| City of Parma | |
| Coordinates: | |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| State | Ohio |
| County | Cuyahoga |
| Founded | 1816 |
| Township | March 7, 1826 |
| Incorporated | Fall, 1924 (village) & January 1, 1931 (city) |
| Government | |
| - Mayor | Dean DePiero |
| Area | |
| - Total | 20. Wikipedia talkFeatured lists for an explanation of this and other inclusion tags below -->This list of countries, arranged alphabetically The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The political units and divisions of the United States include The 50 states (four of these being officially styled as Commonwealths) which are typically Ohio ( is a Midwestern state of the United States. As part of the Great Lakes region, Ohio has long been a cultural and geographical crossroads This is a list of the eighty-eight counties in the US state of Ohio. Cuyahoga County (pronounced /ˌkaɪəˈhɔgə/ or /ˌkaɪəˈhoːgə/ is a County located in the state of Ohio, United States. A mayor (from the Latin māior, meaning "greater" is a modern title used in many countries for the highest ranking officer in a municipal government Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. 0 sq mi (51. The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. 7 km²) |
| - Land | 20. To help compare different Orders of magnitude and geographical regions we list here areas between 100 km² and 1000 km² 0 sq mi (51. 7 km²) |
| - Water | 0. 04 sq mi (0. 1 km²) |
| Elevation | 866 ft (264 m) |
| Population (2006)[1] | |
| - Total | 80,009 |
| Time zone | EST (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| Area code(s) | 440 |
| FIPS code | 39-61000[2] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1049063[3] |
| Website: http://www.cityofparma-oh.gov/ | |
Parma is a city in the American state of Ohio in Cuyahoga County and is the largest suburb of Cleveland. The elevation of a Geographic location is its height above a fixed reference point often the mean sea level. A foot (plural feet or foot; symbol or abbreviation ft or sometimes &prime – the prime symbol) is a non-SI unit The metre or meter is a unit of Length. It is the basic unit of Length in the Metric system and in the International The Eastern Time Zone ( ET) of the Western Hemisphere falls mostly along the east coast of North America and the west coast of South America UTC−5 is the Time offset used in the North American Eastern Time Zone during Standard time and in the North American Central Time Zone during Daylight saving time ( DST The Eastern Time Zone ( ET) of the Western Hemisphere falls mostly along the east coast of North America and the west coast of South America UTC−4 is the Time offset used in the Atlantic Standard Time Zone in Canada in winter and the North American Eastern Time Zone during A telephone numbering plan is a plan for allocating Telephone number ranges to countries regions areas and exchanges and to non-fixed telephone networks Area code 440 is a North American Telephone Area code serving part of Northeast Ohio, United States, including the Greater Cleveland Federal Information Processing Standards ( FIPS) are publicly announced standards developed by the United States Federal government for use by all non-military The Geographic Names Information System ( GNIS) is a database that contains name and locative information about more than two million physical and cultural features located throughout A city is an Urban area with a large Population and a particular Administrative, Legal, or Historical status A US state is any one of the fifty subnational entities of the United States of America that share Sovereignty with the federal government Ohio ( is a Midwestern state of the United States. As part of the Great Lakes region, Ohio has long been a cultural and geographical crossroads Cuyahoga County (pronounced /ˌkaɪəˈhɔgə/ or /ˌkaɪəˈhoːgə/ is a County located in the state of Ohio, United States. South San Jose (cropjpg||thumb|A suburban development in San Jose California. Cleveland is a City in the US state of Ohio and the County seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 85,655. The 2003 estimate put the population at 83,861. [4]
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Parma is located at (41. 391852, -81. 728502). [5]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 20. The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census as defined in Title) is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census 0 square miles (51. The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. 7 km²), of which, 20. Square Kilometre ( US spelling square kilometer) symbol km2, is a decimal multiple of the SI unit of 0 square miles (51. 7 km²) of it is land and 0. 04 square miles (0. 1 km²) of it is water.
Two major changes and developments have recently occurred regarding several principal sites within the city:
As of the census of 2000,[2] there were 85,655 people, 35,126 households, and 23,323 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,291. Population density (in agriculture standing stock and Standing crop) is a measurement of Population per unit area or unit volume 4 people per square mile (1,656. 9/km²). There were 36,414 housing units at an average density of 1,824. 3/sq mi (704. 4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95. 67% White, 1. 06% Black, 0. 14% Native American, 1. 57% Asian, 0. 02% Pacific Islander, 0. 45% from other races, and 1. 09% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1. 54% of the population.
There were 35,126 households out of which 27. 6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52. 7% were married couples living together, 10. NOTICE TO WOULD-BE ROMEOS ************** 2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33. 6% were non-families. 29. 2% of all households were made up of individuals and 13. 6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2. 40 and the average family size was 2. 99.
In the city the population was spread out with 22. 3% under the age of 18, 7. 0% from 18 to 24, 29. 6% from 25 to 44, 21. 5% from 45 to 64, and 19. 6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 91. 2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88. 3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $43,920, and the median income for a family was $52,436. Males had a median income of $39,801 versus $27,701 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,293. Per capita income means how much each individual receives in monetary terms of the yearly income generated in the country About 3. 3% of families and 4. 9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6. The poverty threshold, or poverty line, is the minimum level of Income deemed necessary to achieve an adequate Standard of living in a given country 6% of those under age 18 and 4. 0% of those age 65 or over.
Parma ranks as one of the safest cities in the United States with a population between 60,000 and 100,000. Parma's ranking has declined in recent years from 17th safest to 19th safest. Crime rates for United States cities with populations Between 60000 and 100000 in 2006 The FBI on its web site recommends against using its data as a ranking for a variety of reasons As of 3 November 2006, the rank has fallen further to 32nd. [8]
Parma is a city southwest of Cleveland. Cleveland is a City in the US state of Ohio and the County seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state It is bounded by Cleveland and Brooklyn on the north, Brooklyn Heights, and Seven Hills on the east, North Royalton and Broadview Heights on the south, and Brook Park, Middleburg Heights, and Parma Heights on the west. Cleveland is a City in the US state of Ohio and the County seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state Brooklyn is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. The population was 11586 at the 2000 census. Brooklyn Heights is a village in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. Seven Hills is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. North Royalton is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. Broadview Heights is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. Brook Park is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States and a suburb of Cleveland. Middleburg Heights is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. Parma Heights is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. Parma was originally part of Parma Township, created in 1826. The first settlers were the Benaiah Fay family from New York State, who settled along the Cleveland-Columbus Road in 1816. The name was taken from Parma, New York, where it was probably derived from the early-19th century fascination with classical Italy. During the 19th century, Parma remained largely agricultural. In 1912, a portion of the township seceded to form the village of Parma Heights. In 1924, Parma was incorporated as a village, and in 1926 it adopted the mayor-council form of government. In 1931 a proposition to annex it to the city of Cleveland was defeated, and Parma became a city. Parma's tremendous growth came after World War II as young families began moving from Cleveland into the Suburbs. During the Cold War, Parma's Nike Site Park housed Nike missiles located in underground silos. Project Nike was a US Army project proposed in May 1945 by Bell Labs, to develop a line-of-sight anti-aircraft missile system [9][10] Between 1950 and 1980, Parma's population soared from less than 20,000 to more than 110,000. [11] More recently, the population has declined to well below 90,000. [12]
Parma was, throughout the 1960s and 1970s, the butt of jokes by local movie show hosts Ghoulardi, Hoolihan & Big Chuck, and The Ghoul, due to its Eastern European, most specifically Polish, make-up. Ghoulardi was a Fictional character invented and portrayed by Disc jockey, voice Announcer, and Actor Ernie Anderson ( November Big Chuck and Lil' John (aka Charles "Big Chuck" Schodowski and "Lil' John" Rinaldi) were late-night hosts on television station Ron Sweed, (born 1950 Cleveland Ohio) is an American entertainer best known for his late-night Television Horror host character The Ghoul Ghoulardi famously made a series of shorts called "Parma Place. " The jokes dealt with Parmans' alleged love of white socks, pink flamingos, chrome balls, kielbasa and pierogis and the polka. [13]
Perhaps more seriously, Parma's local, state, and even national image has been marred by four incidents:
A possible fifth incident that has marred Parma's image in the recent past involves tensions between the local media and city government on one side and the police department on the other. "Witch trial" redirects here For the song by Rush, see Fear series.
Those who believe in the existence of a Parma political machine led by Prosecutor Bill Mason contend that in order to distract from their own suspect activities, "Good Old Boy" politicians allegedly concocted a "Witch Hunt" that scapegoated police officers. A political machine is an unofficial system of a political organization based on Patronage, the Spoils system, "behind-the-scenes" control and longstanding [21][22][23] In Spring 2003, the police chief retired and "said city officials need to make peace. "[24] During the investigation, police union representatives appealed to the public through the media to end the investigation. [25][26][27] A councilman who supported the police also received praise by residents in the press. [28]
Ultimately, investigator Dick DiCicco wrote in his official report that there “was no evidence presented to” substantiate “the allegation that officers were taking turns calling in sick in order that other officers could earn overtime to maintain minimums,” “there was no actual duplicate billing” concerning officers Kuchler and Robertson as indicated in The Plain Dealer articles, and based “on the review of the above activity no specific pattern of reciprocity was detected” on the part of Officer Mekruit. On page B2 of The Plain Dealer, Joe Wagner quoted Prosecutor Michael Nolan as reportedly declaring that Mayor DePiero and Council President Germana removed the “police tax request from May 3 ballot . . . ‘as an excuse for, apparently, their own inaction. ’” In turn, on March 11, 2005, The Plain Dealer quoted Councilwoman Stys who summed up the investigation as a “sham,” and on January 12, 2006, prosecutor Dan Kasaris recommended that the case of The State of Ohio vs. Donald Mcnea, a retired Parma police officer who served as a focus of numerous newspaper articles, be dismissed. Further revelations about the "Witch Hunt", as found in such newspaper articles as "Report clears Parma police in payroll-padding probe," and including the retroactive appointment of a special prosecutor who had been prosecuting (in violation of the Ohio Revised Code) select police union representatives who had raised concerns about possible political corruption, has led to calls for the resignations of many members of the current mayoral administration and city council. As confirmed on the county website, most recently, on February 26, 2007, Judge Brian J. Corrigan found Patrolman Brian Barta not guilty of bribery. [29] Officer Barta was earlier discharged of charges of obstructing justice,[30] with the judge citing the fact that the prosecution's witness "skipped court appearances" and was "twice arrested and convicted, for drug trafficking and possession. "[31] According to The Plain Dealer, attorney Henry Hillow said that Barta "should have never been charged" and called Barta's experience "a travesty. "[32] Nevertheless, the long-term consequences of the crisis, which lasted for nearly four years (2003-2007) are yet to be seen.
In November 2007, Parma made national news when a gas station video camera at State Road and Pleasant Valley Road captured a strange blue light or cloud moving around near the pumps. [33][34][35][36]
During the population boom between 1950 and 1980, Parma's commercial sector grew to match its residential sector. Since the 1950s, Parma has fostered the growth of many small businesses and been an operating hub for such well-known companies as General Motors, the Union Carbide Research Center, and Cox Cable Television. General Motors Corporation ( GM) ( is a multinational automobile manufacturer founded in 1908 and headquartered in the United States. Union Carbide Corporation ( Union Carbide) is one of the oldest chemical and polymers companies in the United States, currently employing more than 3800 people Cox Communications, also known as Cox Cable and formerly Cox Broadcasting Corporation is a privately owned subsidiary of Cox Enterprises providing digital [37]
Located close to the city's town hall is Parmatown Mall, which is the location of the Parma Area Chamber of Commerce. Parmatown Mall is a Shopping mall located in Parma Ohio, approximately 10 miles south of Cleveland.
The city contains two public high schools: Parma Senior High School, and Normandy High School. Parma Senior High School (alternatively known as PSH or Parma High School is one of three public high schools in the Parma City School District in Cuyahoga County Normandy High School (commonly Normandy or NHS) is a Public high school in Parma, Ohio, United States, serving students Valley Forge High School, though part of the same district, is located in Parma Heights, Ohio. Valley Forge High School is a High school located in Parma Heights Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland. Parma Heights is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. The schools share a common stadium for football and track events, called Byers Field. The rivalry that exists between these schools is well documented. [38] Normandy High School is located in the southeastern part of the city, and its population is made up of students from south Parma, and Seven Hills. Seven Hills is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. Valley Forge is located in the southwestern portion of Parma Heights, and includes students from southwestern Parma, as well as Parma Heights. Parma Heights is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. Parma High School is located in the center of the city, and includes students from central and northern Parma.
Each high school has a corresponding middle school, and each middle school has a specific group of elementary schools. Together, each set of schools is known as a "cluster. "
The city also is home to a private Catholic high school, Padua Franciscan High School. Padua Franciscan High School is a private co-educational Franciscan high school in Parma Ohio. Founded in 1961 as a school for boys, Padua Franciscan became co-educational in 1983 and as of 2005 was the largest private, co-educational secondary school in northeast Ohio. [39] Padua's principal rivalry is with Holy Name High School, located in nearby Parma Heights. Holy Name High School (HNHS is a private, Catholic, Coeducational High school in Parma Heights Ohio. Parma Heights is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. [40]
Parma is the location of most of the Cleveland area's television and FM radio transmission towers.
When Cleveland started to get television service in the late 1940s, WEWS-TV (Channel 5), the first television station in Ohio, picked a site on State Road. WEWS-TV, channel 5 is a television station in Cleveland Ohio. At the time, Parma was transitioning from a rural enclave to an urban area. Parma was selected for its high elevation. At almost 1,100 feet above sea level, it is 500 feet higher than downtown Cleveland. Other local stations followed, and nearly all local TV and FM radio outlets broadcast from Parma, or from other nearby suburbs.
The television towers are taller than downtown Cleveland's tallest buildings, and can be seen from great distance in Cleveland, and most of its southern suburbs. Airline pilots and broadcast experts call the collection of towers in and near Parma the Cleveland area's "antenna farm".
| Frank D. Johnson | 1928-1933 |
| Anthony A. Fleger | 1934-1935 |
| Roland E. Reichert | 1936-1942 |
| Sylvester Augustine | 1942-1945 |
| Roland E. Reichert | 1946-1949 |
| Lawrence Stary | 1950-1951 |
| Stephen A. Zona | 1952-1957 |
| Joseph W. Kadar | 1958-1959 |
| Sylvester Augustine | 1960-1961 |
| John Bobko | 1961 |
| James W. Day | 1962-1967 |
| John Petruska | 1967-1987 |
| Michael A. Ries | 1988-1994 |
| Gerald M. Boldt | 1994-2003 |
| Dean DePiero | 2004-present[41][42] |
References for Police Chiefs: