Akron is a city located in Summit County Ohio. Akron has a 2024 population of 188,219. It is also the county seat of Summit County. Akron is currently declining at a rate of -0.26% annually and its population has decreased by -1.01% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 190,146 in 2020.
The average household income in Akron is $62,186 with a poverty rate of 22.73%. The median age in Akron is 37.1 years: 35.2 years for males, and 38.9 years for females.
Akron has been home to many international corporations and has earned several nicknames, including “Rubber Capital of the World.”
Akron was once the fastest-growing city in the United States. However, the decline of the tire and rubber industries did have an effect on the city’s population. Akron’s population peaked in 1960, with over 290,000 inhabitants. However, this number has continued to decline every decade, falling below 200,000 at the time of the 2010 census. The current estimated population shows that the population has dropped just 0.7% since the last census, which has slowed down significantly from previous years. Because of Akron’s continued role as a city of innovation and invention, future growth is possible to push the city above 200,000 residents once again.
The history of Akron goes back many years, but the city itself came to be in 1825. Settler Paul Williams came to the area in 1811 and suggested founding a town along the Ohio and Erie Canal. Plans for the city were laid out in 1825. At the time, the city was named South Akron because a North Akron already existed. However, the settlements merged and were incorporated as a village in 1836.
In 1841, Akron was designated as the county seat of Summit County, replacing Cuyahoga Falls. The canal was opened shortly after, which led to the sewer pipe, fishing tackle, farming equipment and stoneware industries. Akron began to grow, both in terms of the city boundaries and the population. One of the most notable things about the city’s early history was that the law began here which launched the K-12 public school system that is still in use today. The public school system was created in 1847, and Akron Public Schools opened the same year. Years later, in 1870, Buchtel College was founded. This later became the University of Akron.
In 1865, Akron was incorporated as a city. Around this time, many churches were being built and the city continued to expand. The Akron Toy Company was founded here and was the site of many inventions, including dolls, balls and clay marbles. By the end of the 19th century, the Bedford and Cleveland Railroad was up and running.
In the 20th century, Akron earned the name “Rubber Capital of the World”it was the site of four tire companies: Firestone, General Time, Goodyear and Goodrich. These major tire companies provided many jobs to Akronites and were even named “Crossroads of the Deaf” because of the number of deaf employees that worked within these factories. To keep up with the population, rubber companies built affordable housing for their employees.
From 1910 to 1920, Akron was the fastest-growing city in the United States. A large number of immigrants from all over the world chose to live in this city. During this time, the tire companies continued to prosper, with Goodyear’s subsidiary even manufacturing airships and blimps for the military. The annexation of neighboring Kenmore resulted in additional growth.
Growth continued through the 1950s and 1960s as more people were purchasing cars. However, just like many other industries, tires and rubber went into decline and only one manufacturer was left in Akron by the 1990s. In the early 2000s, the number of rubber workers was cut in half.
However, despite rubber’s decline, Akron found another opportunity with polymers. Akron is home to nearly 100 polymer factories and research centers are located throughout the city. In the early 2000s, the city was named as one of America’s top tech havens and was also nicknamed “City of Invention.” The city has won multiple awards for innovation and it is home to many large companies including GOJO, Myers Industries and Sterling Jewelers. The city has many renowned colleges and universities, research centers and attractions, including the Akron Riverwalk which is currently back in development following the financial crisis that ended in 2010.
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Akron was:
Race | Population | Percentage (of total) |
---|---|---|
White | 109,029 | 57.3% |
Black or African American | 56,085 | 29.48% |
Two or more races | 14,361 | 7.55% |
Asian | 8,582 | 4.51% |
Other race | 1,765 | 0.93% |
Native American | 433 | 0.23% |
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | 18 | 0.01% |
White
Black or African American
Two or more races
Asian
Other race
Native American
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
Household Type | Count | Average Size | Owner | Renter |
---|---|---|---|---|
All | 83,935 | 2.21 | 50 | 50 |
Non Family | 40,312 | 1.24 | 43.9 | 56.1 |
Married | 23,387 | 3.03 | 74.8 | 25.2 |
Female | 15,547 | 3.28 | 31.2 | 68.8 |
Male | 4,689 | 2.91 | 42.5 | 57.5 |
2.99
Average Family Size
2.21
Average Household Size
50.0%
Rate of Home Ownership
Married
Male
Female
NonFamily
owner
renter
Male
Female
Education Attained | Count | Percentage |
---|---|---|
9th to 12th Grade | 10,391 | 8.05% |
Associates Degree | 10,649 | 8.25% |
Bachelors Degree | 18,762 | 14.53% |
Graduate Degree | 10,413 | 8.07% |
High School Graduate | 42,693 | 33.07% |
Less Than 9th Grade | 5,146 | 3.99% |
Some College | 31,046 | 24.05% |
Less Than 9th Grade
9th to 12th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Associates Degree
Bachelors Degree
Graduate Degree
High School Graduation Rate
Bachelors Rate
Race | Total | High School | Bachelors |
---|---|---|---|
White | 79,971 | 72,709 | 22,165 |
Black | 34,864 | 30,510 | 4,141 |
2+ Races | 6,157 | 5,181 | 1,177 |
Asian | 5,223 | 2,978 | 1,159 |
Hispanic | 3,532 | 2,673 | 826 |
Other Race | 1,132 | 783 | 119 |
Native American | 341 | 288 | 26 |
Islander | 12 | 0 | 0 |
The highest rate of high school graduation is among white people with a rate of 90.92%.
The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among white people with a rate of 27.72%.
All
Male
Female
Name | Average | Male | Female |
---|---|---|---|
Bachelors Degree | $51,903 | $63,666 | $46,483 |
Graduate Degree | $65,109 | $67,575 | $63,106 |
High School Graduate | $33,230 | $38,078 | $27,116 |
Less Than 9th Grade | $24,195 | $28,936 | $20,768 |
Overall | $37,580 | $41,166 | $33,445 |
Some College | $35,491 | $39,342 | $32,305 |
$37,580
Average Earnings
$41,166
Average Male
$33,445
Average Female
Only English
Spanish
Other Indo-European Languages
Asian and Pacific Island Languages
Other Languages
92.16% of Akron residents speak only English, while 7.84% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Other Indo-European, which is spoken by 3.1% of the population.
rate
Name | Total | In Poverty | Poverty Rate |
---|---|---|---|
White | 103,957 | 18,213 | 17.52% |
Black | 54,698 | 16,961 | 31.01% |
Multiple | 14,098 | 3,565 | 25.29% |
Asian | 8,489 | 2,548 | 30.02% |
Hispanic | 6,354 | 1,359 | 21.39% |
Other | 1,765 | 508 | 28.78% |
Native | 433 | 80 | 18.48% |
Islander | 18 | 18 | 100% |
22.73%
Overall Poverty Rate
21%
Male Poverty Rate
24.32%
Female Poverty Rate
The race most likely to be in poverty in Akron is Islander, with 100% below the poverty level.
The race least likely to be in poverty in Akron is White, with 17.52% below the poverty level.
The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 4.02%. Among those working part-time, it was 27.07%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 32.52%.
rate
Rate | Poverty |
---|---|
Less Than 9th Grade | 31.36% |
High School | 20.48% |
Some College | 18.18% |
Bachelors or Greater | 6.93% |
rate
Rate | Poverty |
---|---|
Female Unemployed | 46.28% |
Male Unemployed | 43.36% |
Female Employed | 12.12% |
Male Employed | 9.14% |
Households
Families
MarriedFamilies
NonFamilies
Name | Median | Mean |
---|---|---|
Families | $60,328 | $76,682 |
Households | $46,596 | $62,186 |
Married Families | $80,958 | $99,509 |
Non Families | $31,974 | $43,486 |
mean
median
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
32.9%
Overall Marriage Rate
34.3%
Male Marriage Rate
31.7%
Female Marriage Rate
male
female
The age group where males are most likely to be married is Over 65, while the female age group most likely to be married is 55-64.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
Second Gulf War
First Gulf War
Vietnam
Korea
World War II
10,227
Number of Veterans
9,042
Male Veterans
1,185
Female Veterans
War | Veterans |
---|---|
Vietnam | 3,232 |
First Gulf War | 1,997 |
Second Gulf War | 1,988 |
Korea | 298 |
World War II | 286 |
count
Age Group | Veterans |
---|---|
65 to 74 | 2,474 |
75+ | 2,336 |
35 to 54 | 2,331 |
55 to 64 | 2,049 |
18 to 34 | 1,037 |
count
Name | Veterans | % of Total |
---|---|---|
White | 7,059 | 7.61% |
Black | 2,581 | 6.28% |
2+ Races | 408 | 5.15% |
Other Race | 97 | 7.54% |
Hispanic | 83 | 1.94% |
Asian | 64 | 0.98% |
Native American | 18 | 4.76% |
Less Than 9th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Bachelors or Greater
12.18%
Veteran Poverty Rate
31.33%
Veteran Disability Rate
LaborForceParticipation
63.2%
Labor Force Participation
58.3%
Employment Rate
7.7%
Unemployment Rate
LaborForceParticipation
LaborForceParticipation
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
76.08%
Born in Akron
93.81%
Native Born
6.19%
Foreign Born
3.31%
Non Citizen
2.89%
Naturalized
93.81% of Akron residents were born in the United States, with 76.08% having been born in Ohio. 3.31% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Asia.
Year | Population | Growth | Change |
---|---|---|---|
2029 | 185,811 | -481 | -0.26% |
2028 | 186,292 | -482 | -0.26% |
2027 | 186,774 | -482 | -0.26% |
2026 | 187,256 | -481 | -0.26% |
2025 | 187,737 | -482 | -0.26% |
2024 | 188,219 | -482 | -0.26% |
2023 | 188,701 | 229 | 0.12% |
2022 | 188,472 | -147 | -0.08% |
2021 | 188,619 | -1,527 | -0.8% |
2020 | 190,146 | -6,995 | -3.55% |
2019 | 197,141 | -651 | -0.33% |
2018 | 197,792 | -231 | -0.12% |
2017 | 198,023 | 4 | 0% |
2016 | 198,019 | -493 | -0.25% |
2015 | 198,512 | -408 | -0.21% |
2014 | 198,920 | 44 | 0.02% |
2013 | 198,876 | 10 | 0.01% |
2012 | 198,866 | -126 | -0.06% |
2011 | 198,992 | 43 | 0.02% |
2010 | 198,949 | 0 | 0% |
2000 | 217,074 | -5,945 | -2.67% |
1990 | 223,019 | -14,158 | -5.97% |
1980 | 237,177 | -38,248 | -13.89% |
1970 | 275,425 | -14,926 | -5.14% |
1960 | 290,351 | 15,746 | 5.73% |
1950 | 274,605 | 29,814 | 12.18% |
1940 | 244,791 | -10,249 | -4.02% |
1930 | 255,040 | 46,605 | 22.36% |
1920 | 208,435 | 139,368 | 201.79% |
1910 | 69,067 | 26,339 | 61.64% |
1900 | 42,728 | 15,127 | 54.81% |
1890 | 27,601 | 11,089 | 67.16% |
1880 | 16,512 | 6,506 | 65.02% |
1870 | 10,006 | 6,529 | 187.78% |
1860 | 3,477 | 211 | 6.46% |
1850 | 3,266 | -182,545 | -98.24% |