Rocky River is a city in western Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. A suburb of Cleveland, it is located along the shore of Lake Erie approximately west of downtown Cleveland. The city is named for the Rocky River that forms its eastern border. The population was 21,755 according to the 2020 census data results.

Early history In the summer of 1764, British Colonel John Bradstreet led a force of more than 2,000 regular soldiers, American volunteers and Native Americans as part of an attack to stop Pontiac's Rebellion, which ended before Bradstreet could attack. His mission was revised to retrieval of prisoners, exploration and peacemaking. As the host of 60 boats and nine canoes attempted to find shelter in an increasing storm on Lake Erie, waves overcame the fleet, ruining 25 boats and damaging many others. Bradstreet and his men came ashore in what is now Bradstreet's Landing Park in Rocky River on 18 October 1764. After tarrying three days, the diminished force returned to Ft. Niagara enduring significant hardship on their voyage. Rumors to the contrary, only one life was lost in the endeavor.

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water.

Most of Rocky River's eastern border follows the river bearing its name, which runs through the Rocky River Reservation of the Cleveland Metroparks system, adjacent to the city's eastern neighbor, Lakewood. A small strip of Cleveland itself also borders Rocky River; however, the two cities are not directly connected via road. Lake Erie lines the entire northern border of the city while the city of Fairview Park marks the southern border. On Rocky River's western border are the cities of Bay Village to the northwest and Westlake to the southwest.

Demographics

Racial and ethnic composition +Rocky River city, Ohio – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 2000Pop 2010Pop 2020% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)19,89119,04019,54695.93%94.20%89.85%Black or African American alone (NH)801962780.39%0.97%1.28%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)1114180.05%0.07%0.08%Asian alone (NH)2733575111.32%1.77%2.35%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)4580.02%0.02%0.04%Other race alone (NH)197760.09%0.03%0.35%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)2092276121.01%1.12%2.81%Hispanic or Latino (any race)2483677061.20%1.82%3.25%Total20,73520,21321,755 100.00%100.00%100.00%

2020 census As of the 2020 census, Rocky River had a population of 21,755. The median age was 45.4 years. 20.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 23.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 87.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 83.8 males age 18 and over.

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

There were 9,907 households in Rocky River, of which 24.6% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 45.4% were married-couple households, 17.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 32.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 38.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 10,604 housing units, of which 6.6% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.6%.

+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 19,733 90.7% Black or African American 300 1.4% American Indian and Alaska Native 21 0.1% Asian 514 2.4% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 9 0.0% Some other race 193 0.9% Two or more races 985 4.5% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 706 3.2%

2010 census As of the 2010 United States census, there were 20,213 people, 9,283 households, and 5,242 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 10,181 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 95.5% White, 1.0% African American, 0.1% Native American, 1.8% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.8% of the population.

There were 9,283 households, of which 25.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.9% were married couples living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 43.5% were non-families. 39.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.95.

The median age in the city was 45.6 years. 21.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.5% were from 25 to 44; 28.5% were from 45 to 64; and 22.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.1% male and 53.9% female.

Of the city's population over the age of 25, 54.8% hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

91.8% spoke English, 1.9% Spanish, 1.4% Arabic, 1.2% Hungarian, 1.0% German, and 0.8% Greek.

2000 census As of the 2000 United States census, there were 20,735 people, 9,709 households, and 5,437 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 10,166 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 96.83% White, 0.41% African American, 0.07% Native American, 1.33% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.27% from other races, and 1.08% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.20% of the population.

There were 9,709 households, out of which 22.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.2% were married couples living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.0% were non-families. 40.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.11 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the city the population was spread out, with 20.9% under the age of 18, 4.3% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 24.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 82.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $71,636, and the median income for a family was $94,361. Males had a median income of $62,727 versus $32,145 for females. The per capita income for the city was $34,663. About 1.5% of families and 2.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.3% of those under age 18 and 3.8% of those age 65 or over.

Government Rocky River is in Ohio's 7th congressional district, represented by Republican Representative Max Miller, a resident of Rocky River.

Notable people

(B) denotes that the person was born there. Kevin Barnes, front man and songwriter for the indie rock band of Montreal.(B)Niesel, Jeff (December 5, 2012). "The Book of Barnes: Of Montreal front man prepares to write a new musical chapter". Cleveland Scene. Nina Blackwood, the first of the original five MTV VJs, graduated from Rocky River High School in 1970.Petkovic, John (July 30, 2011). "At 30, MTV looks nothing like the video channel that roared". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland. Clint Brown, pitcher for the Cleveland Indians and the Chicago White Sox, was a resident when he died in 1955. Carter Camper, ice hockey player who made his NHL debut with the Boston Bruins. G. William Domhoff, professor of sociology and psychology at UC Santa Cruz; attended Rocky River High School. Red Gerard Professional Olympic Snowboarder Anthony Gonzalez, former NFL wide receiver, served as a U.S. congressman representing Ohio's 16th congressional district from 2019 to 2023 Chris Hovan, professional American football player for the St. Louis Rams(B)"Chris Hovan, DT". National Football League. Sammy Kaye, Big Band Era bandleader and songwriter, graduated from Rocky River High School in 1928.Bona, Marc (February 12, 2012). "Sammy Kaye: Your 2 p.m. Buckeye Bits A&E trivia". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland Pat McCormick, comic actor and writer, grew up in Rocky River, and attended Rocky River High School. Norm Michael, college football player, born in Rocky River.(B) Max Miller, congressman from Ohio's 7th congressional district since 2023. Milton C. Portmann, professional American football player. Decorated WWI US Army Officer. Resident when he died in 1967. Martin Savidge, award-winning American television news correspondent for NBC News and CNN, graduated from Rocky River High School in 1976.Washington, Julie (September 10, 2008). "Former Clevelander Martin Savidge talks about move to PBS". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland. Michael Stanley, rock musician, graduated from Rocky River High School in 1966.Yarborough, Chuck (August 18, 2014). "Michael Stanley to be honored with tribute concert featuring fans and peers". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland. George Steinbrenner, businessman and one-time owner of the New York Yankees.(B)Biography.com "George Steinbrenner Biography, Business Leader 1930–2010". Retrieved September 22, 2014.Puma, Mike "'The Boss' made Yankees a dictatorship". ESPN Classic. Retrieved September 22, 2014/ Brian K. Vaughan, comic book and television writer.Dawidziak, Mark (January 19, 2009). "'Lost' writer Brian K. Vaughan is a Cleveland native". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland.

References

External links

Rocky River Chamber of Commerce