The largest city in Ohio and seventh largest city in the United States with a population of 914,808 as shown in the 1950 census Figures, but is now estimated to be 1,700,000--Including Cuyahoga and Lake Counties.  In the twelve months ended August 31, 1957, the freight gross revenue of this agency was $54,611,790 and the passenger gross revenue amounted to $904,806.

Located on the south shore of Lake Erie and, together with its larger suburbs, extends about 30 miles east and west along the lake and 10 miles south-on the whole the tenth largest metropolitan district in the United States. Originally the site of a trading post established in 1747, the location was selected in 1796 by General Moses Cleaveland who came west as head surveyor far the Connecticut Land Co., and for whom the city was later named. Originally spelled "Cleveland," the present spelling of the city's name was established in 1831 by a newspaper that dropped the "a" to make the word fit a headline.

The city was little more than a frontier village for 30 years until the completion of the Ohio & Erie canal in 1832 when it became a business and manufacturing center. It incorporated in 1836 with 5,000 citizens. A further growth occurred in 1860 when the Civil War spurred the production of iron and steel products, railway equipment, and other items needed for the war effort. Also in this decade came the development of oil wells in western Pennsylvania and the city became headquarters for that industry with the founding of Standard Oil in 1870.

This city was a vital station on the "Underground Railroad." It was in this era that White Manufacturing Co. began the manufacturing of sewing machines; Otis steel established the first open hearth steel mill; the Public Square was lighted with carbon arc lamps; and America's first electric street cars appeared in 1884.

Cleveland today boasts of diversified industry and business, but the basis is iron and steel and the fabricating of metals. Almost 60 percent of all industry is included in the primary metals, transportation equipment, fabricated metals, and machinery manufacturing fields.

The five largest industries in the Greater Cleveland area-from the standpoint of PRR carloadings-are: Ford Motor Co.; American Steel & Wire Co.; Republic Steel Corp.; Firestone Tire & Rubber Co.; Jones & Laughlin Steel Corp. These are but a few of the many which provided a total manufacturing payroll for hourly paid employees in 19% estimated at $1,003,000,000 and produced goods valued at $5,236,000,000.