Oberlin College is an integral part of the city of Oberlin, a town of about 8,600 residents located 35 miles southwest of Cleveland. Ohio magazine voted Oberlin the best college town in the state. Commenting on Oberlin's rare combination of architecture, cultural attractions, and collegiate enthusiasm, Ohio Week recently called Oberlin "a jewel in Ohio's crown."

The Town of Oberlin

Oberlin, while small, contains just about everything an Oberlin College student could need within walking distance. Restaurants, fast food joints, coffee shops, clothing stores, a supermarket, post office, a discount shop, and a health food store are all just around the corner from the main campus.

Oberlin also has an active arts community. In addition to the resources of the college, the New Union Center for the Arts provides a home for a number of organizations dedicated to increasing appreciation of the arts, including the Firelands Association for the Visual Arts (FAVA), and the MAD* (*Music Arts and Drama) Factory.

The town is also home to the historic Apollo Theatre, an Art Deco style building featuring bright neon lights on its marquee. It first opened in 1913 and remains one of the few single-screen movie theaters in the United States. The Apollo shows (fairly) current films (a good balance to the college's film series), and at $3, regular admission is a true bargain. The theater’s owners have closed the theater this summer to complete a series of renovation projects in an effort to meet the eligibility requirements for federal and Ohio historic rehabilitation tax credits, and the Federal Park Service historic preservation standards. Plans are to reopen the remodeled theater on September 30.

Cleveland

Oberlin students have the best of both worlds: the safety and familiarity of small town life, along with access to a world-class city less than an hour away. Cultural events, museums, and great food are just a few of the reasons to visit Cleveland.

Among the city's many attractions is the Cleveland Orchestra, recently dubbed the finest orchestra in the country by Time magazine. Cleveland's theater district, known as Playhouse Square, has a combined capacity of 7,000 seats, and is the largest theater complex between New York and Chicago. The city's many museums include the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, and the Cleveland Museum of Art, one of the most eminent art institutions in the country, and one of the few that has free admission. The Cleveland Museum of Natural History, the Great Lakes Science Center, and the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo--which now includes a year-round rainforest exhibit--are among other educational sites.

Cleveland is also a major-league sports city. Teams include baseball's Indians, perennial division and league champions; the NFL's Browns; the NBA's Cavaliers; and the WNBA's Rockers.

 

Oberlin

• Oberlin Chamber of Commerce
• Electronic Oberlin Group
• The Bridge
• City of Oberlin
• Oberlin Bookstore
• Oberlin Heritage Center/O.H.I.O.
• Oberlin College Conference Services
• Oberlin Public Schools

And Beyond

• Cleveland
• Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
• Cleveland Museum of Art
• Great Lakes Science Center
• Cleveland Orchestra
• Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage
• Lorain County
• Lorain County Transit
• Visit Lorain County