Although Oberlin might look like any other town surrounded by farmland, the city has been a vocal advocate for civil rights since its founding in 1833. The community was active in the early abolitionist movement and set the tone for educational equality nationwide. “Oberlin has a very thought-provoking and inspirational history as it relates to race relations and gender rights,” says Liz Schultz, executive director at the Oberlin Heritage Center. “Many people visit to learn about our social history, idealism and how people were inspired to make the world a better place.”
The city continues to preserve its activist spirit, as college students and community members still gather in Tappan Square to advocate for causes. Everyday living also includes walkable residential streets, sprawling green spaces and annual events that celebrate and inspire.
Walking around Oberlin is easy thanks to its network of sidewalks and bikeways.
Tappan Square, residing in the heart of Oberlin, hosts concerts, events, and political rallies.
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Oberlin College stands for civil rights
Oberlin College has long been the epicenter of the city’s activism. It was the nation’s first coeducational college and the first to accept students regardless of race. “Oberlin was very forward-thinking in terms of educational equality,” Schultz says. The Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. visited the city and college throughout the Civil Rights Movement. Current students build from the groundwork laid for them through community-based research and specialized majors like Africana Studies. Students advocate for change through organized protests and rallies, and the college works closely with the city to address its sustainability practices.
Prekindergarten through 12th-grade students attend Oberlin City Schools. Niche gives the district a B-minus rating and ranks it the fifth-most diverse school district in Ohio.
Oberlin College was the first to accept both men and women of all races and ethnicities.
Oberlin School District has earned an overall grade of B-minus from Niche.
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Preserving Victorian homes and welcoming retirees
Most college students and faculty live around the college, while other homeowners live farther away in established neighborhoods. Colonial Revivals sit next to Craftsman-style homes, split-level houses and Victorian homes with screened-in side porches and big bay windows. Programs like the Heritage Home Program help owners upkeep historic properties. The city’s median home price is $270,000, less than the national median. Schultz says many older people move to the city for Kendall at Oberlin, a large retirement community offering cottage-style homes and apartments.
Some of Oberlin's Victorian homes have been converted in to multifamily dwellings.
Colonial-revival homes are ideal for larger Oberlin families.
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Honoring MLK Jr. and Oberlin’s heritage
Tappan Square is the city’s central green space, and The Oberlin Wetlands Habitat & Park offers several trails through its lush arboretum. The Oberlin Recreation Complex has acres of sports fields, while Oberlin Reservoir is a hub for fishing and sledding in the snow. Martin Luther King Jr. Park features historic sculptures honoring the late activist and the Oberlin-Wellington Rescue, one of the city’s most famous examples of direct opposition to The Fugitive Slave Act.
The Apollo Theatre is a grand, single-screen cinema that plays everything from modern releases to student films. The Oberlin Conservatory of Music holds the largest collection of Steinway pianos outside the Steinway factory and all of Oberlin College’s concerts. The Oberlin Heritage Center documents local history through guided walking tours. The Oberlin Underground Railroad Center preserves the city’s longstanding connection with the abolitionist movement.
Martin Luther King Jr Park, in Oberlin, features several memorials honoring activism in the city.
Apollo Theater, in downtown Oberlin, shows box office hits to student made documentaries.
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Bringing sustainable transportation to the city
Although State Route 511 is the city’s primary road, many residents choose not to drive. “I’d say 90% of the core of Oberlin is walkable, and biking is still very popular here,” Schultz says. The city is starting an electric car share program, and an EBus service runs a fixed route around Oberlin. While commuters use Highway 20 to reach larger cities, many work for Oberlin College, Allen Memorial Hospital or the Oberlin Industrial Park. The FAA Cleveland Air Route Traffic Control Center is also based in Oberlin, although Cleveland Hopkins International Airport is 30 miles away.
New businesses in downtown Oberlin
The Oberlin Community Improvement Corporation (OCIC) is a key player in revitalizing Oberlin’s downtown business district. The organization offers incentive programs to new and expanding businesses and special loans for firms willing to renovate their storefront facades. The OCIC also helps attract new companies to the city’s industrial park.
Hanson Records is Oberlin's premier vinyl and music shop.
Downtown Oberlin features a variety of restaurants and boutiques.
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Campus Illumination and the Ecolympics
Tappan Square holds most of the city’s events, from the Halloween parade to a summertime concert series. Family Fun Nights allow neighbors to connect, and Oberlin College celebrates its annual Campus Illumination and Social at the park.
Oberlin was the first city in Ohio to celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day, and the city has held a Juneteenth celebration annually for over 30 years. The community always participates in Lorain County Pride, and the Ecolympics show Oberlin’s commitment to increasing sustainability. The event is a competition between the City of Oberlin, Oberlin City Schools, Oberlin College and other organizations to conserve water and electricity.
More renewable energy, less crime
Historically, Oberlin has not been impacted by severe weather events or substantial flooding along Plum Creek. Over 80% of the city’s electricity is renewable, and programs like the Residential Composting Program incentivize community participation.
According to the FBI, violent crime in Oberlin remained unchanged between 2022 and 2023, but property crime decreased.
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