Lebron James calls this Ohio city home, and Akron is also the birthplace of ice cream cones, hamburgers and caramel corn snacks
City: Akron
State: Ohio
Best Cities Overall Rank: 88
About Akron:
Ice cream cones, hamburgers and caramel corn snacks were invented here. Lebron James, basketball superstar, was born and raised here.
The average home price is $68,000. The Akron Zoo is home to more than 700 animals from each of earth’s seven continents.
County: Summit
Population: 207510
Official website for city visitors’ bureau/city: Visitors’ bureau website
Newspaper with the largest circulation: Akron Beacon-Journal
Akron blogs:
A Busy Mom of Two
Akron Ohio Moms
First Bell
Akron‘s Facebook page: Follow Akron on Facebook
Akron‘s Twitter page: Follow Akron on Twitter
Education rank:48
High School graduation rate 2008: 76.40%
Blue Ribbon Schools, 2003-2009: 0
Blue Ribbon Schools per 100,000 people: 0
NEAYC-accredited preschools: 4
NAEYC schools per 100,000 people: 1.92
NAEP State proficiency reading, grade 8: 269
Pupil/Teacher Ratio: 14.5
Total Expenditures Per Student: $12,769
Health rank: 48
Quality children’s hospitals: 1
Hospitals per 100,000 people: 0.48
Quality Pediatricians: 2
Quality Pediatricians per 100,000: 0.96
Average number of Unhealthy Air Quality days between 2006-2008, by county: 0.66
Safety rank: 84
Violent Crimes, 2008: 1,897
Violent Crime Rate per 100,000: 914.17
Sex Offenders: 1,219
Sex Offenders per 100,000: 587.44
Economy rank: 85
Travel time to work, 2006-2008, in minutes: 21.30
Percent of labor force unemployed, January 2010: 11.80
Best Performing Cities Job Index: 1,278.47
Median Home Sale Price: $67,800
5-Year Home Value Index: -3.77%
Percent of homes sold for a loss: 25.95%
Recreation Rank: 84
Parkland acreage, 2008 (includes pools and playgrounds): 941.7
Parkland per 100,000: 453.81
Photo courtesy of OHWiki
