Browse local
Look for Akron-made goods, small businesses and creative concepts clustered around the district.
Plan a visit ← Back to neighborhoods
DESIGN, DINING & LIVE MUSIC
Northside
Just beyond the downtown core, Northside packs contemporary design, local flavor and a creative streak into one compact district.
AKRON / NORTHSIDE
THE FEEL
Meet the
neighborhood.
This pocket of Akron feels urban but relaxed: adaptive reuse, modern gathering spaces and the green edge of the valley all meet within a few walkable blocks.
MAKE A DAY OF IT
Three ways
to find its rhythm.
No rigid itinerary required. Use these as starting points, then leave room to wander.
Make it dinner
Northside works especially well as an evening stop, with dining and drinks close enough to explore on foot.
Follow the music
Check the calendar for performances and events that give the district its after-dark energy.
NEIGHBORHOOD PICKS
Top 5 Things to Do in Northside
Shop the Northside Marketplace
Browse a rotating collection of Akron-area makers, artists and small businesses inside this compact urban market. It is a good place to find locally made gifts while getting a quick introduction to the district's creative community.
Catch live music in the district
Check the schedules at Northside venues such as Jilly's Music Room and nearby BLU Jazz+ before you visit. The area's intimate rooms make it possible to build an evening around a performance without leaving the neighborhood.
Ride from Northside Station
Board the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad at Akron Northside Station when trains are operating and watch the city give way to the national park. Schedules and service vary by season, so reserve ahead and confirm the day's route.
Walk Furnace Street and Northside Green
Take a short walk past adaptive-reuse buildings, public art and the colorful gathering spaces around Northside Green. The district is small enough to explore slowly, with plenty of places to pause for photographs or conversation.
Pair dinner with a downtown stroll
Choose a restaurant along Furnace Street or North Main Street, then continue south toward the arts district and downtown. Northside's location makes it especially easy to combine a relaxed meal with a larger night out in Akron.
PEOPLE & SAFETY
Akron by
the numbers.
Neighborhood boundaries do not line up cleanly with Census geography, so these figures provide citywide context. Use the official crime map below for recent incidents around Northside.
CRIME CONTEXT
See what's happening near Northside.
Akron Police reported year-over-year declines through October 2024 in firearm offenses (25%), robberies (2%), felonious assaults (8%) and rapes (9%). Crime changes over time and can vary block by block; the city's Community Crime Map is the best source for current neighborhood-level incidents.
Demographics: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, 2020–2024 estimates and July 1, 2025 population estimate. Crime trend: City of Akron, published October 17, 2024. Crime-map data is supplied by participating law-enforcement agencies and should not be interpreted as a prediction of personal safety.
GOOD FOR
- Local makers
- Date nights
- Live entertainment
- Modern Akron
KEEP EXPLORING
Walk or ride south into downtown, or head toward the Towpath and Cascade Valley for a quick change of scenery.
Choose another neighborhood