Canton () is a city in and the
county seat of
Stark County,
Ohio.
It is located approximately south of
Cleveland and south of
Akron in
Northeast Ohio
The region Northeast Ohio, in the US state of Ohio, in its most expansive usage contains six metropolitan areas ( Cleveland–Elyria, Akron, Canton–Massillon, Youngstown–Warren, Mansfield, and Weirton–Steubenville) along with eight m ...
. The city lies on the edge of Ohio's extensive
Amish country, particularly in
Holmes and
Wayne counties to the city's west and southwest. As of the
2020 Census, the population of Canton was 70,872,
making Canton
eighth among Ohio cities in population. It is the largest municipality in the
Canton–Massillon metropolitan area, which includes all of Stark and
Carroll counties, and was home to 401,574 residents in 2020.
Founded in 1805 alongside the Middle and West Branches of
Nimishillen Creek, Canton became a
heavy manufacturing center because of its numerous railroad lines. However, its status in that regard began to decline during the late 20th century, as shifts in the manufacturing industry led to the relocation or
downsizing of many factories and workers. After this decline, the city's industry diversified into
the service economy, including retailing, education, finance and
healthcare
Health care or healthcare is the improvement of health via the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, amelioration or cure of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in people. Health care is delivered by health profe ...
.
Canton is chiefly notable for being the home of the
Pro Football Hall of Fame and the birthplace of the
National Football League. 25th U.S. President
William McKinley conducted the famed
front porch campaign, which won him the
presidency of the United States in
the 1896 election, from his home in Canton. The
McKinley National Memorial and the
William McKinley Presidential Library and Museum commemorate his life and presidency. Canton was also chosen as the site of the
First Ladies National Historic Site largely in honor of his wife,
Ida Saxton McKinley
Ida McKinley ( née Saxton; June 8, 1847 – May 26, 1907) was the first lady of the United States from 1897 until 1901, as the wife of President William McKinley.
Born to a successful Ohio family, Ida met her future husband and later marr ...
.
Beginning in 2015, Canton began experiencing an urban renaissance, anchored by its growing and thriving arts district centrally located in the downtown area. Several historic buildings have been rehabilitated and converted into upscale lofts, attracting hundreds of new downtown residents into the city. Furthering this downtown development, in June 2016, Canton became one of the first cities in Ohio to allow the
open consumption of alcoholic beverages in a "designated outdoor refreshment area" pursuant to a state law enacted in 2015
Sub. H.B. No. 47.
History
Founding
Canton was founded in 1805, incorporated as a village in 1822, and re-incorporated as a city in 1838. The plat of Canton was recorded at
New Lisbon, Ohio, on November 15, 1805, by Bezaleel Wells, a surveyor and devout
Episcopalian
Anglicanism is a Western Christian tradition that has developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the context of the Protestant Reformation in Europe. It is one of the l ...
from
Maryland born January 28, 1763. Canton was likely named as a memorial to Captain John O'Donnell, an Irish merchant marine with the British
East India Trading Company
The East India Company (EIC) was an English, and later British, joint-stock company founded in 1600 and dissolved in 1874. It was formed to trade in the Indian Ocean region, initially with the East Indies (the Indian subcontinent and Southe ...
whom Wells admired. O'Donnell named his estate in
Maryland after the Chinese city Canton (a traditional English name for
Guangzhou) as he had been the first person to transport goods from there to
Baltimore
Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic, and the 30th most populous city in the United States with a population of 585,708 in 2020. Baltimore was d ...
. The name selected by Wells may also have been influenced by the
Huguenot use of the word "canton," which meant a division of a district containing several communes. Through Wells' efforts and promotion, Canton was designated the
county seat of
Stark County upon its division from
Columbiana County on January 1, 1809.
Home of President William McKinley and his "Front-Porch" campaign
For most of his adult life, Canton was the home of
William McKinley, the 25th president of the United States. Born in
Niles, Ohio, McKinley first practiced law in Canton around 1867, and was prosecuting attorney of
Stark County from 1869 to 1871. The city was his home during his successful campaign for Ohio governor, the site of his
front-porch presidential campaign of
1896
Events
January–March
* January 2 – The Jameson Raid comes to an end, as Jameson surrenders to the Boers.
* January 4 – Utah is admitted as the 45th U.S. state.
* January 5 – An Austrian newspaper reports that Wil ...
and
the campaign of 1900. Canton is now the site of the
William McKinley Presidential Library and Museum and the
McKinley National Memorial, dedicated in 1907.
Eugene V. Debs' anti-war speech at Nimisilla Park
On June 16, 1918,
Eugene V. Debs delivered the keynote speech at the annual Ohio Socialist Convention held in Canton's Nimisilla Park. At the time, Debs had been a four-time candidate for president and was considered the country's leading socialist and labor organizer. During his speech he decried America's involvement in the
First World War, saying, “They have always taught you that it is your patriotic duty to go to war and slaughter yourselves at their command. You have never had a voice in the war. The working class who make the sacrifices, who shed the blood, have never yet had a voice in declaring war.” Among Debs' audience at Nimisilla Park were agents of the
U.S. Department of Justice. The year before his speech, and a month following the American entry into the First World War, President
Woodrow Wilson signed the
Espionage Act of 1917 into law. This Act made it a federal crime to interfere with, among other things, the Selective Service Act or military draft.
On June 30, 1918, Debs was arrested and charged with, among other things, “unlawfully, willfully and feloniously cause and attempt to cause and incite and attempt to incite, insubordination, disloyalty, mutiny and refusal of duty, in the military and naval forces of the United States.” Debs' trial began on September 10, 1918, in the
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. On September 12, 1918, a jury found Debs guilty. He was sentenced to ten years in prison. On March 10, 1919, the
U.S. Supreme Court affirmed the constitutionality of Debs' conviction in ''
Debs v. United States
''Debs v. United States'' 249 U.S. 211 (1919) was a United States Supreme Court decision, relevant for US labor law and constitutional law, that upheld the Espionage Act of 1917.
Facts
Eugene V. Debs was an American labor and political leader an ...
''. Debs began serving his prison sentence on April 13, 1919. He remained incarcerated until September 25, 1921, when he was released after
President Warren Harding commuted his sentence to time served.
The U.S. Supreme Court's decision affirming Debs' conviction was sharply criticized by legal scholars at the time and is generally regarded as a low-point in First Amendment jurisprudence. While Debs’ speech in Canton and subsequent conviction ultimately aided Debs in delivering the Socialist Party's anti-war platform, his age and the deleterious effects of prison exhausted his ability as an orator. Debs died of heart failure on October 20, 1926. In June 2017 Canton applied for and received a historic marker from the
Ohio History Connection, formerly the Ohio Historical Society, to commemorate Debs' speech at Nimisilla Park and other historic events reflecting the park's importance as a gathering place for the community.
Major companies
The
Dueber-Hampden Watch Company
The Dueber-Hampden Watch Company was an American watch manufacturing company. In 1888 the Dueber Watch Case Company operating in Cincinnati from 1864 bought the Hampden Watch Company of New York, in operation since 1877. Dueber moved them both to ...
was an important employer in Canton during the early 1920s. It formally organized in 1923, having previously consisted of two separate companies: the Dueber Watch Case Company and the Hampden Watch Company. In 1886, John Dueber, the owner of the Dueber Watch Case Company, purchased a controlling interest in the Hampden Watch Company. In 1888, he relocated the Hampden Watch Company from
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is a city in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States, and the seat of Hampden County. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers: the western Westfield River, the ...
and the Dueber Watch Case Company from
Newport, Kentucky to Canton, Ohio. These two companies shared manufacturing facilities in Canton but remained two separate companies. The Dueber Watch Case Company and the Hampden Watch Company quickly became two of Canton's largest employers. In 1888, the companies' first year in Canton, they employed 2,300 Canton residents. In 1890, Canton's population was 26,337. Thanks to these two companies, Canton became an important center for watch manufacturing in the United States. In 1927 the company went bankrupt, finally ceasing operations in the city in 1930. The machinery and tools were sold to the
Amtorg Trading Corporation, one of Soviet Russia's buying agencies in the US, for $329.000. The company's massive brick factories, which covered more than 20 acres and included an ornate 150-foot clock tower, were demolished to accommodate the construction of
Interstate 77
Interstate 77 (I-77) is a north–south Interstate Highway in the eastern United States. It traverses diverse terrain, from the mountainous state of West Virginia to the rolling farmlands of North Carolina and Ohio. It largely supplants the ...
.
The
Timken Company has been among the largest employers in Canton for nearly 100 years. In 1898,
Henry Timken obtained a patent for the
tapered roller bearing, and in 1899 incorporated as the Timken Roller Bearing Axle Company in
St. Louis. In 1901, the company moved to Canton as the automobile industry began to overtake the carriage industry. Timken and his two sons chose this location because of its proximity to the American car manufacturing centers of Detroit and
Cleveland and the American steel-making centers of
Pittsburgh and Cleveland. By 1960, Timken had operations in the U.S., Canada, Great Britain, France, South Africa, Australia and Brazil. The company changed its corporate structure in 2014; the roller bearing-producing part of the company was separated from the steel-producing part of the company, resulting in two separate companies. The Timken Company continues to manufacture roller bearings, while TimkenSteel produces steel.
Today, TimkenSteel remains headquartered in Canton and employs 2,800 people, most of them in Northeast Ohio. The company makes special bar quality steel, used in applications all over the world. The Timken Co. is now headquartered in
Jackson Township, a suburb of Canton, and employs 14,000 people around the world. The company designs, engineers, manufactures and sells bearings, transmissions, gearboxes, chain and related products, and offers a spectrum of power system rebuild and repair services around the globe.
Football history
On September 17, 1920, a meeting was held at the
Hupmobile showroom in the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) is a non-political and non-sectarian international fraternal order of Odd Fellowship. It was founded in 1819 by Thomas Wildey in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Evolving from the Order of Odd ...
Building in Canton to found the
American Professional Football Association
The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the maj ...
(renamed the National Football League in 1922). The attendees included
Ralph Hay, owner of the Hupmobile showroom and the hometown
Canton Bulldogs
The Canton Bulldogs were a professional American football team, based in Canton, Ohio. They played in the Ohio League from 1903 to 1906 and 1911 to 1919, and the American Professional Football Association (later renamed the National Football Leag ...
, and
George Halas
George Stanley Halas Sr. (; February 2, 1895October 31, 1983), nicknamed "Papa Bear" and "Mr. Everything", was an American professional football player, coach, and team owner. He was the founder and owner of the National Football League's Chic ...
, owner of the
Decatur Staleys.
Jim Thorpe of the Bulldogs was the league's first president. In 2014 a sculpture titled ''Birth of the NFL'' was erected in downtown Canton marking the exact location in the Hupmobile showroom where the NFL was created in 1920.
On December 6, 1959, the ''
Canton Repository'', a local newspaper, called for city officials to lobby the
National Football League to create a football hall of fame in the community. Canton officials formally proposed their city as site for the hall of fame in 1961. The NFL quickly agreed to the city's proposal. To help convince NFL officials to locate the hall of fame in Canton, city officials donated several acres of land on Canton's north side to the project. Local residents also raised almost $400,000 to help construct the hall of fame.
The
Pro Football Hall of Fame formally opened on September 7, 1963. Initially the museum consisted of two buildings, but in 1971, 1978, 1995, and 2013, the Pro Football Hall of Fame experienced several expansions. As of 2013, the museum consisted of five buildings, covering 118,000 square feet. Since its founding, over 10 million people have visited the Pro Football Hall of Fame. "Welcome to Canton" is the official way of saying congratulations to a new enshrinee.
Ridgewood Historic District
The
Ridgewood Historic District
The Ridgewood Historic District is a residential neighborhood in Canton, Ohio. The neighborhood consists of preserved, architect-designed Revivalism (architecture), Revival style buildings built in the early 20th century with amenities such as o ...
is a historic residential neighborhood in Canton that, due to its architectural significance, was added to the
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...
on December 19, 1982. The neighborhood consists of preserved, architect-designed
Revival style buildings of the
Tudor,
Georgian, and
French-Norman styles built in the early 20th century with amenities such as original brick streets and locally produced street lighting standards. The District features homes designed by several distinguished architects, including Charles Firestone, Herman Albrecht, and Louis Hoicowitz.
Geography
Topography
Canton is located at an elevation of .
Nimishillen Creek and its East, Middle and West Branches flow through the city.
Canton is bordered by
Plain Township and
North Canton
North Canton is a city in central Stark County, Ohio, United States. The population was 17,842 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Canton–Massillon metropolitan area.
History
In 1831, the Community of North Canton first began as the Villag ...
to the north,
Meyers Lake and
Perry Township to the west,
Canton Township to the South, and
Nimishillen Township,
Osnaburg Township and
East Canton to the east. Annexations were approved in December 2006 extending Canton's eastern boundary to
East Canton's border.
According to the
United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water.
Climate
Canton has a
humid continental climate (
Köppen climate classification ''Dfa''), typical of much of the
Midwestern United States, with warm, humid summers and cold winters. Winters tend to be cold, with average January high temperatures of , and average lows of , with considerable variation in temperatures. During a typical January, high temperatures of over are just as common as low temperatures of below . Snowfall is lighter than the
snow belt areas to the north.
Akron-Canton Airport generally averages of snow per season. Springs are short with rapid transition from hard winter to summer weather. Summers tend to be warm, sometimes hot, with average July high temperatures of , and average July low of . Summer weather is more stable, generally humid with
thunderstorms fairly common. Temperatures reach or exceed about 10 times each summer, on average. Fall usually is the driest season with many clear, warm days and cool nights. The all-time record high in the Akron-Canton area of was established on August 6, 1918, and the all-time record low of was set on January 19, 1994.
Address system
Canton's street layout forms the basis for the system of addresses in Stark County. Canton proper is divided into address quadrants (NW, NE, SW, SE) by Tuscarawas Street (dividing N and S) and Market Avenue (dividing E and W). Due to shifts in the street layout, the E–W divider becomes Cleveland Avenue south of the city, merging onto Ridge Road farther out. The directionals are noted as suffixes to the street name (e.g. Tuscarawas St W, 55th Street NE). Typically within the city numbered streets run east and west and radiate from the Tuscarawas Street baseline, while named avenues run north and south.
This system extends into Stark County but is not shared by the cities of
Massillon
Jean-Baptiste Massillon, CO (24 June 1663, Hyères – 28 September 1742, Beauregard-l'Évêque), was a French Catholic prelate and famous preacher who served as Bishop of Clermont from 1717 until his death.
Biography
Early years
Massillon wa ...
,
Louisville,
East Canton,
Minerva or
North Canton
North Canton is a city in central Stark County, Ohio, United States. The population was 17,842 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Canton–Massillon metropolitan area.
History
In 1831, the Community of North Canton first began as the Villag ...
, which have their own internal address grids.
Neighborhoods
* Downtown
* Crystal Park
* Dueber
* Harter Heights
* Sherrick Road Corridor
* Market Heights
* Historic Ridgewood District
* Shorb
* Summit
* Vassar Park
* West Branch Park
* West Park
* Edgefield
* Lathrop
* Gibbs
* Colonial Heights
* Mt. Vernon
* Harrison Hills
* Plain Center Estates
* Westbrook Veterans Memorial Park
Demographics
Canton is the largest principal city of the
Canton-Massillon Metropolitan Statistical Area, a
metropolitan area
A metropolitan area or metro is a region that consists of a densely populated urban agglomeration and its surrounding territories sharing industries, commercial areas, transport network, infrastructures and housing. A metro area usually com ...
that covers
Carroll and Stark counties and had a combined population of 404,422 at the
2010 census.
2000 census
As of the census
of 2000, there were 80,806 people, 32,489 households, and 19,785 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,932.1 people per square mile (1,518.2/km
2). There were 35,502 housing units at an average density of 1,728.0 per square mile (667.0/km
2). The racial makeup of the city was 74.45%
White, 21.04%
African American, 0.49%
Native American, 0.32%
Asian, 0.03%
Pacific Islander, 0.61% from
other races, and 3.06% from two or more races.
Hispanic or
Latino people of any race were 1.24% of the population.
There were 32,489 households, out of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.1% were married couples living together, 19.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.1% were non-families. 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the city the age distribution of the population shows 26.6% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.9 males.
The
median income
The median income is the income amount that divides a population into two equal groups, half having an income above that amount, and half having an income below that amount. It may differ from the mean (or average) income. Both of these are ways of ...
for a household in the city was $28,730, and the median income for a family was $35,680. Males had a median income of $30.628 versus $21,581 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,544. About 15.4% of families and 19.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.4% of those under age 18 and 11.3% of those age 65 or over.
2010 census
As of the census
of 2010, there were 73,007 people, 29,705 households, and 17,127 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 34,571 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 69.1%
White, 24.2%
African American, 0.5%
Native American, 0.3%
Asian, 1.0% from
other races, and 4.8% from two or more races.
Hispanic or
Latino people of any race were 2.6% of the population.
There were 29,705 households, of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 30.8% were married couples living together, 21.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.3% were non-families. 35.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 3.04.
The median age in the city was 35.6 years. 25.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.6% were from 25 to 44; 25.6% were from 45 to 64; and 12.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.4% male and 52.6% female.
2020 census
''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.''
Government
Local government
Canton has a
mayor–council government and is the largest city in Ohio to operate without a charter. The city council is divided among nine wards with three at-large seats and the council president.
The 2018–2019 elected officials of the City of Canton consist of:
State government
Canton is represented by the following office holders at the Ohio state government:
Federal government
The City of Canton is represented by the following U.S. federal officials:
Economy
The Canton area's economy is primarily industrial, with significant health care and agricultural segments. The city is home to the TimkenSteel Corporation, a major manufacturer of specialty steel. Several other large companies operate in the greater-Canton area, including
Timken Company a maker of
tapered roller bearings;
Belden Brick Company
The Belden Brick Company is an American manufacturer and distributor of brick and masonry-related construction products and materials. Founder, Henry S. Belden (July 4, 1840 – April 21, 1921), chartered the company in Canton, Ohio as the ' ...
, a brick and masonry producer;
Diebold, a maker of
ATMs, electronic voting devices, and bank vaults, and
Medline Industries, a manufacturer and distributor of health care supplies. The area is also home to several regional food producers, including Nickles Bakery (baked goods), Case Farms (poultry), and
Shearer's Foods (snack foods). Poultry production and dairy farming are also important segments of the Canton area's economy.
Since 2000, Canton has experienced a very low unemployment rate. The healthcare sector is particularly strong, with
Aultman Hospital and Mercy Medical Center among its largest employers. Nevertheless, as in many industrial areas of the United States, employment in the manufacturing sector is in a state of decline.
LTV Steel
Ling-Temco-Vought (LTV) was a large American conglomerate which existed from 1961 to 2000. At its peak, it was involved in aerospace, airlines, electronics, steel manufacturing, sporting goods, meat packing, car rentals, and pharmaceuticals, am ...
(formerly
Republic Steel) suffered bankruptcy in 2000. Republic Steel emerged and continues to maintain operations in Canton.
Hoover Company
The Hoover Company is a home appliance company founded in Ohio, United States. It also established a major base in the United Kingdom; and, mostly in the 20th century, it dominated the electric vacuum cleaner industry, to the point where the Ho ...
, a major employer for decades in the region, reached an agreement to sell Hoover to Hong Kong-based
Techtronic Industries. The main plant in nearby North Canton closed its doors in September 2007 due to classified reasons. On June 30, 2014, the
Timken Company and TimkenSteel split, forming two separate companies at the urging of shareholders. The Timken Company relocated to neighboring
Jackson Township, while TimkenSteel remains headquartered in Canton. In response to this changing manufacturing landscape, the city is undergoing a transition to a retail and service-based economy.
Beginning in the 1970s, Canton, like many mid-size American cities, lost most of its downtown retail business to the suburbs. The majority of the Canton area's "box store" retail is located in the general vicinity of the
Belden Village Mall in
Jackson Township. However, in recent years, the downtown area has seen significant rejuvenation, with cafes, restaurants, and the establishment of an arts district. A few retail centers remain in Canton at or near the city limits. Tuscarawas Street (Lincoln Way), a leg of the
Lincoln Highway connecting Canton with nearby
Massillon
Jean-Baptiste Massillon, CO (24 June 1663, Hyères – 28 September 1742, Beauregard-l'Évêque), was a French Catholic prelate and famous preacher who served as Bishop of Clermont from 1717 until his death.
Biography
Early years
Massillon wa ...
, is home to the
Canton Centre mall and several retail outlets of varying size. A vein of commerce runs along Whipple Avenue, connecting the Canton Centre area with the Belden Village area. A similar vein runs north from the downtown area, along Cleveland and Market avenues. Connecting Cleveland and Market avenues is a small shopping district on 30th Street NW, and retail lines the
Route 62
The following highways are numbered 62:
Australia
* Kennedy Developmental Road - Queensland State Route 62
Canada
* Alberta Highway 62
* British Columbia Highway 62
* Newfoundland and Labrador Route 62
* Highway 62 (Ontario)
* Winnipeg Route 62 ...
corridor leading from Canton to
Louisville and
Alliance.
During the past century Canton has come to experience a renaissance. At the heart of this transformation is the
Pro Football Hall of Fame, with its multimillion-dollar "Hall of Fame Village" expansion project. This project has been complemented with significant investments by city leaders in urban redevelopment, which continued with the transformation of the Hotel Onesto into the Historic Onesto Lofts. Other urban renewal plans are underway, which include the redevelopment of the downtown Market Square area. Private investment has furthered Canton's transformation, which is illustrated by the multimillion-dollar creation of the Gervasi Vineyard, which draws patrons throughout the region. In furtherance of these development initiatives, Canton was one of the first cities in Ohio to create a "designated outdoor refreshment area" legalizing the possession and consumption of "
open container" alcoholic beverages in its downtown area.
Principal employers
According to Canton's 2017 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:
Arts and education
The
Canton Museum of Art
The Canton Museum of Art, founded in 1935, is a broad-based community arts organization designed to encourage and promote the fine arts in Canton, Ohio.
In its early days (1935–1945), the museum served largely as an exhibition and meeting place ...
, founded in 1935, is a broad-based community arts organization designed to encourage and promote the fine arts in Canton. The museum focuses on 19th- and 20th-century American artists, specifically works on paper, and on American
ceramics, beginning in the 1950s. The museum sponsors annual shows of work of high school students in Canton and Stark County, and financial scholarships are awarded. Educational outreach programs take the museum off-site to libraries, parochial schools, area public schools, five inner city schools and a school for students with behavioral disorders. The city's Arts District, located downtown, is the site of monthly First Friday arts celebrations.
Canton's K-12 students are primarily served by the
Plain Local School District
Plain Local School District is a public school district located in Plain Township, Stark County, Ohio, United States. The district educates approximately 6,100 students K–12. In addition to Plain Township the district also serves parts of the ci ...
, although students north of 17th Street NW have an overlap with
Canton Local School District
Canton Local School District is a school district in a suburb south of Canton, Ohio, United States. It is a public school district for the students living in the area of Canton Township and Pike Township. The area is commonly referred to as "Ca ...
. Canton Local School District serves the better part of Canton South.
Malone University, a private, four-year liberal arts college affiliated with the Evangelical Friends Church, is located on 25th Street NW. Catholic-run
Walsh University is located nearby in North Canton.
Stark State College
Stark State College (Stark State) is a public community college in Stark County, Ohio. The college offers 230 majors, options, one-year certificates, and career enhancement certificates. Approximately 4,000 noncredit students are enrolled in cont ...
and a branch of
Kent State University are also nearby, in Jackson Township. Also, in downtown Canton, there is a small annex for
Stark State College
Stark State College (Stark State) is a public community college in Stark County, Ohio. The college offers 230 majors, options, one-year certificates, and career enhancement certificates. Approximately 4,000 noncredit students are enrolled in cont ...
to be used by the early college high school students who are located on the Timken Campus.
Catholic grade schools within the city limits of Canton are St. Peter, St. Joseph, and
Our Lady of Peace. Additional Catholic schools in the Canton area include Canton St. Michael School, ranked first in the
Power of the Pen
Power of the Pen is an interscholastic writing league founded by Lorraine B. Merrill in 1986. It is a non-profit creative writing program for students in grades seven and eight in the U.S. state of Ohio.
Participation
Power of the Pen is exclus ...
state tournament in 2010, and Canton St. Joan of Arc School. There is also
Heritage Christian School (K-12), a Christian grade school and high school.
Canton Country Day School
Canton Country Day School, (commonly referred to as CCDS), is an independent day school in Canton, Ohio. The school founded in 1964 as part of the Country Day School movement, with the aim of combining innovation with a superior elementary educat ...
is a private PreK-8 school located just outside city limits in nearby
Plain Township. Within the city limits is the private Canton Montessori School, which teaches according to the Montessori Plan for education proposed by
Maria Montessori in the early 20th century.
Canton has the main branch of Stark County District Library.
Media
Print
Canton is served in print by ''
The Repository'', the city's only newspaper.
TV
Canton is part of the
Cleveland/
Akron/Canton television media market. Four stations are licensed to Canton – full-power
WDLI
WDLI-TV (channel 17) is a television station licensed to Canton, Ohio, United States, serving the Cleveland–Akron area as an affiliate of the digital multicast network Bounce TV. It is owned by Inyo Broadcast Holdings alongside Ion Televisio ...
(
Court TV
Court TV is an American digital broadcast network and former cable television channel. It was originally launched in 1991 with a focus on crime-themed programs such as true crime documentary series, legal analysis talk shows, and live news cove ...
) and
WRLM (
TCT), and low-power
WOHZ-CD (
CBS/
CW -
WOIO/
WUAB simulcast) and
WIVM-LD (
Independent). The two full-power stations identify as ''Canton/Akron/Cleveland'', serving the entire market, while the two low-power stations specifically serve Canton.
Canton also has a
cable Public-access television channel,
Canton City Schools
The Canton City School District (CCSD) is a public school district serving students in Canton, Ohio in the United States. In the 2020–2021 academic year its student enrollment was 8,000, making it the 22nd largest school district in the state. ...
TV 11. The content varies based on the viewer's location. Citizens located in
North Canton
North Canton is a city in central Stark County, Ohio, United States. The population was 17,842 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Canton–Massillon metropolitan area.
History
In 1831, the Community of North Canton first began as the Villag ...
will see North Canton's programming instead of Canton City's. Those within the borders of Plain Local Schools will see Eagle Television's programming.
Radio
On the radio side, Canton is served by
WKRW 89.3 (
NPR -
WKSU simulcast),
WDJQ
WDJQ (92.5 MHz, "Q92") is a commercial FM radio station licensed to Alliance, Ohio, and serving the Canton metropolitan area. WDJQ broadcasts a Top 40/CHR radio format and is owned by the family company of Don Peterson, the former publisher ...
92.5 (
Contemporary hits
Contemporary hit radio (also known as CHR, contemporary hits, hit list, current hits, hit music, top 40, or pop radio) is a radio format that is common in many countries that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by ...
),
WHBC-FM 94.1 (
Hot AC),
WHOF 101.7 (
Classic hits),
WRQK 106.9 (Rock),
WTIG
WTIG is an AM radio station in Massillon, Ohio operating on 990 kHz and featuring sports talk programming from ESPN Radio. The station is an affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds, Cincinnati Bengals, and the Columbus Blue Jackets radio networks.
Histo ...
990 (
Sports),
WILB 1060 (
Catholic),
WDPN 1310 (
Soft AC),
WHBC 1480 (
News/Talk), and
WINW
WINW (1520 kHz) is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Canton, Ohio. The station is known as "Joy 1520," and features an Urban Gospel radio format. WINW is daytimer station, transmitting with 1,000 watts using a directional antenna w ...
1530 (
Gospel).
Sports
Canton is home to the
Pro Football Hall of Fame. The
American Professional Football Association
The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the maj ...
, the forerunner of the
NFL
The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the major ...
, was founded in a Canton car dealership on September 17, 1920.
The
Canton Bulldogs
The Canton Bulldogs were a professional American football team, based in Canton, Ohio. They played in the Ohio League from 1903 to 1906 and 1911 to 1919, and the American Professional Football Association (later renamed the National Football Leag ...
were an NFL football team that played from 1920 to 1923, skipped the 1924 season, then played 1925 to 1926 before folding.
Canton is the home of the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival, which includes a
hot air balloon festival, ribs burn-off, fashion show, community parade, Sunday morning race, enshrinee dinner, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame Grand Parade. The festival culminates in the enshrinement of the new inductees and the NFL/Hall of Fame Game, a pre-season exhibition between teams representing the AFC and NFC at
Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.
Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, used during the regular season by
Canton McKinley High School (as well as some other area schools and colleges), was rated the number one high school football venue in America by the ''Sporting News'' in 2002. This may be partly attributable to the Bulldogs' rivalry with the nearby
Massillon Washington High School Tigers, which is regarded as one of the best rivalries in all of high school football. All seven of the
Ohio High School Athletic Association
The Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) is the governing body of athletic programs for junior and senior high schools in the state of Ohio. The OHSAA governs eligibility of student athletes, resolves disputes, organizes levels of compe ...
state final football games are hosted in Canton at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.
The
Canton Legends played in the
American Indoor Football Association at the
Canton Civic Center
The Canton Memorial Civic Center is a multi-purpose arena located in Canton, Ohio, United States.
Built in 1951, previous sports teams that have played at the center include the Canton Legends indoor football team, Canton Invaders indoor soccer ...
. Operations were suspended in 2009. The
Continental Indoor Football League also has offices in Canton.
The first official
female bodybuilding
Female bodybuilding is the female component of competitive bodybuilding. It began in the late 1970s, when women began to take part in bodybuilding competitions. competition was held in Canton in November 1977 and was called the Ohio Regional Women's Physique Championship.
For ten seasons, Canton was home to an
NBA G League team, the
Canton Charge, which started play with the 2011–12 season and home games at the
Canton Memorial Civic Center
The Canton Memorial Civic Center is a multi-purpose arena located in Canton, Ohio, United States.
Built in 1951, previous sports teams that have played at the center include the Canton Legends indoor football team, Canton Invaders indoor soccer ...
. The
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers (often referred to as the Cavs) are an American professional basketball team based in Cleveland. The Cavaliers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference (NBA), Ea ...
had full control over the franchise and relocated the franchise in to Cleveland in 2021 when the ten-year lease ended.
The
Canton Invaders of the
National Professional Soccer League II and
American Indoor Soccer Association played home games at the
Canton Memorial Civic Center
The Canton Memorial Civic Center is a multi-purpose arena located in Canton, Ohio, United States.
Built in 1951, previous sports teams that have played at the center include the Canton Legends indoor football team, Canton Invaders indoor soccer ...
from 1984 until 1996, winning five league championships. In 2009, the
Ohio Vortex
Ohio Vortex was an American professional indoor soccer team based in Canton, Ohio. They joined the Professional Arena Soccer League in 2009. The Ohio Vortex was a non-profit organization that donates a portion of their revenue to local charities. ...
became an expansion team in the
Professional Arena Soccer League. Operations have since been suspended.
Canton has been home to professional baseball on several occasions. A number of minor league teams called Canton home in the early 1900s, including the
Canton Terriers in the 1920s and 1930s. The
Canton–Akron Indians
The Canton–Akron Indians are a defunct Minor League Baseball team. They played in the Eastern League at Thurman Munson Memorial Stadium in Canton, Ohio from 1989 to 1996. They were affiliated with the Cleveland Indians.
History
Prior to their ...
were the AA affiliate of the major league
Cleveland Indians for nine years, playing at
Thurman Munson Memorial Stadium until the team relocated north to Akron following the 1996 season. Two independent minor league teams, the
Canton Crocodiles
Canton may refer to:
Administrative division terminology
* Canton (administrative division), territorial/administrative division in some countries, notably Switzerland
* Township (Canada), known as ''canton'' in Canadian French
Arts and ente ...
and the
Canton Coyotes, both members of the Frontier League, called Munson Stadium home for several years afterward. The Crocodiles, who won the league championship in their inaugural season in 1997, moved to Washington, Pennsylvania, in 2002, and the Coyotes moved to Columbia, Missouri, in 2003, after just one season in Canton.
Canton is home to the
Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps, a world-class competitor in
Drum Corps International. The Bluecoats have been a part of the "top five" finalists in the DCI World Championships since 2013, and took home the
Founders' Trophy in 2016, with their show entitled "Down Side Up".
Transportation
Canton is connected to the
Interstate Highway System via
Interstate 77
Interstate 77 (I-77) is a north–south Interstate Highway in the eastern United States. It traverses diverse terrain, from the mountainous state of West Virginia to the rolling farmlands of North Carolina and Ohio. It largely supplants the ...
which connects Canton to
Marietta, Ohio, and points south, and to Cleveland and Akron, Ohio, to the north.
U.S. Route 30 connects Canton to
Wooster, Ohio, and points west, and to
East Liverpool, Ohio, and points east.
U.S. Route 62 connects Canton to
Millersburg, Ohio, and points southwest, and to
Youngstown, Ohio, and points northeast.
The city has several
arterial roads.
Ohio 43 (Market Avenue, Walnut Avenue and Cherry Avenue),
Ohio 153 (12th Street and Mahoning Road),
Ohio 172 (Tuscarawas Street) /
The Lincoln Highway,
Ohio 297 (Whipple Avenue and Raff Avenue),
Ohio 627 (Faircrest Street),
Ohio 687 (Fulton Drive), and
Ohio 800 (Cleveland Avenue) / A.K.A. Old Route 8.
Until 1990,
Amtrak's passenger trains ''
Broadway Limited'' and the ''
Capitol Limited'' made stops at
Canton station.
Norfolk Southern and the
Wheeling-Lake Erie railroads provide freight service in Canton.
Stark Area Regional Transit Authority
SARTA, (Stark Area Regional Transit Authority), is a public sector transit agency servicing Stark County, a county in Ohio containing Canton, Alliance, and Massillon. In addition to its regular line service within Stark County, SARTA runs one bu ...
(SARTA) provides public transit bus service within the county, including service to
Massillon
Jean-Baptiste Massillon, CO (24 June 1663, Hyères – 28 September 1742, Beauregard-l'Évêque), was a French Catholic prelate and famous preacher who served as Bishop of Clermont from 1717 until his death.
Biography
Early years
Massillon wa ...
, the
Akron-Canton Regional Airport. Amtrak's ''
Capitol Limited'' makes stops in
Alliance station
Alliance station is an Amtrak train station in Alliance, Ohio, United States. Located at 820 East Main Street, the station consists of an uncovered platform on the south side of the east-west tracks, with a shelter and a small parking lot nearby.
...
, to the northeast.
In February 2022, it was reported that SARTA had hired a consultant group to study the feasibility of a
light rail line from the
Pro Football Hall of Fame to downtown Canton, with possible expansion to other locations around the county in the future. In June of that same year, the full plan was released, calling for a nine mile line from
Akron-Canton Airport to downtown, where it would run down 3rd street in a separated lane from traffic. It would connect to existing bus services near
Belden Village Mall and Cornerstone Transit Center. A first round of public meetings was held.
Notable people
Sister cities
Canton has two
sister cities:
* –
Acre
The acre is a unit of land area used in the imperial
Imperial is that which relates to an empire, emperor, or imperialism.
Imperial or The Imperial may also refer to:
Places
United States
* Imperial, California
* Imperial, Missouri
* Imp ...
, Israel
* –
Saltillo,
Coahuila
Coahuila (), formally Coahuila de Zaragoza (), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Coahuila de Zaragoza ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Coahuila de Zaragoza), is one of the 32 states of Mexico.
Coahuila borders the Mexican states of N ...
, Mexico
References
External links
City website
{{authority control
Cities in Ohio
Cities in Stark County, Ohio
Populated places established in 1805
County seats in Ohio
1805 establishments in Ohio