What's that smell? Before it was made into an airport hub of Cleveland, Middleburg Heights, Ohio, was mostly a farm community and known as the "Onion Capital of the World," because of the many fragrant bulbs produced in the area's black swamp soil.
Middleburg Heights, a Cleveland suburb with around 16,000 residents, is located on the west side of Cleveland off of I-71, just minutes away from Cleveland Hopkins Airport
What's that smell? Before it was made into an airport hub of Cleveland, Middleburg Heights, Ohio, was mostly a farm community and known as the "Onion Capital of the World," because of the many fragrant bulbs produced in the area's black swamp soil.
Middleburg Heights, a Cleveland suburb with around 16,000 residents, is located on the west side of Cleveland off of I-71, just minutes away from Cleveland Hopkins Airport. Although the airport contributes greatly to the local economy (many airport hotels and the local UPS station are located here), it's far from being the only attraction in town. Middleburg Heights boasts the Lake Isaac waterfowl sanctuary, the Big Creek Parkway, part of the Cleveland Metroparks System and a large variety of places for rent.
Moving to Middleburg Heights
Housing in Middleburg Heights runs the gamut from single-family rental homes and studio apartments for rent to apartment-style and semi-detached condos. There are even several pet-friendly apartments in the area. Architectural styles include mid-century ranch-style homes, brick cottage-style homes and 1970s and 1980s split-level homes.
Before you start your apartment hunt, be sure to collect all the necessary documents that you'll need to secure a spot. Reference letters, a solid credit report, your ID and a nice, fat security deposit will help you make sure that you get the place of your dreams.
Middleburg Heights Neighborhoods
Although the city is relatively small, Middleburg Heights offers a number of distinct neighborhoods. Among the most popular for renters are:
Chippewa Trail: Located in the southeast corner of the city, Chippewa Trail offers a good selection of moderately priced, single-family homes along well-established, tree-lined streets. Many of these are offered as rentals.
Smith Road: Smith Road, one of the busiest commercial districts of the city, is located in the northeast portion of Middleburg Heights. Many of the city's condos and apartment complexes are located on or just off of Smith Road.
Pine Valley Trail: Nestled in the south-central sector of the city near Chippewa Trail, Pine Valley Trail is another primarily residential community with a large number of single-family homes. If you're looking to live in suburbia in northeast Ohio, Pine Valley Trail has all of the elements - a quiet neighborhood, affordable housing and easy access to shopping, highways and restaurants.
Living in Middleburg Heights
You might think that living near the Cleveland airport would be dull. However, nothing could be further from the truth. Middleburg Heights offers a variety of shopping, restaurants and nightspots along Pearl and Bagley Roads, as well as a large community recreation center with two outdoor pools, an indoor gymnasium, an indoor running track and a collection of outdoor sports courts. The Cuyahoga County Fairground - site of the August county fair, September's Oktoberfest, the June Irish-American Festival and many other events - is located adjacent to the city.
Getting around Middleburg Heights to look for rental homes is a breeze. The city sits at the crossroads of I-71, I-480 and the Ohio Turnpike. Plus, for trips further afield, Cleveland Hopkins Airport is just three miles away and offers nonstop flights to more than three dozen destinations in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean.
Of course, when you live in Middleburg Heights, you are just minutes away from downtown Cleveland and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland Aquarium and Hollywood Casino. The city is also just down the road from cultural attractions like the Cleveland Orchestra and the Cleveland Museum of Art, Lake Erie beaches, walleye and perch fishing, and more than two dozen wineries.
Pearl Road (Route 42), which runs right through the center of Middleburg Heights, was a prime avenue on the Underground Railway during the mid-19th century. Slaves could escape from the south to boats on Lake Erie and freedom in Canada. That same Route 42 was the first brick highway in the United States when it was re-paved in 1890.