Cuyoga, Calahan
Cuyoga, Calahan | |
|---|---|
State capital and city | |
| City of Cuyoga | |
 Cuyoga Skyline | |
| Nickname: "The Crossroads of the West" | |
| Country | Ibica |
| State | Calahan |
| County | Cuyoga |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor-council |
| • Mayor | Rosalyn Power (P) |
| Area | |
| • City | 110.4 sq mi (285.9 km2) |
| • Land | 109.1 sq mi (282.5 km2) |
| • Water | 1.3 sq mi (3.3 km2) |
| Elevation | 4,226 ft (1,288 m) |
| Population (2015) | |
| • City | 586,440 |
| • Estimate (2019) | 600,591 |
| • Urban | 1,521,243 |
| • Metro | 1,722,540 |
| Demonym | Cuyogan |
| Time zone | Mountain |
Cuyoga is the capital and most populous municipality of the state of Calahan. With an estimated population of 600,591 in 2019, the city is the core of the Cuyoga metropolitan area, which has a population of 1,722,540 (2019 estimate). It is one of only three major urban areas in the Great Basin. It is also the seat of Cuyoga County, the most populous county in Calahan.
Mining booms initially brought economic growth, and the city was nicknamed the Crossroads of the West. Two major cross-country highways, I-5 and Ibican Route 27, now intersect with Ibican Route 50 in the city. Cuyoga has developed a strong outdoor recreation tourist industry based primarily on skiing.
Geography
Cuyoga has an area of 110.4 square miles (286 km2) and an average elevation of 4,327 feet (1,319 m) above sea level. The city is in the southwest corner of the Cuyoga Valley. Its encircling mountains contain several narrow canyons.
The burgeoning population of Cuyoga and the surrounding metropolitan area, combined with its geographical situation, has led to air quality becoming a concern. The Great Basin is subject to strong temperature inversions during the winter, which trap pollutants and decrease the air quality. The Calahan Division of Air Quality monitors air quality and issues alerts for voluntary and mandatory actions when pollution exceeds federal safety standards. Protests have been held at the Calahan State Capitol and Progressive lawmakers have introduced legislation in the Calahan State Legislature to make public transportation free during January and July, when air quality is usually at its worst. The population of the Cuyoga metropolitan area is projected to double by 2040, putting further pressure on the region's air quality.
The highest mountaintop visible from Cuyoga is Raydin Peak, which reaches 11,330 feet (3,450 m). The second-highest mountain range is the Madison Mountains, reaching a maximum height of 10,620 feet (3,237 m) at Flat Top.
Economy
Historically known as the "Crossroads of the West" for its railroads, when nearby steel, mining and railroad operations provided a strong source of income with Silver King Coalition Mines and oil refineries, Cuyoga's modern economy is service-oriented. Today the city's major sectors are government, trade, transportation, utilities, and professional and business services.
Local, state, and federal governments have a large presence in the city, and trade, transportation, and utilities provide significant employment, with the major employer being the Western hub at Cuyoga Liberty International Airport. Equally significant are the professional and business services, while health services (such as Cuyoga Valley Health Network) and health educational services are significant areas of employment.
Other economic activities include tourism, conventions, and major suburban call centers.
Law and government
The Cuyoga City and County Building has been the seat of city government since 1894. It also served as Calahan's first statehouse from 1822 until 1894. Since 1979 Cuyoga has had a non-partisan mayor-council form of government. The mayor and the seven councillors are elected to staggered four-year terms. Council seats are defined by geographic population boundaries.
Municipal elections throughout Calahan are non-partisan. The most recent election was held on November 7, 2017.
In July 2013, a new Public Safety Building housing police, fire, and emergency dispatch employees opened. It was billed as the largest net zero energy building in the nation at opening, and is expected to be certified Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Platinum.
The Cuyoga Fire Department operates out of 24 fire stations.
Education
The Cuyoga Public Library system consists of the main library downtown, and five branches in various neighborhoods. The main library opened in 2003. In 2006, the Cuyoga Public Library was named "Library of the Year" by the Ibican Library Association.
Postsecondary educational options in Cuyoga include the University of Calahan, Cuyoga Community College, The Art Institute of Cuyoga, and Cuyoga Business College.
Sports and recreation
Winter sports, such as skiing and snowboarding, are popular activities in the Madison Mountains southeast of Cuyoga. Eight ski resorts lie within 50 miles (80 km) of the city. Summer activities such as hiking, camping, rock climbing, mountain biking, and other related outdoor activities are popular in the mountains. The many small reservoirs and rivers in the Wasatch Mountains are popular for boating, fishing, and other water-related activities.
Professional sports
Cuyoga is home to the Calahan Pioneers of the National Basketball League (NBL). They are the only team from one of the three top-level professional sports leagues in the state. Real Cuyoga of Ibica League Soccer was founded in 2004.
Transportation
Roads
Cuyoga lies at the convergence of two major freeways; Interstate 5 running north-south, and Ibica Route 50, which connects downtown with Cuyoga Liberty International Airport to the west. I-405 forms a loop around the city.
Public transportation
Cuyoga's mass transit service is operated by the Calahan Transit Authority (CTA) and includes a bus system, light rail, and a commuter rail line. Intercity services are provided by West Ibica Regional Rail and various intercity bus lines. These services are all interconnected at the Cuyoga Intermodal Hub (Cuyoga Central Station), west of the city center.
Light rail
The 44.8-mile (72.1 km) light rail system, called TRAX, has three lines. The system has 50 stations, 23 of which are within the city limits. Daily ridership averaged 130,600 as of the fourth quarter of 2012.
Commuter rail
The commuter rail system, ValleyRunner, opened April 26, 2008, extends from Central Station northeast along the Cuyoga River through Junction to Florence. Daily ridership on the line averages 56,800, as of the fourth quarter of 2012. An expansion called "ValleyRunner West", which extended ValleyRunner to Brady, was completed in December 2017. These extensions were made possible by a sales tax hike for road improvements, light rail, and commuter rail approved by voters on November 7, 2012. In addition, a $500 million letter of intent was signed by the Federal Transit Administration for all four of the planned TRAX extensions in addition to the ValleyRunner extension to Brady.
Intercity rail services
West Ibica Regional Rail provides service to Cuyoga operating its Parklander hourly between Parkland, Petra and Westfield, Panamor.
Air transportation
Cuyoga Liberty International Airport is 4 miles (6.4 km) west of downtown, and falls entirely within the boundary of Cuyoga. Westerns Airlines operates a hub at the airport, serving over 100 non-stop destinations in Ibica and abroad. The airport is served by four CTA bus routes, and a CTA-operated light rail line (TRAX) opened services on April 14, 2013. A total of 22,029,488 passengers flew through Cuyoga Liberty International Airport in 2017. The airport is currently undergoing a $3.6 billion redesign that is expected to be completed in 2024, resulting in a complete reworking of the terminals and parking areas.
Cycling
Cuyoga is considered a bicycle-friendly city. In 2010, Cuyoga was designated as a Silver-level Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of Ibican Bicyclists. Many streets in the city have bike lanes, and the city has published a bicycle map. However, off-road biking in the valley has suffered significantly as access to trails and paths has declined with the increase of housing developments and land privatization. In 2012, the Cuyoga Transportation Division launched BikeCuyoga.com, which consolidates the city's information about bicycle routes, bicycle safety, and promotions. The website includes a form for business owners to request bicycle parking racks to be installed on public property free of charge close to their businesses, a service that has a months-long waiting list.