Shaker Heights aerial view

Aerial view photograph of Shaker Heights, Ohio, looking to the north. The houses on the lower edge of the image face Shaker Boulevard. The road on the left is Leighton Road, while the one on the right is Southington Road. Original description reads: "Shaker Hts. residences (Shaker Lake in background)." The city's name has origins in two local sources: the community was laid out on land formerly owned by the North Union Community of the United Society of Believers, more commonly known as Shakers, and "Heights" refers to the plateau east of Cleveland that rises sharply in elevation from 582 feet above sea level at the base of the Cedar Glen Parkway to 950 feet above sea level in nearby Cleveland Heights; Shaker Heights' elevation is 1050 feet above sea level. Ralph Russell established the North Union Settlement in 1822 with just over 80 individuals. In 1826, the group dammed Doan Brook, thus creating the Lower Lake and establishing a gristmill and a sawmill. Later, in 1854, the community built a second dam, creating the Upper Lake, and constructed another mill. Also called "The Valley of God's Pleasure," the colony peaked around 1850 with about 300 settlers. As the Shakers practiced celibacy, the colony faded away and was closed in 1889. In 1905, the land was bought by brothers M.J. and O.P. Van Sweringen, who envisioned the first garden-styled suburb in Ohio for the site. The brothers constructed homes, set aside land for churches and schools, and planted trees. Originally referred to as Shaker Village, the community was incorporated in 1912 and reached city status in the 1930s. Shaker Heights is known for its stringent building codes and zoning laws, which have helped to maintain the community's housing stock and identity throughout the years. Approximately seventy percent of the city of Shaker Heights is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Shaker Village Historic District