Akron is Ohio's 5th biggest city. With a population of about 199,000, the city of Akron serves as the county seat of Summit County in the northeastern area of the state within the Great Lakes region. It is located around sixty kms south of Lake Erie along the Little Cuyahoga River. Akron's economic base has transitioned from heavy manufacturing to research, high technology and financial trades.
The city of Akron was established during 1825. Its positioning at the summit of the Erie and Ohio Canal promoted early growth. From the years 1860 to 1870, the thriving coal, railroad and manufacturing industries resulted in another spurt in population growth.
The biggest expansion of Akron City happened due to the burgeoning rubber trade in Akron City, when B.F. Goodrich established the very first rubber company there during 1869, followed by General Tire and Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. The city of Akron immediately became known as "The Rubber Capital of the World," and European immigrants flocked there to find work within the rubber factories. The rubber business within Akron City declined in the latter part of the 20th century, beat out by better radial tires from Europe. By the 1990's only Goodyear still remained in Akron City.
Akron's economy has diversified since that time. Now, there are now more than 400 firms involved in the polymer industry. Akron City is now been called "The Polymer Valley" and is no longer the Rubber Capital. Motor vehicle and aeronautics production are other essential businesses. Companies within the city of Akron produce biomedical products, metals, chemicals and plastics. Significant employers consist of Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, Newell Rubber Maid, L'Oreal Cosmetics, Spectrum Brands, Lockheed-Martin, First Energy, RJS Manufacturing and Includis Manufacturing Software.
There are jobs for individuals with university and college degrees, like registered nurses, teachers, manufacturing and wholesale sales representatives, management analysts, mechanical engineers, industrial engineers, computer applications software engineers, financial managers, and network and computer systems administrators.
The city of Akron can attract top-notch performances with its three performance halls. The largest of these Halls is the E.J. Thomas Hall, that could seat about 2,950 divided amongst three tiers. Due to the an adjustable counter-weighted ceiling that alters the physical dimensions of the hall giving the hall fine acoustics. Each and every year 400,000 visitors come to the city of Akron to see Broadway musicals, comedies, lectures, ballets, and other types of entertainment. Musical events are provided by Tuesday Musical Club, Akron Symphony Orchestra and Children's Concert Society.