Cuyahoga County has a rich history, and many residents have left a lasting legacy and impact on the region and the country.

To help tell the story of some these individuals, we relied on the great resources of our Cuyahoga County Archives. Located at 3951 Perkins Avenue in Cleveland, the County Archives contains tens of thousands of records like deeds, property records, marriage certificates and so much more.

Below is a collection of stories about some of the Black residents who have been transformational to the history of Cuyahoga County as we know it today.

• George Peake: The first known Black settler in Cuyahoga County
• Sara Lucy Bagby Johnson: The last slave prosecuted under the Fugitive Slave Act
• Garrett Morgan: Inventor, creator of the stoplight prototype
• Jane Edna Hunter: A lifelong advocate for women
• Virgil E. Brown: A trailblazing public servant