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9. Cleveland, Ohio: The Mistake on the Lake
Cleveland's rise was rooted in its strategic location on Lake Erie, which fostered shipping and industrial growth in steel, auto manufacturing, chemicals, and more. It was the fifth-largest U.S. city in 1920, with nearly 915,000 residents. By 1950, that had decreased to under 400,000, and today it stands at roughly 356,000, marking a decline of 61%.
The population decline stemmed from deindustrialization in the 1950s and 1970s, suburban flight, and economic decline. Despite the population loss, Cleveland has experienced a renaissance, especially downtown, with renewed investments in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the riverfront, and its cultural scene. Still, its turbulent industrial past and population drain leave it scarred.