Westlake, Ohio - Wikipedia

City in the United States City in Ohio, United States

Westlake, Ohio
City
Westlake Porter Public Library
Seal
Motto: Pride, tradition, community
Interactive map of Westlake, Ohio
WestlakeShow map of OhioWestlakeShow map of the United States
Coordinates: 41°27′16″N 81°55′43″W / 41.45444°N 81.92861°W / 41.45444; -81.92861
Country	United States
State	Ohio
County	Cuyahoga
Settled	October 10, 1810
Incorporated[2]	1911 (village)1957 (city)
Government
• Type	Mayor-council
• Mayor	Dennis M. Clough (R)[1]
Area[3]
• Total	15.94 sq mi (41.28 km2)
• Land	15.93 sq mi (41.27 km2)
• Water	0.0039 sq mi (0.01 km2)  0%
Elevation[4]	709 ft (216 m)
Population (2020)
• Total	34,228
• Density	2,148.2/sq mi (829.44/km2)
	census
Time zone	UTC−5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Code	44145
Area code	440
FIPS code	39-83622[5]
GNIS feature ID	1061762[4]
Website	www.cityofwestlake.org

Westlake is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. It is a suburb located 12 miles (19 km) west of downtown Cleveland. The population was 34,228 at the 2020 census.

History

[edit]

The area now known as the city of Westlake was first settled by European Americans on October 10, 1810. At the time, it was part of Dover Township.

In 1901, the northern part of the township seceded to form Bay Village.[6] In 1912, a southern portion left to join North Olmsted. The remaining township residents formed Dover Village in 1913, taking with it a portion of Olmsted Township.

In order to avoid confusion with the city of Dover in Tuscarawas County,[7] Dover Village was renamed Westlake in 1940.[8] The village of Westlake became a city in 1957.[2]

In September 1966, a house in Westlake which had recently been bought by John R. Compton, a black pastor, was firebombed. No one was injured, although the bombing did cause around $10,000 of damage, equivalent to $99,231 in 2025.[9] According to the Cleveland Press, the mayor of Westlake, Alexander R. Roman, "criticized the parties involved in the sale of the home... He said no one was notified so the community could be prepared to accept a Negro family."[10][11]

Geography

[edit]

Westlake is located at 41°27′16″N 81°55′43″W / 41.45444°N 81.92861°W / 41.45444; -81.92861 (41.454439, −81.928657).[12]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 15.93 square miles (41.26 km2), all land.[13]

Demographics

[edit] Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1920	1,754	—
1930	2,453	39.9%
1940	3,200	30.5%
1950	4,912	53.5%
1960	12,906	162.7%
1970	15,689	21.6%
1980	19,475	24.1%
1990	27,018	38.7%
2000	31,719	17.4%
2010	32,729	3.2%
2020	34,228	4.6%
Sources:[5][14][15]

Racial and ethnic composition

[edit] Westlake city, Ohio – Racial and ethnic compositionNote: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.

Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2000[16]	Pop 2010[17]	Pop 2020[18]	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	29,199	29,279	29,020	92.06%	89.46%	84.78%
Black or African American alone (NH)	299	498	773	0.94%	1.52%	2.26%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	18	15	16	0.06%	0.05%	0.05%
Asian alone (NH)	1,325	1,595	1,963	4.18%	4.87%	5.74%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)	4	18	9	0.01%	0.05%	0.03%
Other race alone (NH)	26	40	146	0.08%	0.12%	0.43%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	446	472	1,144	1.41%	1.44%	3.34%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	402	812	1,157	1.27%	2.48%	3.38%
Total	31,719	32,729	34,228	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

Income

[edit]

The median income for a household in the city was $72,917, and the median income for a family was $98,223 (these figures had changed to $63,252 and $90,397 respectively as of a 2007 estimate).[19] Males had a median income of $60,429 versus $36,999 for females. The per capita income for the city was $56,515. About 1.3% of families and 2.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.7% of those under age 18 and 2.8% of those age 65 or over. Of the city's population over the age of 25, 50.1% hold a bachelor's degree or higher,[20] while 81.3% spoke English, 1.62% Arabic, 1.5% Spanish, 1.3% Greek, and 0.7% German and Chinese.[21]

2020 census

[edit]

As of the 2020 census, Westlake had a population of 34,228. The median age was 47.4 years. 18.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 25.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 92.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 89.5 males age 18 and over.[22]

100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.[23]

There were 14,618 households in Westlake, of which 22.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 49.4% were married-couple households, 18.4% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 27.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 35.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[22]

There were 15,508 housing units, of which 5.7% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.5%.[22]

Racial composition as of the 2020 census[24]

Race	Number	Percent
White	29,358	85.8%
Black or African American	794	2.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native	23	0.1%
Asian	1,968	5.7%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander	11	0.0%
Some other race	412	1.2%
Two or more races	1,662	4.9%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)	1,157	3.4%

2010 census

[edit]

As of the census[25] of 2010, there were 32,729 people, 13,870 households, and 8,443 families living in the city. The population density was 2,054.6 inhabitants per square mile (793.3/km2). There were 14,843 housing units at an average density of 931.8 per square mile (359.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 91.2% White, 1.6% African American, 0.1% Native American, 4.9% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.6% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 2.5% of the population.

There were 13,870 households, of which 26.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.4% were married couples living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.1% were non-families. Of all households 34.2% 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 2.30 and the average family size was 3.01.

The median age in the city was 45 years. Of the residents 21.5% were under the age of 18; 5.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.8% were from 25 to 44; 31% were from 45 to 64; and 19% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.4% male and 52.6% female.

2000 census

[edit]

As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 31,760 people, 12,830 households, and 8,186 families living in the city. The population density was 1,995.2 inhabitants per square mile (770.4/km2). There were 13,648 housing units at an average density of 858.5 per square mile (331.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 91.65% White, 0.95% African American, 1.36% Native American, 4.21% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.33% from other races, and 1.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 1.27% of the population.

There were 12,826 households, out of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.9% were married couples living together, 5.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.1% were non-families. Of all households 32.0% were made up of individuals, and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 22.8% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 26.6% from 45 to 54, and 18.2% who were 55 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.3 males.

Economy

[edit]

Companies headquartered in Westlake include Nordson,[26] American Greetings,[27] Hyland Software,[28] and Scott Fetzer Company,[29] TravelCenters of America, and Equity Trust.

Crocker Park is a lifestyle center and mixed-use development compromising 1,050,000 sq ft (98,000 m2) of retail space, 650 residential units, and 100,000 sq ft (9,300 m2) of office space based on a small French town-type setting.

Top employers

[edit]

According to the city's 2021 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[30] the top employers in the city are:

#	Employer	# of employees
1	University Hospitals Health System	3,202
2	Hyland Software, Incorporated	1,987
3	American Greetings Corporation	1,167
4	TA Operating, LLC	835
5	Westlake City School District	707
6	City of Westlake	413
7	Equity Administrative Services	412
8	The Cleveland Clinic Foundation	395
9	Budget Dumpster, LLC	333
10	KeyBank National Association	199

Arts and culture

[edit]

Westlake is served by the Westlake Porter Public Library.[citation needed]

Also found in Westlake is Lakewood Country Club, "the only Northern Ohio Club to host the PGA-based, Web.com televised golf tour."[31]

Clague House Museum showcases the history of Westlake (formerly Dover). This house was built in 1876.[citation needed]

Clague Playhouse is a community theatre producing five plays a season from the classic and contemporary repertoire.[citation needed]

The White Oaks Restaurant was a lucrative speakeasy during the Prohibition era.[32] Dover Gardens Tavern was also a speakeasy with an upstairs ballroom during Prohibition.

Education

[edit]

The Westlake City School District consistently places within the top 4% of statewide districts on the state education report card.[33] The district received an achievement grade of 89.0% for the Performance Index and a grade of 95.% for the Indicators Met on the Ohio Department of Education's 2013–2014 District Report Card.[34]

The district mission statement is "We Educate for Excellence."[33]

• Westlake Elementary School (grades K–4)
• Dover Intermediate School (grades 5–6)
• Lee Burneson Middle School (grades 7–8)
• Westlake High School (grades 9–12)

Westlake High School is home to WHBS-TV, the Westlake High school Broadcasting System. WHBS-TV is seen on channels 99 and 18 on AT&T U-Verse and WOW! cable, respectively, in the Westlake area.[35]

Notable people

[edit]

• Travis Kelce, NFL Tight End, Kansas City Chiefs[36]
• Bernie Moreno, U.S. Senator from Ohio[37]
• Jake Paul, YouTuber and boxer[38]
• Logan Paul, YouTuber, actor, former professional boxer, and WWE wrestler [39]
• Brian K. Vaughan, comics and television writer[40]

Sister cities

[edit]

Westlake's first sister city partnership with the Town of Tralee in Ireland was founded in 2009 and is recognized by Sister Cities International. In 2012 Westlake also became sister city to the Canadian town of Kingsville, Ontario.[41]

• Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland[42]
• Kingsville, Ontario, Canada

References

[edit]

1. ^ "Mayors Office". cityofwestlake.org. Archived from the original on June 2, 2009. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
2. ^ a b "About Our City". Archived from the original on December 29, 2006. Retrieved December 31, 2006.
3. ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
4. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Westlake, Ohio
5. ^ a b c "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
6. ^ Hadsell, Reign S.; Rutherford, Hazel (1986). A History and Civics of Dover Village. Dover Village Board of Education. p. 41.
7. ^ Stanton, Lysa; Pfister, Dave (August 8, 2011). "Dover becomes Westlake". Westlake-Bay Village Observer. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
8. ^ Mangus, Michael; Herman, Jennifer L. (2008). Ohio Encyclopedia. North American Book Dist LLC. p. 574. ISBN 978-1-878592-68-2.
9. ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
10. ^ "Silence about sale hit in home arson". Cleveland Press. September 26, 1966.
11. ^ "Burn cleric's $23,250 home in white suburb". Jet. Johnson Publishing Company. October 13, 1966. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
12. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
13. ^ "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 20, 2011. Retrieved January 6, 2013.
14. ^ "Number of Inhabitants: Ohio" (PDF). 18th Census of the United States. U.S. Census Bureau. 1960. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
15. ^ "Ohio: Population and Housing Unit Counts" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
16. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Westlake city, Ohio". United States Census Bureau.
17. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Westlake city, Ohio". United States Census Bureau.
18. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Westlake city, Ohio". United States Census Bureau.
19. ^ "American FactFinder - Results". Archived from the original on February 10, 2020. Retrieved April 6, 2009.
20. ^ http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/39/3983622.html
21. ^ "Data Center Results".
22. ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2026.
23. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved February 2, 2026.
24. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2026.
25. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 6, 2013.
26. ^ "Nordson Corporation: Private Company Information". Bloomberg. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
27. ^ Cho, Janet H. (September 28, 2016). "American Greetings unveils Creative Studios world headquarters at Crocker Park in Westlake (photos)". Cleveland Plain Dealer. cleveland.com. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
28. ^ "Hyland Software, Inc.: Private Company Information". Bloomberg. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
29. ^ "The Scott Fetzer Company: Private Company Information". Bloomberg. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
30. ^ City of Westlake CAFR
31. ^ "Golf". Lakewood Country Club. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
32. ^ "History - White Oaks".
33. ^ a b "About". Westlake City Schools. Archived from the original on February 27, 2013. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
34. ^ "Westlake City School District PDF Report" (PDF). Ohio Department of Education. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 4, 2016. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
35. ^ "WHBS TV". Westlake City Schools. Archived from the original on November 15, 2013. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
36. ^ Haynes, Noelle (August 26, 2025). "'It's a love story!' Taylor Swift gets engaged to Cleveland Heights native Travis Kelce". www.cleveland19.com. Retrieved August 27, 2025.
37. ^ "Three Republicans on Ohio's primary ballot battle to face U.S. Sen. Brown in November". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
38. ^ "Ohio's role in boxing's big night: Jake Paul's hometown and Tyson's past". wtol.com. November 15, 2024. Retrieved August 27, 2025.
39. ^ "How national Vine video star Logan Paul went from Westlake standout athlete to master of 6-second comedy (videos)". The Plain Dealer. April 22, 2014. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
40. ^ Dawidziak, Mark (January 19, 2009). "' Lost' writer Brian K. Vaughan is a Cleveland native". Cleveland.com.
41. ^ "Sister City Program | Westlake, OH - Official Website". www.cityofwestlake.org. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
42. ^ "Tralee Twins with Westlake, Ohio". Archived from the original on August 21, 2010. Retrieved December 26, 2009.

External links

[edit] Wikimedia Commons has media related to Westlake, Ohio.

• City of Westlake - homepage
• Westlake Historical Society

Places adjacent to Westlake, Ohio
Avon Lake Bay Village Avon, North Ridgeville Westlake Rocky River, Fairview Park North Olmsted, Olmsted Falls

v t e Municipalities and communities of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States
County seat: Cleveland
Cities	Bay Village Beachwood Bedford Bedford Heights Berea Brecksville Broadview Heights Brook Park Brooklyn Cleveland Cleveland Heights East Cleveland Euclid Fairview Park Garfield Heights Highland Heights Independence Lakewood Lyndhurst Maple Heights Mayfield Heights Middleburg Heights North Olmsted North Royalton Olmsted Falls Parma Parma Heights Pepper Pike Richmond Heights Rocky River Seven Hills Shaker Heights Solon South Euclid Strongsville University Heights Warrensville Heights Westlake
Villages	Bentleyville Bratenahl Brooklyn Heights Chagrin Falls Cuyahoga Heights Gates Mills Glenwillow Highland Hills Hunting Valley‡ Linndale Mayfield Moreland Hills Newburgh Heights North Randall Oakwood Orange Valley View Walton Hills Woodmere
Townships	Chagrin Falls Olmsted Paper townships
Footnotes	‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
Ohio portal United States portal

Authority control databases
International	VIAF WorldCat
National	United States Israel
Geographic	MusicBrainz area