What city was once dubbed the rubber city capital of the world?

Inventor Charles Goodyear, for whom Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. is named, may never have set foot in Akron, OH. Yet, his innovation — one of the most significant of the 19th century — would eventually lead Akron to become the “Rubber Capital of the World.” And although the city has since seen plenty of industries — from cereal to children’s toys — come and go, today, it’s in the midst of a vibrant revitalization spurred by diverse economic and cultural initiatives.

“Akron was built, obviously, on the rubber industry,” Gregg Cramer, Vice President of Economic Development at the Greater Akron Chamber of Commerce, said. “It’s a unique city because you had Goodyear, Firestone, B.F. Goodrich, General, Mohawk and Seiberling, so you had six rubber companies all headquartered in the same location.”

Akron was a prime location; in the early 1900s, the by-then defunct canals provided water necessary to the vulcanization process, the labor force was highly experienced with manufacturing, and nearby coal mines provided easy access to high-quality coal.