Qualla: Akron: The Rubber City That Lost Its Bounce https://qualla.com/akron en-us © 2026 Bendyline Mon, 20 Jul 2026 10:21:06 GMT Qualla serial false Qualla support@bendyline.com yes https://qualla.com/_m/d/p/q/1/akron-wk/image-buchtel-college.jpg Qualla: Akron: The Rubber City That Lost Its Bounce https://qualla.com/akron Akron: The Rubber City That Lost Its Bounce: Introduction https://qualla.com/akron/ Photo credit Erik Drost, CC BY 2.0. Akron was the Rubber City - the world's tire capital from the early 1900s until globalization sent the jobs elsewhere. Goodyear, Firestone, Goodrich, and General Tire all headquartered here; the factories employed tens of thousands; the smell of vulcanizing rubber defined the city. The tires are made in Asia now; the companies have consolidated and relocated; Akron's population dropped from 290,000 at peak to 190,000 today. What remains is the polymer science that rubber spawned, the University of Akron's research programs, and the pride of having made the tires that put America on wheels. LeBron James grew up here, the most famous Akron native, his success a counterpoint to the city's decline.

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Image: Erik Drost | CC BY 2.0

]]> Mon, 12 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://qualla.com/_m/d/p/q/1/akron-city-wk/dpq1-akron-the-rubber-city-that-lost-its-bounce-intro.mp3 0:06 1 full Akron: The Rubber City That Lost Its Bounce: The Rubber https://qualla.com/akron/ Photo credit CapturedGlimpsesPhoto, CC BY-SA 4.0. B.F. Goodrich located in Akron in 1870; Goodyear, Firestone, and General Tire followed. By 1920, Akron produced most of the world's tires. The rubber boom drew workers from the South and Appalachia; the population exploded. The decline came slowly: first the headquarters left, th...

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Image: CapturedGlimpsesPhoto | CC BY-SA 4.0

]]> Mon, 12 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://qualla.com/_m/d/p/q/1/akron-city-wk/dpq1-akron-the-rubber-city-that-lost-its-bounce-the-rubber.mp3 0:06 2 full Akron: The Rubber City That Lost Its Bounce: The LeBron https://qualla.com/akron/ Photo credit Carptrash, CC BY-SA 3.0. LeBron James grew up in Akron public housing, the talent visible from childhood, the high school games at St. Vincent-St. Mary broadcast nationally. He was drafted by Cleveland in 2003, left for Miami in the infamous 'Decision,' returned to win Cleveland's only professional champ...

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Image: Carptrash | CC BY-SA 3.0

]]> Mon, 12 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://qualla.com/_m/d/p/q/1/akron-city-wk/dpq1-akron-the-rubber-city-that-lost-its-bounce-the-lebron.mp3 0:06 3 full Akron: The Rubber City That Lost Its Bounce: The Polymers https://qualla.com/akron/ Photo credit Dcamp314, Public domain. The University of Akron built its reputation on polymer science - the chemistry that underlies rubber and plastics. The research that tire companies once funded continues with federal grants and corporate partnerships. The polymer programs attract students and researchers worldwi...

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Image: Dcamp314 | Public domain

]]> Mon, 12 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://qualla.com/_m/d/p/q/1/akron-city-wk/dpq1-akron-the-rubber-city-that-lost-its-bounce-the-polymers.mp3 0:06 4 full Akron: The Rubber City That Lost Its Bounce: The Recovery https://qualla.com/akron/ Photo credit Sleepdre, CC BY-SA 3.0. Akron's recovery is modest compared to the decline - the population still dropping, the retail still struggling, the poverty still concentrated. The successes are visible but limited: the downtown has revived somewhat, the hospitals employ many, the university anchors the economy...

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Image: Sleepdre | CC BY-SA 3.0

]]> Mon, 12 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://qualla.com/_m/d/p/q/1/akron-city-wk/dpq1-akron-the-rubber-city-that-lost-its-bounce-the-recovery.mp3 0:06 5 full Akron: The Rubber City That Lost Its Bounce: Visiting Akron https://qualla.com/akron/ Photo credit Sleepydre (a.k.a Threeblur0 at en.wikipedia), Public domain. Akron is served by Akron-Canton Airport (CAK). The Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens is a Tudor Revival mansion that shows rubber baron wealth. The Akron Art Museum holds a contemporary collection in a distinctive building. The Goodyear World of Rubber at company headquarters tells the t...

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Image: Sleepydre (a.k.a Threeblur0 at en.wikipedia) | Public domain

]]> Mon, 12 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://qualla.com/_m/d/p/q/1/akron-city-wk/dpq1-akron-the-rubber-city-that-lost-its-bounce-visiting-akron.mp3 0:06 6 full