Situated on the shores of Lake Erie halfway between Toledo and Cleveland, Sandusky lost 3.3 percent of its population over the past decade. With a median owner-occupied home value of $87,900, nearly $50,000 below the state average, as well as a comparably low percentage of workers holding bachelor’s degrees, the city is solidly middle class. Lake-oriented industries play a large role in the area’s economic diversity. Sandusky has one of the largest coal ports on the Great Lakes, and its industrial businesses include foundries, metal fabrication, automotive parts, and food-processing equipment manufacturers. An investment in a public access waterfront also draws many vacationers looking for fishing or boating opportunities, and the harbor also hosts several national sailing events. Cedar Point Amusement Park is the city’s most famous attraction and is consistently rated the world’s No. 1 amusement park by industry association Amusement Today. Its parent company, Cedar Fair Entertainment, owns and manages over a dozen amusement parks, water parks, and hotels, and is headquartered in Sandusky.
Jason Miller/AP Images for Kalahari Resorts and Convention Center/File
