Garfield Heights

• Official Name — Garfield Heights, Ohio • Type — City • Image Blank Emblem — Logo of Garfield Heights, Ohio.png • Blank Emblem Type — Logo • Image Seal — Garfield Heights logo.jpg • Mapframe — yes • Mapframe Zoom — 11 • Mapframe Point — none • Pushpin Map — Ohio#USA • Pushpin Relief — yes • Pushpin Label — Garfield Heights • Subdivision Type — Country • Subdivision Name — United States • Subdivision Type1 — State • Subdivision Name1 — Ohio • Subdivision Type2 — County • Subdivision Name2 — Cuyahoga • Government Type — Mayor–council • Leader Title — Mayor • Leader Name — Matt Burke (D) • Established Title — Settled • Established Date — 1786 • Established Title2 — Founded • Established Date2 — 1907 • Established Title3 — Incorporated • Established Date3 — 1930 • Unit Pref — Imperial • Area Total Km2 — 18.87 • Area Land Km2 — 18.72 • Area Water Km2 — 0.14 • Area Total Sq Mi — 7.29 • Area Land Sq Mi — 7.23 • Area Water Sq Mi — 0.06 • Population As Of — 2020 • Population Est — 28900 • Pop Est As Of — 2023 • Population Total — 29781 • Population Density Km2 — 1590.49 • Population Density Sq Mi — 4119.09 • Time Zone — Eastern (EST) • Utc Offset — -5 • Time Zone Dst — EDT • Utc Offset Dst — -4 • Elevation Ft — 955 • Postal Code Type — ZIP codes • Postal Code — 44105, 44125, 44128 • Area Code — 216 • Custom Label Sec1 — FIPS code • Custom Data Sec1 — 39-29428 • Custom Label1 Sec1 — GNIS feature ID • Custom Data1 Sec1 — 1064703 • Website — garfieldhts.org Garfield Heights is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. The population was 29,781 at the time of the 2020 census. A suburb of Cleveland, it is a part of the Cleveland metropolitan area.

• Illustration — Marymount Congregational Home, St. Joseph Convent and Academy Complex The area was originally part of Newburgh Township. The Village of South Newburgh was formed in 1907, changed its name to Garfield Hts Village in 1919 and it was incorporated as Garfield Heights in 1930 when the cities population hit 5000. The city is named after Garfield Park, which in turn was named in honor of President James A. Garfield, a native of nearby Orange Township.

Garfield Heights is located at (41.421423, -81.602682). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.29 sqmi, of which 7.23 sqmi is land and 0.06 sqmi is water. The elevation of Garfield Heights is 831 ft above sea level where it borders Cleveland, and its highest elevation is 972 ft above sea level at the Garfield Heights Justice Center.

The ethnic groups of Garfield Heights include Poles, Slovenes, Germans, Italians, Irish, and African-Americans. 93.4% spoke English, 2.8% Polish, 1.2% Italian, and 1.2% Spanish.

As of the 2020 census, Garfield Heights had a population of 29,781. The median age was 38.7 years. 23.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 17.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 83.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 79.7 males age 18 and over. 100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas. There were 11,985 households in Garfield Heights, of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 28.1% were married-couple households, 20.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 43.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 32.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. There were 13,179 housing units, of which 9.1% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.0%. Racial composition as of the 2020 census • Race — Number — Percent • White — 10,721 — 36.0% • Black or African American — 16,817 — 56.5% • American Indian and Alaska Native — 43 — 0.1% • Asian — 269 — 0.9% • Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander — 6 — 0.0% • Some other race — 467 — 1.6% • Two or more races — 1,458 — 4.9% • Hispanic or Latino (of any race) — 1,170 — 3.9%

As of the 2010 census, there were 28,849 people, 11,691 households, and 7,393 families residing in the city. The population density was 3990.2 PD/sqmi. There were 13,125 housing units at an average density of 1815.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 60.2% White, 35.7% African American, 0.2% Native American, 1.3% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.3% of the population. There were 11,691 households, of which 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.5% were married couples living together, 21.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.8% were non-families. 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.08. The median age in the city was 38.5 years. 25% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.1% were from 25 to 44; 26% were from 45 to 64; and 15.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.0% male and 54.0% female.

Garfield Heights is the site of Highland Park (formerly City View Center) which once was a planned regional power center built upon a former landfill in the mid-2000s. In 2020, the development was purchased from receivership and revitalized by Industrial Commercial Properties, Inc. In 2021, Mayor Matt Burke along with former Mayors Vic Collova and Thomas J. Longo, stood with Industrial Commercial Properties to cut the ribbon for the first new corporations to open in Highland Park including MPAC Switchback, MTech, Innoplast, and Thermoprene.

Garfield Heights has seven wards and a mayor-council form of government. The city's charter went into effect in 1956. The city also has a municipal court that serves several jurisdictions. The council president is selected by members of city council. If the mayor's seat is vacated, the council president would assume the duties, according to the city charter.

The Dan Kostel Recreation Center is located on Turney Road at the Civic Center complex and includes an outdoor swimming pool open during summer season only and an indoor ice skating rink. Garfield Park Reservation, part of the regional Cleveland Metroparks system, is located in the Northeast corner of Garfield Heights on its border with Cleveland. Wargo Farms, a 45-acre area of land was sold to the Cleveland Metroparks in 2023 to preserve green space and create walking trails and recreation.

• Illustration — Garfield Heights High School Garfield Heights has its own public school system comprising three elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. It is governed by a five-member elected board. There are two Catholic schools in the city; St. Benedict and Trinity High School.

Garfield Heights is served by the Cleveland television stations and numerous cable and satellite providers. The Cleveland Plain Dealer, and the Neighborhood News-Garfield Heights Tribune (published each Wednesday) are the main newspapers.

• Steve Bartek, American guitarist, film composer, conductor • James Jude Courtney, American actor and stunt performer • William A. Foster, earned the Medal of Honor • Dennis Fryzel, last football coach at the University of Tampa • DeJuan Groce, cornerback in the NFL • Dale Miller, former Ohio State Senator • Gene Mruczkowski, former NFL offensive lineman and Super Bowl champ with the New England Patriots • Scott Mruczkowski, former football center for the San Diego Chargers • Phil Pozderac, former NFL offensive lineman and Super Bowl champ with the Dallas Cowboys • Jerry Schuplinski, former NFL QB and quality control coach for New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins and New York Giants • David J. Skal, American cultural historian, critic, writer • Wilma Smith, former Cleveland news anchor • James Glenwright Unger, American hockey player