BROADVIEW HEIGHTS is located 15 mi. south of Cleveland. It comprises 13 sq. mi., and is bounded on the west by NORTH ROYALTON; on the north by PARMA, INDEPENDENCE, and SEVEN HILLS; on the east by BRECKSVILLE, and on the south by Medina and Summit counties. Its name comes from the area’s hilly terrain: Broadview Hts. enjoys some of the highest elevations in Cuyahoga County—up to 1,275' above sea level.
The Chippewa Native Americans (see AMERICAN INDIANS) originally occupied the land that is now Broadview Heights. In 1811, Seth Paine became the first white man to settle in the area. A surveyor, Paine was commissioned by Colonel John Breck of Massachusetts, whose land (purchased in 1807 from the Connecticut Land Co.) included what are now known as Brecksville, Broadview Heights, and North Royalton. The land became part of Royalton and Brecksville townships in 1811. A school was erected in 1815 at the intersection of Broadview and Avery rds., just north of what is now Royalton Rd. In 1829 a plank road was constructed from Wallings Corners to the Cleveland city limits. By 1840, the township had a cheese factory, a tannery, three distilleries, four sawmills, and several grist mills. The areas comprising what became Royalton and Brecksville withdrew from their townships in 1918 and 1924, respectively, and the village of Broadview Heights was formed in 1926 with a population of 300. The number of citizens doubled within two years, reaching 4,000 by 1954 and 5,400 by 1960. At this time citizens voted to incorporate as a city. Population increases continued, reaching 11,400 by 1980 and 15,967 by 2000. The 2020 census tallied 19,936 people.
Broadview Heights students attend school in two districts: Brecksville-Broadview Heights (shared with its neighboring city, Brecksville) and North Royalton (shared with neighbor North Royalton). There are three elementary schools, an intermediate school, a junior high school, and a high school in the Brecksville-Broadview Heights system. The city also is the home of Assumption Academy, a Catholic elementary school, and Lawrence School for children with learning differences.
Broadview Hts. is mostly residential with a population that is roughly 89% white, 5% Asian and 4% black. What commercial activity exists is mostly concentrated in a 75-acre industrial park near the intersection of Rte. 82 and I-77, and an acre at the intersection of I-80 and Rte. 176.
Updated by Chris Roy.
Last updated: 8/18/2022