What are the current, if any, ethnic neighborhoods in Cleveland or Greater Cleveland? (Parma: home, school)

[WRnative]

There are certainly neighborhoods and even cities in Greater Cleveland that are predominately African American, and to a lesser extent, Jewish, but are there other ethnic neighborhoods these days? Can ethnic neighborhoods survive as second and third generations of immigrant families inter-marry and move from ethnic enclaves? If you can identify an ethnic neighborhood, please provide the street boundaries, if possible. How do you define an ethnic neighborhood -- by languages spoken at home, by local restaurants and markets catering to ethnic residents?


My impression is that even Little Italy isn't predominately Italian these days apart from its Italian restaurants. Am I wrong? Do many families there still speak Italian? I remember several decades ago when it was not uncommon to encounter Mafioso types who certainly enforced a code about who could live or even visit there.


This thread is inspired by posts 56 and 57 in this thread. I certainly can't identify the location of Hungarian, Italian, Russian, of Polish ethnic neighborhoods, if they do exist in 2022.


https://www.city-data.com/forum/ohio...cinnati-6.html

[216facts]

I would say most of Cleveland's ethnic neighborhoods on the East side (Little Italy, Slavic Village, Collinwood-Nottingham) where South Eastern Europeans originally settled, have long passed their ethnic roots. Nearly all of the offspring moved into the Heights, Parma/South suburbs, and into Euclid & Lake County.

The West side of Cleveland proper never had a strong ethnic identity, there was some but not much. There are enclaves of Italian, Slovenian, but not enough to give a strong neighborhood identity IMO. The fact of the matter is, it has been many decades since Cleveland had significant immigration into the city or region, and the offspring of the original immigrants has been "Americanized" to the point where the strong ethnic identity is mostly lost. All this is my opinion, having lived here for 50+ years - on the east side.

[bjimmy24]

There aren't ethnic enclaves in the way that there were decades ago, where virtually 100% of inhabitants were of shared ethnicity. But I would say ethnic neighborhoods in terms of a "plurality" of people still dominate the overall culture definitely still exist.

[SlideRules99]

Agree with the comments thus far.

I would point out Little Arabia as an area worth noting for its ethnic shops, restaurants, etc. It feels like a more recent / ongoing middle-eastern immigration vibe. I don’t know specific boundaries, but the center is around Lorain Ave. and W. 117th.

In CH, the area bounded by S. Taylor, Staunton Rd, Severn Rd, and Antisdale Rd. is heavily Orthodox Jewish, with the walkable neighborhood synagogues, kosher markets, bakeries and such. The Orthodox community there is visible and vibrant.

[usaf_1832]

One aspect I have found absolutely fascinating are the amount of churches in Cleveland who still say mass / church service in the original immigrant language. Even if much of population may have moved to the suburbs, so many churches in the city of Cleveland maintain their cultural identity ... and language! And several of these languages are extremely uncommon in other cities

For example:

Hungarian: https://stemeric.com/hu/
Hungarian: https://www.stelizabethcleveland.org/hu/
Slovenian: Slovenian Heritage | St. Vitus Church - Cleveland, OH
Slovenian: https://stmaryscollinwood.com/services/mass-schedule/
Croatian: https://stpaulcroatianchurch.org/
Polish: IHM Parish/Cleveland Ohio 44105
Polish: https://www.ststanislaus.org/
Polish: https://www.stcasimir.com/bulletin
Polish: https://catholicchurch.directory/mas...barbara-parish
Polish: https://www.stjohncantiuschurch.org/
Ukrainian: http://pokrova-church.com/
Ukrainian: https://www.sspeterandpaulucc.com/
Ukrainian: https://www.stvladimirs.org/schedule
Ukrainian: https://www.standrewucc.org/
Italian: https://www.olmcchurchcleveland.org/
Romanian: http://smroc.org/
Spanish: https://smacleveland.net/
Korean: http://www.clekcc.org/
Vietnamese: https://discovermass.com/church/st-b...-cleveland-oh/
Arabic: https://www.saintmaron-clev.org/mass-schedule/

A few interesting thoughts:

1) There are still FIVE churches in the city limits of Cleveland you can hear mass in Polish every Sunday
2) Cleveland metro has the most Slovenian Americans in the USA:
- Kurentovanje celebrated here (only Slovenia and Cleveland, Ohio celebrate this) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleveland_Kurentovanje
- Cleveland has a Consulate to Slovenia https://www.gov.si/en/representation...ral-cleveland/
- Language classes and strong community, especially around E. 61st - E. 64th and St. Clair http://saintvitus.org/education/slov...nguage-school/
3) Another comparatively uncommon language, Hungarian, remains strong in Cleveland with two churches in the city limits still maintaining the native language / customs. Side note: Balaton in Shaker Square is an awesome restaurant! http://www.balaton-restaurant.com/famousentrees.html
4) Recent uptick in more Puerto Rican residents on the near west side is now seeing several churches offering a Spanish Mass

[WRnative]

Originally Posted by usaf_1832

One aspect I have found absolutely fascinating are the amount of churches in Cleveland who still say mass / church service in the original immigrant language. Even if much of population may have moved to the suburbs, so many churches in the city of Cleveland maintain their cultural identity ... and language! And several of these languages are extremely uncommon in other cities

For example:

Hungarian: https://stemeric.com/hu/
Hungarian: https://www.stelizabethcleveland.org/hu/
Slovenian: Slovenian Heritage | St. Vitus Church - Cleveland, OH
Slovenian: https://stmaryscollinwood.com/services/mass-schedule/
Croatian: https://stpaulcroatianchurch.org/
Polish: IHM Parish/Cleveland Ohio 44105
Polish: https://www.ststanislaus.org/
Polish: https://www.stcasimir.com/bulletin
Polish: https://catholicchurch.directory/mas...barbara-parish
Polish: https://www.stjohncantiuschurch.org/
Ukrainian: http://pokrova-church.com/
Ukrainian: https://www.sspeterandpaulucc.com/
Ukrainian: https://www.stvladimirs.org/schedule
Ukrainian: https://www.standrewucc.org/
Italian: https://www.olmcchurchcleveland.org/
Romanian: St. Mary Romanian Orthodox Chatedral
Spanish: https://smacleveland.net/
Korean: :::*클리블랜드 한인 천주교회*:::*
Vietnamese: https://discovermass.com/church/st-b...-cleveland-oh/
Arabic: https://www.saintmaron-clev.org/mass-schedule/

A few interesting thoughts:

1) There are still FIVE churches in the city limits of Cleveland you can hear mass in Polish every Sunday
2) Cleveland metro has the most Slovenian Americans in the USA:
- Kurentovanje celebrated here (only Slovenia and Cleveland, Ohio celebrate this) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleveland_Kurentovanje
- Cleveland has a Consulate to Slovenia https://www.gov.si/en/representation...ral-cleveland/
- Language classes and strong community, especially around E. 61st - E. 64th and St. Clair Slovenian Language School | St. Vitus Church - Cleveland, OH
3) Another comparatively uncommon language, Hungarian, remains strong in Cleveland with two churches in the city limits still maintaining the native language / customs. Side note: Balaton in Shaker Square is an awesome restaurant! Balaton Restaurant, Cleveland-Ohio
4) Recent uptick in more Puerto Rican residents on the near west side is now seeing several churches offering a Spanish Mass

Great info, which I didn't know. Can't give you more rep.


BTW, the Balaton has closed its Shaker Square restaurant, but hopefully will reopen in another east side location.

[WRnative]

Originally Posted by SlideRules99

Agree with the comments thus far.

I would point out Little Arabia as an area worth noting for its ethnic shops, restaurants, etc. It feels like a more recent / ongoing middle-eastern immigration vibe. I don’t know specific boundaries, but the center is around Lorain Ave. and W. 117th.

In CH, the area bounded by S. Taylor, Staunton Rd, Severn Rd, and Antisdale Rd. is heavily Orthodox Jewish, with the walkable neighborhood synagogues, kosher markets, bakeries and such. The Orthodox community there is visible and vibrant.

Thanks. I was unaware of Little Arabia. Can't give you more rep.

[usaf_1832]

^ No problem

Two other thoughts:

1) Let's not forget about Asiatown Cleveland and the old Chinatown - huge amounts of Asian owned businesses. And many first and second generation immigrants.

https://www.asiatowncleveland.org/

The best way to experience the ethnic nature of this neighborhood is to shop at the local Asian grocery stores.

2) We'll see what comes of this, but Cleveland is now among the cities with the most Afghan refugees, with more families arriving each week:

In the Last Few Months, Cleveland Has Become Home to Nearly 700 Afghan Refugees in an Unprecedented Immigration Wave

https://www.clevescene.com/cleveland...t?oid=38445122

[SlideRules99]

Originally Posted by WRnative

Thanks. I was unaware of Little Arabia. Can't give you more rep.

A bit more on Little Arabia here.

https://www.cleveland.com/news/2022/...-refugees.html

As I understand it, the area continues to steadily land immigrants (Somalia, Iraq, Afghanistan…) and the neighborhood identity is unfolding as we speak. It’s not a past tense thing.

I’ve only scouted there a few times, but want to try out a couple restaurants such as Yemen Gate and Kifaya’s Kitchen.

[bjimmy24]

Although it's certainly not a majority of people, there really are still a lot of Slovenians in Collinwood and Euclid. St. Clair still has several blocks of Slovenia too centered around St. Vitus. Eastlake has quite a heavy Croatian and Italian presence. Obviously Asiatown is pretty Chinese. Already some posts about Little Arabia. For what anyone wants to say about Little Italy and the Case influence, there are still Italians living there and the presence in the neighborhood feels the most authentically European in the city. Ukrainian Village in Parma is another clear one. Kamms Corner remains the Irish capital of Cleveland. Someone already mentioned Orthodox Jews in Cleveland Heights, there is also a strong presence in University Heights off Green Road. A few blocks over there seem almost entirely Orthodox Jewish. Parts of Mayfield have a large Russian population that came mostly in the 90s, so it might not be as strong as it was, but it's still there.