| Akron is a vital distribution
gateway between the industrial East and Mid-west, and perhaps the Nation's
fastest growing city from the standpoint of scientific research. Many millions
of dollars have been spent since the 1940's for the construction of modern
laboratories in which countless prolects involving new manufacturing techniques,
moterials, and products and their use are constantly being pursued- not
only in rubber, but plastics and chemicals as well.
It is the birthplace of the trucking industry, being" headquarters for 50 motor freight companies. The world's largest fishing tackle factory is located here. On the south side of the municipal airport is the largest building in the world without interior supports (Goodyear Aircraft Hangar). [t is 1,175 feet long, 325 feet wide, and 221 feet high. The "Akron" and "Macon," famous giant dirigibles, were built here. The airport is also the scene of the International Soapbox Derby. Here is located the University of Akron, a municipal coeducational institution since 1913, the nucleus of which was Buchtel College, established in 1870. It consists of 11 buildings on a 10-acre campus lust east of the downtown district. In addition to rubber and cereals, other diversified industries give Akron importance as a producer of matches, automobiles, clay products, salt, industrial machinery, dies, molds, batteries, wood products, plastics, and chemicals. Freight gross revenue was $6,365,663 and passenger gross revenue amounted to $272,801 for the 12-month period ending August 31, 1957.  AKRON, OHIO Shown in the center foreground of this aerial photograph is the Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. Plant # 1. Their Plant #2 can be seen in the left background. Also plainly shown is the South Akron Yard of the P. R. R.-to the right and in the rear of Plant #1. |
