LOCATION: Only 20 mins from downtown Cleveland via I-90, approximately nine miles from Public Square, Rocky River’s location is convenient. Cleveland Hopkins International Airport is only a 15-minute drive, and both I-71 and the Ohio Turnpike can be reached in 20 minutes. Bordered by Lake Erie on the north and the Rocky River and Cleveland Metroparks on the east, the City’s location is unique. Residents can boat, fish and swim on Lake Erie and take advantage of nine City parks and the Metroparks for woods, playground equipment, picnicking, fishing and countless other activities.
RECREATION -- 2 swimming pools (Recreation Center and Rocky River High School), indoor ice rink, tennis courts and basketball courts, track and exercise equipment at the Civic Center and eight City parks. Many classes and programs are available to residents.
SCHOOLS – Four public schools, five non-public and six nursery/educational schools. Excellent curricula with state-of-the-art classrooms and individual attention.
ROCKY RIVER PUBLIC LIBRARY -- This 79-year-old Rocky River institution offers many programs to residents, has over 160,000 items in its collection, houses the Cowan Pottery Museum and has an auditorium and meeting rooms for non-profit organizations.
IN SUMMARY -- Rocky River has beautiful residential homes, some along the Lake; new residential developments including clusters homes and townhouses; a wide variety of retail businesses for shopping; corporate facilities as well as other commercial developments; two theaters; many restaurants; and two private clubs (Westwood Country Club and Cleveland Yachting Club).
HISTORY -- From the time of arrival of the first permanent settlers in about 1810, the City of Rocky River, then an agricultural community, was variously called Granger City, Riverbank, Rockport and Rocky River Hamlet. Incorporated as a hamlet in 1893, it became a village in 1903 when the first mayor, Mark Mitchell , and a council were elected. A 1960 charter adopted the mayor-council government. Rocky River is named after the river which, in turn, was named by the Indians who camped and stored their canoes on the island at the mouth of the river, now headquarters of the Cleveland Yachting Club. The winding river valley is part of the Cleveland Metroparks System.