Akron, Ohio, is located in Summit County, which fueled its early growth because of its location at the "summit" of the Ohio & Erie Canal, which at one time wended its way between Lake Erie and the Ohio River.

Akron became the center of great cereal mills and the rubber industry. Akron's preeminence in rubber manufacturing got off to an early start in 1879 when Benjamin Franklin Goodrich built a tiny rubber plant, scarcely noticed until the automobile created an insatiable market for pneumatic tires. Today, the corporate headquarters of GenCorp, Uniroyal-Goodrich, and Goodyear tires are located in Akron.

Akron's attractions include The National Inventors Hall of Fame Museum, The annual All-American Soap Box Derby, Quaker Square, and the Akron Zoological Park. Alcoholics Anonymous was also created here in Akron in 1935.

More recently, Akron has received national attention due the rise of its most famous resident, basketball player Lebron James, who was regarded as a phenom during his high school days, and now plays with the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers. He is now 19 years old.

Akron remains a popular place for many people because of the economic opportunites bouyed by many industries, and also the high educational standards - The University of Akron is based here.