Akron History

City of Continuous Innovation

Innovation has a long history in Akron. Since our founding in the early 1800s, the city has been at the forefront of creative enterprise. From developing some of America's first commercial waterways to producing clay pipe for sanitation, from inventing synthetic rubber to leading polymer research, Akron has continuously built upon our strengths with ingenuity, passion and resourcefulness.

Today, our city continues to redefine itself. With the formation of the Akron Biomedical Corridor, we are merging the city's established expertise in biomaterials science with strong healthcare assets and cutting-edge technology. Together, these assets are helping to advance Akron's growing reputation. One that blends natural sciences such as chemistry, biology and physics with today's advanced materials and nanotechnology. It is positioning the city as a world-class center for research and development. And is already producing the next generation of biomedical innovations.