Although its origins date to 1826, the University in its present form is the result of the 1967 federation of Case Institute of Technology and Western Reserve University. The two institutions had shared adjacent campuses since the late nineteenth century, and were involved in cooperative efforts for many years. Western Reserve College was founded in 1826 in Hudson, Ohio, a town 26 miles southeast of Cleveland. The College took its name from that of the region which, at the time of the American Revolution, was known as the Western Reserve of Connecticut. In 1882, renamed Western Reserve University, the institution moved to the Cleveland site that later became known as University Circle. The Case School of Applied Science was established in downtown Cleveland in 1880 through the bequest of Leonard Case, Jr., a leading citizen of Cleveland. It moved to its current site, adjacent to Western Reserve, in 1883. The name Case Institute of Technology was adopted in 1947 to reflect the institution's growing stature.

Case Western Reserve University is located in University Circle, a 550-acre, park-like concentration of nearly 40 cultural, medical, educational, religious, and social service institutions located at the eastern edge of the city.
In addition to the University, which is the largest institution in University Circle, the community includes Severance Hall, home of the world-famous Cleveland Orchestra; the Cleveland Museum of Art, housing one of the nation's finest collections; the Cleveland Institute of Music, the Cleveland Institute of Art; University Hospitals of Cleveland; Mount Sinai Medical Center; the Western Reserve Historical Society; the Cleveland Botanical Garden; the Cleveland Museum of Natural History; and many others. All are within walking distance of the University.

From a settlement that began more than two centuries ago on the banks of the Cuyahoga River, Cleveland has grown into a metropolis of more than 2 million people. The heritage of this Great Lakes port includes industrial achievement as well as cultural and scientific advances. The Cleveland area is headquarters for many of the nation's major corporations. The city is also a major banking center; the Fourth District Federal Reserve Bank, one of 12 in the nation, is located here.
Health care is another thriving Cleveland industry. Dozens of hospitals and medical centers are concentrated in the area. University Hospitals of Cleveland, the Cleveland Clinic, the MetroHealth Medical Center, Mount Sinai Medical Center, and others are internationally recognized for outstanding patient care and contributions to medical research.
For more historical information regarding CWRU, University Circle or Cleveland, visit the online version of the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History.