So, where did the Cleavers live?

[Wet Water]

"Leave it to Beaver" is set in the fictional town of Mayfield, state carefully left unspecified. But where might it be? Evidence:

-- In the episode where the Beav calls Don Drysdale in Los Angeles, it was a long-distance call. West Coast eliminated.

-- Beaver gets an opportunity to go away to Prep School in New England, said to be a few hours plane ride away. Northeast eliminated.

-- Nobody has a Southern accent. South eliminated.

-- Ward frequently refers to having attended Shaker Heights High School. Shaker Heights is in Ohio, suburban Cleveland.

-- Also in suburban Cleveland: MAYFIELD Heights

-- Beaver's class had a transfer student from Cleveland.

-- Wally plans to go to "State" for college. Could be Ohio State.

-- One of the few street names specified was Grant Avenue, location of Grant Avenue Elementary. Named after Ulysses S. Grant? (Native of Ohio.)

The creators/producers of LITB didn't want to specify any state, but if it's anywhere, it's Ohio.

[howilu]

From what I read, it looks like the Cleavers lived in Ohio, since there is a Mayfield that's a Cleveland suburb. But it seemed that the writers didn't want to reveal the actual state of residence. It's a mystery along with Ward's job.

[catlover79]

I hope it was Mayfield, OH - because it's not too far away from where I live. The city of Shaker Heights is where Ward grew up, which is also a Cleveland suburb. So to me, the Cleavers live in Mayfield, OH.

[MichaelKeith]

I have to concur with most others about this. I've always heard they lived in Ohio. I mean, they're a solid mid-west kind of family and Ohio is right in the middle of the mid-west. Ohio is a good state for them to live as it had a lot of business and industry, especially back in the 50s and 60s.

[catlover79]

Here are some pics of the REAL Mayfield High School in Mayfield, OH:

[Torgo]

Originally Posted by Wet Water

-- In the episode where the Beav calls Don Drysdale in Los Angeles, it was a long-distance call. West Coast eliminated.

West Coast is not eliminated- It's long distance to call Los Angeles from Washington State, and Oregon....and even other parts of California(though that's unlikely)

Everybody guesses Ohio, but in the episode where Wally and friends make the canoe and Beaver falls out of it- Ward makes a comment that the nearest ocean is 20 miles away. Some people say he's referring to the Great Lakes, I doubt that though, Ward having been a seabee would know the difference between an ocean and the Great Lakes.

Like Ward's job, there is no definitive answer. It was purposely left vague because Mayfield is located in Anywhere America.

[ponytail]

Also in the episode where Eddie applies for an job working on a fishing boat headed for Alaska and it leaves Saturday. West Coast. But Ohio seems the logic location to me.

[Torgo]

Originally Posted by ponytail

Also in the episode where Eddie applies for an job working on a fishing boat headed for Alaska and it leaves Saturday. West Coast. But Ohio seems the logic location to me.

I think what it is is Ohio and California combined. Either some writers or producers were from Ohio so a lot of influence came from there.

Plus didn't one of the episodes Larry mentioned his dad was away on business in Ohio?


It's like The Simpsons and Springfield, everyone trying to guess the state.

Ned Flanders: Look at that, you can see the four states that border Springfield: Ohio, Nevada, Maine, and Kentucky!

[bluthree]

I can think of so many shows where the State where the show takes place is a complete mystery.
I know I have always wonder where about in America The TV show Lassie took place? I meen I always guess it was in The Midwest somewhere since there was a tornado episode.
Well also where about in America did The Munsters live?
And we also found out in a Donna Reed show episode that show took place in The same town as Dennis The Menace.
Well anyways this is Leave It Beaver we are talking about here.Yeah my guess is Ohio?

[old grouch]

I would say Ohio, except for one thing. It never snowed on 'Leave it to Beaver', and doesn't Ohio have some pretty snowy winters?

[catlover79]

Originally Posted by old grouch

I would say Ohio, except for one thing. It never snowed on 'Leave it to Beaver', and doesn't Ohio have some pretty snowy winters?

As an Ohioan, the answer is YES!! Mayfield, OH is also in NE Ohio, which means it gets the lake-effect snow from Lake Erie as well.

[Mr B]

I'll go out on limb and say Washington or possibly Oregon....20 miles from the ocean.I don't think Ohio has a ocean, and fishing boats for Alaska cant leave from Ohio

[Wet Water]

The Cleavers went to an NFL exhibition game (the Brussels Sprouts episode). (The Packers seem to have been the visiting team.) They live conveniently close to a city with an NFL team in 1960. Already having ruled out the Northeast, the South, and California, that leaves only St. Louis, Minneapolis, Chicago, Detroit, and CLEVELAND.

Also, in response to Post #8, Larry's dad did go away on a business trip to Cincinnati. OHIO. And it was not an NFL city in 1960.

[Torgo]

Originally Posted by old grouch

I would say Ohio, except for one thing. It never snowed on 'Leave it to Beaver', and doesn't Ohio have some pretty snowy winters?

That, and the fact Ohio isn't 20 miles away from the nearest ocean.

[Marvo301]

I'm starting to get the feeling that Mayfield was a mobile city! It moved around to avoid harsh winter weather, to be near the ocean when the plot of episode necessitated it, and to be far enough from L.A. to make a call to the Dodger's clubhouse long distance!