House for sale in 1950s-era Maple Heights neighborhood
Maple Heights, like many inner-ring suburban communities, has undergone significant social, economic and demographic changes over the past several decades. The city was incorporated in 1915, and like many other communities that surround older, central cities, it was designed to be a residential escape from the so-called ills of urbanity ... and from the communities of color that were moving into Cleveland.
However, several decades ago, the community began to change. Middle-class black families moved into the city from Cleveland and other surrounding areas. In response, white families of means left for other neighboring suburbs.
Since the 1970s, Maple Heights has lost more than a third of its population. Economic stagnation, and that loss of population, led to a steady decline toward fiscal instability. Twenty-two percent of its 22,000 residents now live beneath the poverty line, while the rest of suburban Cuyahoga County averages 10.9 percent.
And even as its demographics shifted over the decades — 40 percent African-American two decades ago; a 70-percent minority population as of the last census — leadership remained white. That is, until Blackwell won the mayor's seat in 2016, becoming both the first black and first female mayor of the suburb.
Original 3/7/2019 post starts here.
It all started here.
In Maple Heights, where the average residential delinquency is $9,058, some owners are frustrated and apathetic after watching home values plummet and their financial security evaporate, Blackwell said.
On occasion, elderly homeowners forget about their tax bills once they've paid off a mortgage. Other residents can't get loans to fix up their properties, with values so low. They let the taxes slip, betting they'll catch up before the county catches on.
"The county has, in many cases, partnered up very well with us to address this crisis," Garfield Heights Mayor Vic Collova said. "This is one of the problems that we're all having, and we could certainly use a little more assistance."
Maple Heights' population peaked at 34,093 in 1970. Its 2017 estimated population is 22,300 -- a drop of 11,793 (35%).
Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer
Akron. (2/28/2019)
Brook Park (3/3/2019)
Cambridge. (2/27/2019)
Canton. (3/1/2019)
Cleveland. (1/2/2019)
Cleveland Heights. (3/5/2019)
East Cleveland. (3/2/2019)
East Liverpool. (2/18/2019)
Euclid. (3/4/2019)
Gallipolis. (2/23/2019)
Garfield Heights (3/6/2019)
Ironton. (2/24/2019)
Martins Ferry. (2/21/2019)
Pomeroy. (2/22/2019)
Portsmouth. (2/25/2019)
Steubenville. (2/20/2019)
Warren. (1/18/2019)
Youngstown. (1/9/2019)
Zanesville. (2/26/2019)
Disappearing cities and boroughs of the Keystone State
Aliquippa. (1/12/2019)
Ambridge. (1/17/2019)
Arnold. (1/18/2019)
Braddock. (1/19/2019)
Bradford, (1/20/2019)
Carbondale. (1/21/2019)
Charleroi. (1/22/2019)
Chester. (1/23/2019)
Clairton. (1/24/2019)
Coraopolis. (1/25/2019)
Dickson City. (1/26/2019)
Donora. (1/27/2019)
Duquesne. (1/28/2019)
Farrell. (1/29/2019)
Harrisburg. (2/12/2019)
Homestead. (1/30/2019)
Johnstown. (1/6/2019)
McKees Rocks. (1/31/2019)
McKeesport. (2/1/2019)
Monessen. (2/2/2019)
Nanticoke. (2/3/2019)
New Castle. (2/4/2019)
New Kensington. (2/5/2019)
Oil City. (2/6/2019)
Pittsburgh. (1/13/2019)
Pittston. (2/7/2019)
Scranton. (1/14/2019)
Shamokin. (2/8/2019)
Sharon. (2/9/2019)
Steelton. (2/11/2019)
Swissvale. (2/13/2019)
Titusville. (2/10/2019)
Uniontown. (2/14/2019)
Washington. (2/15/2019)
Willkes-Barre. (2/16/2019)
Wiklinsburg. (2/17/2018)
Other U.S. disappearing cities
Baltimore, Maryland. (12/31/2018)
Benton Harbor, Michigan. (1/15/2019)
Buffalo, New York, (1/8/2019)
Cairo, Illinois. (1/5/2019)
Detroit, Michigan. (1/1/2019)
East St. Louis, Illinois. (1/11/2019)
Flint, Michigan. (1/7/2019)
Gary, Indiana. (1/4/2019)
St. Louis, Missouri. (1/2/2019)
Wheeling, West Virginia. (1/16/2019)
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