Cleveland’s Buckeye Neighborhood Was Once Little Budapest And It's Still Rich With Culture
By Nikki Rhoades|Published November 11, 2019
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Nikki Rhoades
Author
Nikki is a lifelong Ohioan with a love for literature. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Akron and has enjoyed publishing her written work since 2007. She has a love of travel and does so frequently, though she believes that home is where the heart is — she continues to work in and around Cleveland as a digital content specialist to this day, working on everything from commercial scripts and social media posts to grassroots marketing initiatives.
The best aspect of life in Cleveland is the allure of local culture. Our city is a melting pot, and it has thus absorbed the influence of a number of cultures. This is evident in places like AsiaTown and Little Italy… but what about Little Budapest? Believe it or not, Cleveland once had such a great concentration of Hungarian culture that we had our very own Little Budapest. The influence of Hungarians in Cleveland remains to this day in and around this charming neighborhood.
Once upon a time, Cleveland's Buckeye neighborhood was known as Little Hungary or Little Budapest.
This neighborhood first began to grow in the 1880s. Settlers flocked in, bringing with them industry in need of workers. As Hungarian immigrants pursued these jobs and settled in the community, the soon began to form shops, churches, restaurants, and clubs to serve the immigrant population.
At the time, Cleveland was the city with the highest population of Hungarians outside Budapest.
The Hungarian immigrants had a strong desire to invest in homeownership, and as a result, their houses were said to be the best kept in Cleveland. As time went on, the local Hungarian population continued to grow. It peaked in 1980 with 113,000 Hungarians living in Cleveland.
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Naturally, the neighborhood came to host the first Hungarian churches in the area.
Pictured here is the magnificent St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church. It was one of the first established in Cleveland, alongside First Hungarian Reformed Church, St. John the Baptist, First Hungarian Lutheran Church. and First Hungarian Presbyterian Church. The neighborhood also included the Temple B'nai Jeshurum, the first Hungarian Jewish Temple in the area.
In Buckeye and all throughout Cleveland, Hungarian influence remains prominent.
All sorts of Hungarian influence lingers in The Land. From the presence of the language to the surnames of many locals, there's no shortage of Hungarian culture... even though the area's nickname has faded into obscurity.
The prominence of this culture's influence on local life is preserved at the Cleveland Hungarian Museum...
This awesome little museum celebrates the heritage and history of Hungarians in Cleveland. Its collections are fascinating, and they frequently rotate to keep its story extra engaging each time you return.
...And it's also celebrated at the Hungarian Cultural Garden.
1934 was the 123rd birthday of composer Franz Liszt, and it was on this influential Hungarian's birthday that the Hungarian Cultural Garden was dedicated. It was dreamed up by a well-known Hungarian architect and was drawn to include a compact yet opulent landscape.
And Hungarian cuisine is still served up with love at local eateries like Balaton Restaurant.
Since 1964, this local landmark has beckoned to hungry diners with promises of comfort food. Their menu is overflowing with traditional Hungarian favorites like chicken schnitzel.
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Cleveland's culture is oh-so-sweet thanks to the influence of cultures brought in by early immigrants.
Today, that sweetness is maintained in traditional bakeries like Farkas Pastry Shop. Our local architecture is a treat for the eyes, but your taste buds will love a bit of indulgence.
The prominence of Hungarians in Cleveland is evident to this day, especially in and around Hungarian-inspired eateries and bakeries. Do you have any Hungarian ancestors? Were you raised celebrating any Hungarian traditions or holidays? We’d love to hear about them!
