As the "Rubber Capital of the World," Akron rode the explosion in auto manufacturing early in the 20th century to a "boomtown" level, with the core city tripling its population from 1910 to 1920. Rubber still represents a big part of the economy with Goodyear headquartered there and Polymer Valley, a center of plastics manufacturing, centered there.
Like many Rust-Belt industrial areas, Akron was buffeted by the recession and the decline in the auto industry; unemployment jumped into double digits. Hiring has picked up lately and unemployment now roughly mirrors the national rate.
LeBron James was not the only Akron native to leave his hometown: The central city has lost population every decade since 1960. The number of residents in the surrounding suburbs has grown slowly.That has left a lot of underused real estate and home prices reflect the weak demand. A three-bedroom, two-bath in Goodyear Heights is for sale for just over the area's median home price of $74,900.
NEXT: Ocala Fla. Median price: $75,400
