About the Mentor, Concord and Chardon, Ohio Area 

MENTOR Areas of Lake County have a blend of suburban and rural lifestyles that often characterize towns outside major metropolitan areas because they have kept their historic and rural roots. Mentor is the largest city in rural Lake County. The town started as "Rose Capital" and has blossomed into a thriving place to live and play. It boasts one of the largest shopping malls in the country, the Great Lakes Mall, as well as numerous retail centers, and shopping areas with fashionable boutiques and antique shops. Mentor's industrial and manufacturing centers are growing, and the city is eighth in the state in retail sales. There is much open land available for residential development. The north edge of Mentor provides the excitement and recreation found on the shores of Lake Erie. Boating, water skiing, and fishing, yachting are avidly pursued during the summer months and the sandy beaches found at Mentor Beach Park and Mentor Headlands State Park are popular destinations for tourists and residents. The city offers many public parks, a roller hockey court, sledding hill, commemorative rose garden, picnic areas, ball parks, and an award-winning contemporary building the houses the Mentor Senior Center. Mentor Recreation gives more than 200 classes and workshops for all ages. LOCATION The city of Mentor (population 50,278 in 2000) is located in the northeastern portion of Lake County on I-90 with nearby access to Routes 306 and 2. It is only 26 miles east of the thriving metropolis of Cleveland and is bordered on the north by Lake Erie. Other cities closest to Mentor are: Mentor-on-the-Lake, which is 2.2 miles away; Kirtland Hills, 3.8 miles; and Grand River, 5.2 miles from Mentor. TRANSPORTATION/AIRPORTS Three airports conveniently serve the Mentor area, all of which are in Cleveland: Cuyahoga County Airport is about 14 miles away; Burke Lakefront, about 27 miles; and Cleveland-Hopkins International is approximately 40 miles west of Mentor. Laketran offers quite a range of public transportation service to Lake County residents. Laketran has regular transportation routes, which travel along major corridors throughout the county. Their Commuter Express service gets passengers from Lake County to downtown Cleveland economically, and commuters park free in their Park-n-Ride lots. Dial-a-Ride is a door-to-door assisted transportation service for all Lake County residents, particularly those physically challenged and the elderly, focusing, though not exclusively, on medical centers and facilities as destination points. Service to University Circle is available on certain days as well. Finally, but not the least important, Laketran offers express service! to all Cleveland Indians and Cleveland Browns home games from five locations in Lake County. BRIEF HISTORY Seventeen hundred and ninety-seven marked the year that the Western Reserve Territory saw its first inhabitant, a Mr. Charles Parker from the Connecticut Land Company. Several towns the area - Mentor, Solon, Euclid, and Macedonia - were named after Greek places and people. Mentor was the tutor of Telemachus, the son of Odysseus. The first few years in the 1800's marked some important events in Mentor: the first court session was held and Parker was named the Constable of Painesville Township; 1801 saw the first elections; and Ohio achieved statehood in 1803. In 1810 the first schoolhouse opened, and in1819 the first subscription library in the Western Reserve was established. Accessibility to wider areas, both for private and commercial interests, developed in the1820's as the Mail and Stage Coach service began (1823) and the Erie Canal opened its gates. This allowed businesses to sell their products - wheat, lumber, cheese, wool, and whiskey - to outside markets. Accessibility increased in 1851 when The Cleveland, Painesville and Ashtabula Railroad reached Mentor. By 1889 Mentor is described as a quiet town composed primarily of farmers, nurserymen or workers in small shops. The 'Gay Nineties" saw resort and cottage development along Lake Erie. By 1912 Mentor was described as a pleasant town of 650 educated and progressive people, with attractive neighborhoods, and a few developing industries. Some commercial endeavors over the years were manufacturers of nuts and washers, knitting mills, nationally recognized rose hybridizing, landscaping and floral businesses, and lakeside attractions. Eleanor B. Garfield, the granddaughter-in-law of President James A. Garfield, became Mentor's first woman mayor and planned Mentor's first Industrial Park. James A. Garfield's Mentor home, built in 1876, is now a National Historic Site. During the 1950's the Old Mentor Foundation, formed to preserve the town's heritage, and documented 102 historic buildings. Mentor later established the Mentor Lagoons Nature Preserve and Marina, and in 1999 the city received an award for environmental stewardship of Lake Erie. Mentor achieved a state ranking of 7th in terms of retail sales volume in 1997. Today Mentor continues to enhance the business, social, environmental, and educational services to the community; and its unique location - close to Cleveland and on Lake Erie - continue to make Mentor a most desirable living environment. ABOUT EDUCATION Mentor Exempted School District has eleven elementary schools, three middle schools, and one high school that serve residents and their children. The Office for Exceptional Children provides guidance and assistance to local school districts and other educational institutions designed to optimize services and educational programs for students with disabilities and gifted children. The Cleveland Institute of Dental-Medical Assistants is located in Mentor. Eighty-nine percent of Mentor's residents have graduated from high school or higher; 27% have obtained their Bachelor's degree or higher; and 8.9% their graduate or professional degree.

CONCORD Concord offers a quality lifestyle characterized by economic, educational, and cultural opportunity. Residents enjoy the many advantages found in the larger, neighboring cities of Mentor and metropolitan Cleveland. Concord's 23 square miles encompass pristine streams, wooded acreage, hills and valleys, and miles of charming, natural landscape. The township offers much in the way of recreation: tennis, swimming, golf courses, ball fields, and several parks are available for play and outdoor activities. Though many homes, and particularly condominiums, have been built in recent years, the government is preserving the rural and scenic environment that is part of the township's agricultural and nursery history. The area called "Little Mountain", which offers views of Lake Erie, features exclusive homes and landscaping. The township provides excellent health and safety services to the community. LOCATION Concord is located in Lake County, 28 miles east of the heart of downtown Cleveland. Nearby access Routes: 1-90, Rt. 44, Rt. 86, and Rt. 608. Towns the approximate size of Concord - Little Mountain and Five Points - are within 10 miles; the larger Mentor (population over 50,000) is less than 10 miles to the northwest. TRANSPORTATION/AIRPORTS Three airports conveniently serve the Concord area, all of which are in Cleveland: Cuyahoga County Airport is about 14 miles away; Burke Lakefront, about 27 miles; and Cleveland-Hopkins International is approximately 40 miles west of Concord. Cleveland-Hopkins provides shuttle service. Laketran offers quite a range of public transportation service to Lake County residents. Laketran has regular transportation routes, which travel along major corridors throughout the county. Their Commuter Express service gets passengers from Lake County to downtown Cleveland economically, and commuters park free in their Park-n-Ride lots. Dial-a-Ride is a door-to-door assisted transportation service for all Lake County residents, particularly those physically challenged and the elderly, focusing, though not exclusively, on medical centers and facilities as destination points. Service to University Circle is available on certain days as well. Finally, but not the least important, Laketran offers express service! to all Cleveland Indians and Cleveland Browns home games from five locations in Lake County. BRIEF HISTORY The origins of Concord began with the Connecticut Land Company, a business venture formed to purchase lands in the Western Reserve and sell for profit. The Western Reserve extended from the Pennsylvania border to Sandusky. The land was surveyed and divided into townships under the leadership of Moses Cleaveland. In 1802 Thomas Jordan became the first settler in Concord, then known as Wilson's Corners. In 1805 the County of Geauga was formed and Concord was a part of it. The name "Concord" refers to the famous Revolutionary War battle site. Later history of the area shows that Lake County was separated from Geauga County, and in 1840, Concord Township was formally established. Early industries included foundries, chair factories, saw mills and tanneries. ABOUT EDUCATION Concord Township has three zip codes and participates with three school districts: The Painesville Township Local School District has six elementary schools, one 6/7 middle school, and the Riverside Campus, which serves 8th through 12th graders. The Mentor School District comprises 11 elementary schools, three junior high schools, and one high school located in the town. The Chardon Local School District serves Aquilla Village, Chardon and Hambden Townships, and portions of Munson and Claridon Townships. Enrollment is aproximately 3,120 students in Grades K-12. Rated an "Excellent" school district by the Ohio Department of Education, Chardon's middle school was recently designated a National "Blue Ribbon Award" school, and two elementary buildings have been chosen Ohio "Hall of Fame" schools. There are 38 colleges and universities in Cleveland: American School of Reporting, Berlitz Language Center, Central School of Practical Nursing, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland Institute of Music, John Carroll University, Cleveland Clinic Foundation (specialties), Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine, Cleveland State University, Cleveland Institute of Music, to name a few.

CHARDON Chardon is a charming rural town (pop. 5000 in year 2000) that is laid out in the traditional New England style. The community's lifestyle reflects its natural surroundings: it has a relaxed feeling that belies its proximity to the thriving metropolis of Cleveland less than an hour's drive away. Families enjoy an excellent educational system - Chardon public schools have achieved several acknowledgements from the Ohio Office of Education. Eighty-nine percent of adult residents have a high school education and almost 28% have obtained a Bachelor's degree or higher. Situated in the heart of maple tree country, the Chardon Maple Festival attracts visitors and locals alike in early spring. Mother Nature displays her four wonderful moods in this country setting, and recreational opportunities are a natural for kids and outdoorsmen. For those interested in relocating to this country town, both traditional homes and newer upscale homes, apartments, and condominiums are readily available. LOCATION Chardon is thirty miles east of Cleveland in picturesque Geauga County. Mentor, the nearest larger city (population approx 50,000), is 12 miles away; Aquilla is 3 miles, and Burton approximately 8.4 miles from Chardon. TRANSPORTATION/AIRPORTS Cuyahoga County Airport is about 20 miles away in Cleveland; Burke Lakefront, also in Cleveland, is about 34 miles; and Youngstown-Warren Regional is approximately 44 miles from Chardon. Geauga County Transit is a door-to-door, personalized transportation system for all County residents. Go anywhere within Geauga County - $4.00 each way; $2.00 each way for seniors. BRIEF HISTORY Chardon was one of the first communities in the Western Reserve. Settled primarily by New Englanders, the traditional town square with a central park, courthouse, and surrounding businesses and residences reflect its New England origins. Chardon got its name from Peter Chardon Brooks, a Boston millionaire, and landowner of considerable importance, who deeded the village square to the town. The name "Chardon" is a French word meaning "thistle". Since Chardon's beginning the town has been a trading place for local farmers. In addition to fertile soil, the area has many water springs, and deposits of sandstone. The best-known product, however, is maple sugar. The Maple Festival draws thousands of visitors during the spring. ABOUT EDUCATION The Chardon Local School District serves Aquilla Village, Chardon and Hambden Townships, and portions of Munson and Claridon Townships. Enrollment is aproximately 3,120 students in Grades K-12. Rated an "Excellent" school district by the Ohio Department of Education, Chardon's middle school was recently designated a National "Blue Ribbon Award" school, and two elementary buildings have been chosen Ohio "Hall of Fame" schools. The District places great importance on assessing and developing individual student needs and strengths. The elementary school level offers an Academically Talented Program. Secondary level schools offer accelerated, honors and Advanced Placement courses, in addition to extra-curricular activities, sports and clubs. High School students may also elect to attend vocational and tech-prep classes at Auburn Career Center, a two-year tech-oriented educational center. A lively and challenging community education program offers classes in dance and exercise, computer, cooking, arts and crafts, business, and health and wellness. Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland State University, Lakeland Community College, and Lake Erie College, Notre Dame and Ursuline College are nearby institutions of higher education.

Request our Free Mentor, Concord and Chardon Relocation Package. It's packed full of useful and important information about the Mentor, Concord and Chardon, Ohio area. Don't move here without it! Remember: we'll send it to you for free and without obligation. Just fill out the form and we will send it right out... 

It's our job to know EVERYTHING about Mentor, Concord and Chardon! Ask us any question. Or request a FREE information package. There's no obligation, and we promise to get back to you quickly...