History: 

From the time of arrival of the first permanent settlers in about 1810, the City of Rocky River, then an agricultural community, was variously called Granger City, Riverbank, Rockport and Rocky River Hamlet. Incorporated as a hamlet in 1893, it became a village in 1903 when the first mayor, Mark Mitchell , and a council were elected. A 1960 charter adopted the mayor-council government. Rocky River is named after the river which, in turn, was named by the Indians who camped and stored their canoes on the island at the mouth of the river, now headquarters of the Cleveland Yachting Club. The winding river valley is part of the Cleveland Metroparks System.