6 Reasons People From Cleveland Are Undeniably Tough
By Nikki Rhoades|Published June 15, 2022
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Nikki Rhoades
Author
Nikki is a lifelong Ohioan with a love for literature. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Akron and has enjoyed publishing her written work since 2007. She has a love of travel and does so frequently, though she believes that home is where the heart is — she continues to work in and around Cleveland as a digital content specialist to this day, working on everything from commercial scripts and social media posts to grassroots marketing initiatives.
Cleveland is a cool place to call home and The Land has definitely left an impact on those of us that grew up here. The culture, the pace of life, the food … they’ve all shaped us into the awesome adults we are today. We’re smart, hardworking, and enduring. That everlasting toughness comes from the lives we led growing up, and it’s a trait that sets us apart from others and binds us together as Clevelanders. Here are just a few reasons that Clevelanders are tough:
1. We're all about sportsmanship and we're not afraid to lose.
The year 2017 went down in history when the Browns played a perfect season ... that is, we won a grand total of zero games in an entire season. Yep. The Cleveland Browns have published their year-by-year results for your viewing pleasure, and ... well, we've had some rough seasons. You know that. Despite this history, the Cleveland Browns continue to boast one of the most passionate fanbases in all of the NFL. Clevelanders are truly ride or die when it comes to our teams!
2. Lake Erie winters have perfectly equipped us to expect the unexpected.
Heck, Cleveland weather has prepared us for the unexpected. The weather here is notoriously prone to change, and we've had some particularly memorable winters over the years. Nowadays, we locals hardly bat an eye at snow. While some communities south of Ohio totally shut down in the presence of snow, we continue on, business as usual — even if it snows deep into the month of May, which isn't unusual around here.
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3. Our bodies are fortified with all sorts of nutrients and proteins including things out-of-towners might not find palatable.
Growing up in a community with neighborhoods like AsiaTown, Little Italy, and Little Budapest means that we've been exposed to foods from all over the world ... including some delicacies that may seem odd to those from less culturally-rich communities. Clevelanders have taken things a step further by inventing our own unusual foods including Polish Boys, which feature kielbasa, French fries, coleslaw, and hot sauce piled high on a single hot dog bun. Mmm, tastes like home.
As adults, this athleticism has evolved into cat-like reflexes. We're pros at dodging potholes on the roads! Unfortunately, this is true in any city with old streets and sidewalks, but our location in the frigid north has exacerbated many issues. This comic might look relatable, but it's actually from 1914 ... proving that maintaining roads has been a struggle for more than a century. At this point, dodging potholes is practically coded into our DNA.
5. We Clevelanders always fight for what we believe in.
We're raised to stick to our guns here in Cleveland. The dedication of passionate locals, believe it or not, has actually saved many Cleveland monuments from destruction over the years. Perhaps most notably, the second largest theater district in the nation was threatened with demolition throughout its storied history. Its gorgeous 1920s theaters are costly to maintain, and they fell into disrepair as a result. Additionally, the rise of television and at-home entertainment threatened live theater in Cleveland. However, locals fought for the beautiful neighborhood. Today, it's as beautiful as ever, and it's a true Cleveland success story.
Our city has been called The Mistake on The Lake numerous times, but we've grown a thick skin. Compared to many big cities, we know that Cleveland has maintained a more small-town, community-oriented feel, and we love that. But that still doesn't stop Cleveland from being the butt of many on-screen jokes, from the Browns-themed wedding in How I Met Your Mother to a group of scam-loving Clevelanders in Detroit Rock City.
While we've learned to ignore the criticism, we've also grown from it. Cleveland's infamous Cuyahoga River Fire (which was actually a fairly common occurrence in industrialized cities of the era) helped spark international environmental change, and Cleveland continued making local improvements in the meantime. Today, fish caught in the river are safe enough to eat. Boom! Progress.
So there you have it! Clevelanders are tough to the core, thanks to a variety of influences that shaped us as a people. Today, Cleveland’s culture is undergoing a modern shift toward a more artsy environment, but its young people of today are still shaping up to be as tough and as enduring as their predecessors.
Love reminiscing on life in Cleveland? You’ll love our list of things Clevelanders will always be stubborn about, which explores everything from pierogies to snow days.
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