Virtual Presentation | Who Names the Neighborhood? A Question of Identity

Presenter: John Grabowski, PhD, WRHS Senior Vice President, Research & Publications; Krieger Mueller Historian

About This Program

Cleveland’s neighborhoods have, and have had, an intriguing series of names – from Kamm’s Corners to Dutch Hill and Little Italy and now to Hingetown. Some names have been around for over a century, others are new. Neighborhood identity is something many take for granted, yet the story of names and name changes for areas within the city opens a deeper story. Who, for instance, gets to choose the name – the people who live in the area, or city officialdom? Why, when and how have the identities of neighborhoods been altered simply the ascription of a new name? When did the original “organic” borders of neighborhoods become straight lines on a map? This session will explore the history of Cleveland’s neighborhoods by looking at the broader story of their identities over time and the manner in which name changes have been influenced both by shifting demography, politicians, developers, and urban planners.

Registration

Price: $15 general admission / $10 WRHS member admission

You may register using the options below. This event will be held through the Zoom platform. When you register, you will be sent a confirmation containing your purchase receipt and all necessary login information.