolittle Raider,' dies". Record-Courier. January 12, 2011. Retrieved January 30, 2011.
  25. "Long Bio". CartCacioppo.com. 2019. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
  26. "George Calvin Hampton". Reed Memorial Library. 2019. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
  27. "Peggy King Rodofker". Raven Hall of Fame. Reed Memorial Library. 1994. Archived from the original on March 21, 2008. Retrieved August 15, 2009.
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