Canton () is a city in and the
county seat
A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or civil parish. The term is in use in Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, Taiwan, and the United States. The equivalent term shire town is used in the US ...
of
Stark County,
Ohio
Ohio () is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Of the List of states and territories of the United States, fifty U.S. states, it is the List of U.S. states and territories by area, 34th-l ...
.
It is located approximately south of
Cleveland
Cleveland ( ), officially the City of Cleveland, is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located in the northeastern part of the state, it is situated along the southern shore of Lake Erie, across the U ...
and south of
Akron
Akron () is the fifth-largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Summit County. It is located on the western edge of the Glaciated Allegheny Plateau, about south of downtown Cleveland. As of the 2020 Census, the city pro ...
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 ...
. The city lies on the edge of Ohio's extensive
Amish
The Amish (; pdc, Amisch; german: link=no, Amische), formally the Old Order Amish, are a group of traditionalist Anabaptist Christian church fellowships with Swiss German and Alsatian origins. They are closely related to Mennonite churches ...
country, particularly in
Holmes
Holmes may refer to:
Name
* Holmes (surname)
* Holmes (given name)
* Baron Holmes, noble title created twice in the Peerage of Ireland
* Chris Holmes, Baron Holmes of Richmond (born 1971), British former swimmer and life peer
Places
In the Un ...
and
Wayne
Wayne may refer to:
People with the given name and surname
* Wayne (given name)
* Wayne (surname)
Geographical
Places with name ''Wayne'' may take their name from a person with that surname; the most famous such person was Gen. "Mad" Anthon ...
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 Carroll may refer to:
People
* Carroll (given name)
* Carroll (surname)
* O'Carroll, also known as Carroll, a Gaelic Irish clan
* Mac Cearbhaill, anglicised as Carroll, a Gaelic Irish clan
* Charles Carroll Webster (1824-1893), American lawyer and ...
counties, and was home to 401,574 residents in 2020.
Founded in 1805 alongside the Middle and West Branches of
Nimishillen Creek
Nimishillen Creek is a tributary of Sandy Creek, 24.5 miles (39.4 km) long, in northeastern Ohio. Via Sandy Creek and the Tuscarawas, Muskingum and Ohio Rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River, draining an area of ...
, 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.
Canton is chiefly notable for being the home of the
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame for professional American football, located in Canton, Ohio. Opened on September 7, , the Hall of Fame enshrines exceptional figures in the sport of professional football, including players, coac ...
and the birthplace of the
National Football League
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 ma ...
. 25th U.S. President
William McKinley
William McKinley (January 29, 1843September 14, 1901) was the 25th president of the United States, serving from 1897 until his assassination in 1901. As a politician he led a realignment that made his Republican Party largely dominant in t ...
conducted the famed
front porch campaign
A front porch campaign is a low-key electoral campaign used in American politics in which the candidate remains close to or at home to make speeches to supporters who come to visit. The candidate largely does not travel around or otherwise activ ...
, which won him the
presidency of the United States
The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States of America. The president directs the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States ...
in
the 1896 election, from his home in Canton. The
McKinley National Memorial
The McKinley National Memorial in Canton, Ohio, United States, is the final resting place of William McKinley, who served as the 25th president of the United States from 1897 to his assassination in 1901. Canton was a significant place in McKin ...
and the
William McKinley Presidential Library and Museum
The William McKinley Presidential Library and Museum is the presidential library of 25th U.S. president William McKinley. The library, which is located at the foot of the McKinley National Memorial, is owned and operated by the Stark County His ...
commemorate his life and presidency. Canton was also chosen as the site of the
First Ladies National Historic Site
First Ladies National Historic Site is a United States National Historic Site located in Canton, Ohio. During her residency in Washington, D.C. Mary Regula, wife of Ohio congressman Ralph Regula, spoke regularly about the nation's first ladi ...
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 marrie ...
.
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 from
Maryland
Maryland ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; ...
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 Sout ...
whom Wells admired. O'Donnell named his estate in
Maryland
Maryland ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; ...
after the Chinese city Canton (a traditional English name for
Guangzhou
Guangzhou (, ; ; or ; ), also known as Canton () and alternatively romanized as Kwongchow or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of Guangdong province in southern China. Located on the Pearl River about north-northwest of Hong ...
) as he had been the first person to transport goods from there to
Baltimore
Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, and List of United States cities by popula ...
. The name selected by Wells may also have been influenced by the
Huguenot
The Huguenots ( , also , ) were a religious group of French Protestants who held to the Reformed, or Calvinist, tradition of Protestantism. The term, which may be derived from the name of a Swiss political leader, the Genevan burgomaster Bez ...
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
A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or civil parish. The term is in use in Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, Taiwan, and the United States. The equivalent term shire town is used in the US ...
of
Stark County upon its division from
Columbiana County
Columbiana County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 101,877. The county seat is Lisbon and its largest city is Salem. The county name is derived from the explorer of the Americas, Christo ...
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
William McKinley (January 29, 1843September 14, 1901) was the 25th president of the United States, serving from 1897 until his assassination in 1901. As a politician he led a realignment that made his Republican Party largely dominant in t ...
, the 25th president of the United States. Born in
Niles, Ohio
Niles is a city in southern Trumbull County, Ohio, United States, situated at the confluence of the Mahoning River and Mosquito Creek. The city's population was 18,443 at the 2020 census. It is a suburb of the Youngstown–Warren metropolitan ...
, 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
The William McKinley Presidential Library and Museum is the presidential library of 25th U.S. president William McKinley. The library, which is located at the foot of the McKinley National Memorial, is owned and operated by the Stark County His ...
and the
McKinley National Memorial
The McKinley National Memorial in Canton, Ohio, United States, is the final resting place of William McKinley, who served as the 25th president of the United States from 1897 to his assassination in 1901. Canton was a significant place in McKin ...
, dedicated in 1907.
Eugene V. Debs' anti-war speech at Nimisilla Park

On June 16, 1918,
Eugene V. Debs
Eugene Victor "Gene" Debs (November 5, 1855 – October 20, 1926) was an American socialist, political activist, trade unionist, one of the founding members of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), and five times the candidate of the Soc ...
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
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fig ...
, 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
Thomas Woodrow Wilson (December 28, 1856February 3, 1924) was an American politician and academic who served as the 28th president of the United States from 1913 to 1921. A member of the Democratic Party, Wilson served as the president of P ...
signed the
Espionage Act of 1917
The Espionage Act of 1917 is a United States federal law enacted on June 15, 1917, shortly after the United States entered World War I. It has been amended numerous times over the years. It was originally found in Title 50 of the U.S. Code (War ...
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
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...
. 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
The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) is the highest court in the federal judiciary of the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all U.S. federal court cases, and over state court cases that involve a point ...
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 a ...
''. 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
Ohio History Connection, formerly The Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society and Ohio Historical Society, is a nonprofit organization incorporated in 1885. Headquartered at the Ohio History Center in Columbus, Ohio, Ohio History Connect ...
, 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 and the Dueber Watch Case Company from
Newport, Kentucky
Newport is a home rule-class city at the confluence of the Ohio and Licking rivers in Campbell County, Kentucky. The population was 15,273 at the 2010 census. Historically, it was one of four county seats of Campbell County. Newport is a major ...
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
Amtorg Trading Corporation, also known as Amtorg (short for ''Amerikanskaya Torgovlya'', russian: Амторг), was the first trade representation of the Soviet Union in the United States, established in New York in 1924 by merging Armand Hamm ...
, 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
The Timken Company is a global manufacturer of bearings and power transmission products. Timken operates from 42 countries.
Company history
In 1898, Henry Timken obtained a patent for an improved tapered roller bearing, and in 1899 incorpora ...
has been among the largest employers in Canton for nearly 100 years. In 1898,
Henry Timken
Henry Timken (August 16, 1831 in Bremen, Germany – March 16, 1909 in San Diego, California)
was an inventor and businessman who founded the Timken Roller Bearing Company, later called the Timken Company. His family migrated to the United S ...
obtained a patent for the
tapered roller bearing
Tapered roller bearings are rolling element bearings that can support axial forces (i.e., they are good thrust bearings) as well as radial forces.
Description
The inner and outer ring raceways are segments of cones and the rollers are taper ...
, and in 1899 incorporated as the Timken Roller Bearing Axle Company in
St. Louis
St. Louis () is the second-largest city in Missouri, United States. It sits near the confluence of the Mississippi and the Missouri Rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a population of 301,578, while the bi-state metropolitan area, which e ...
. 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
Cleveland ( ), officially the City of Cleveland, is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located in the northeastern part of the state, it is situated along the southern shore of Lake Erie, across the U ...
and the American steel-making centers of
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Wester ...
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
Hupmobile was an automobile built from 1909 through 1939 by the Hupp Motor Car Company of Detroit. The prototype was developed in 1908.
History
Founding
In 1909, Bobby Hupp co-founded Hupp Motor Car Company, with Charles Hastings, f ...
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
Ralph Edward Hay (January 12, 1891July 29, 1944) was the owner of the Canton Bulldogs from 1918 through the 1922 season. However, he is mostly recognized for organizing the first meeting of teams that would later form the American Professional Fo ...
, 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 Lea ...
, 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 Chi ...
, owner of the
Decatur Staleys Decatur may refer to a number of places, streets, military establishments, schools, and others mostly named after Stephen Decatur:
Places in the United States
* Decatur, Alabama, county seat of Morgan County
** Decatur metropolitan area, Alabama ...
.
Jim Thorpe
James Francis Thorpe ( Sac and Fox (Sauk): ''Wa-Tho-Huk'', translated as "Bright Path"; May 22 or 28, 1887March 28, 1953) was an American athlete and Olympic gold medalist. A member of the Sac and Fox Nation, Thorpe was the first Nativ ...
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
''The Repository'' is an American daily local newspaper serving the Canton, Ohio area. It is currently owned by Gannett.
History
Historically, the newspaper had strong Republican connections, most notably with President William McKinley, who was ...
'', a local newspaper, called for city officials to lobby the
National Football League
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 ma ...
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
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame for professional American football, located in Canton, Ohio. Opened on September 7, , the Hall of Fame enshrines exceptional figures in the sport of professional football, including players, coac ...
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 ...
on December 19, 1982. The neighborhood consists of preserved, architect-designed
Revival style buildings of the
Tudor
Tudor most commonly refers to:
* House of Tudor, English royal house of Welsh origins
** Tudor period, a historical era in England coinciding with the rule of the Tudor dynasty
Tudor may also refer to:
Architecture
* Tudor architecture, the fin ...
,
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
Nimishillen Creek is a tributary of Sandy Creek, 24.5 miles (39.4 km) long, in northeastern Ohio. Via Sandy Creek and the Tuscarawas, Muskingum and Ohio Rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River, draining an area of ...
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
Nimishillen Township is one of the seventeen townships of Stark County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 9,098 people in the township.
Geography
Located in the eastern part of the county, it borders the following townships:
* Marlbo ...
,
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 United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy
An economy is an area of th ...
, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water.
Climate
Canton has a
humid continental climate
A humid continental climate is a climatic region defined by Russo-German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1900, typified by four distinct seasons and large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and freez ...
(
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by German-Russian climatologist Wladimir Köppen (1846–1940) in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen, nota ...
''Dfa''), typical of much of the
Midwestern United States
The Midwestern United States, also referred to as the Midwest or the American Midwest, is one of four census regions of the United States Census Bureau (also known as "Region 2"). It occupies the northern central part of the United States. I ...
, 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
The Snowbelt is the region near the Great Lakes in North America where heavy snowfall in the form of lake-effect snow is particularly common. Snowbelts are typically found downwind of the lakes, principally off the eastern and southern shores.
C ...
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
A thunderstorm, also known as an electrical storm or a lightning storm, is a storm characterized by the presence of lightning and its acoustic effect on the Earth's atmosphere, known as thunder. Relatively weak thunderstorms are some ...
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
Louisville ( , , ) is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the 28th most-populous city in the United States. Louisville is the historical seat and, since 2003, the nominal seat of Jefferson County, on the Indiana border. ...
,
East Canton,
Minerva
Minerva (; ett, Menrva) is the Roman goddess of wisdom, justice, law, victory, and the sponsor of arts, trade, and strategy. Minerva is not a patron of violence such as Mars, but of strategic war. From the second century BC onward, the R ...
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 that covers
Carroll Carroll may refer to:
People
* Carroll (given name)
* Carroll (surname)
* O'Carroll, also known as Carroll, a Gaelic Irish clan
* Mac Cearbhaill, anglicised as Carroll, a Gaelic Irish clan
* Charles Carroll Webster (1824-1893), American lawyer and ...
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
White is the lightness, lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully diffuse reflection, reflect and scattering, scatter all the ...
, 21.04%
African American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American ...
, 0.49%
Native American, 0.32%
Asian, 0.03%
Pacific Islander
Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the Pacific Islands. As an ethnic/racial term, it is used to describe the original peoples—inhabitants and diasporas—of any of the three major subregions of Ocea ...
, 0.61% from
other races
Other often refers to:
* Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy
Other or The Other may also refer to:
Film and television
* ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack
* ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...
, and 3.06% from two or more races.
Hispanic
The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad.
The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties for ...
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
White is the lightness, lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully diffuse reflection, reflect and scattering, scatter all the ...
, 24.2%
African American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American ...
, 0.5%
Native American, 0.3%
Asian, 1.0% from
other races
Other often refers to:
* Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy
Other or The Other may also refer to:
Film and television
* ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack
* ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...
, and 4.8% from two or more races.
Hispanic
The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad.
The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties for ...
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
The mayor–council government system is a system of local government that has a mayor who is directly elected by the voters serve as chief executive, and a separately elected legislative city council. It is one of the two most common forms of loc ...
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
The Timken Company is a global manufacturer of bearings and power transmission products. Timken operates from 42 countries.
Company history
In 1898, Henry Timken obtained a patent for an improved tapered roller bearing, and in 1899 incorpora ...
a maker of
tapered roller bearings;
Belden Brick Company, a brick and masonry producer;
Diebold
Diebold Nixdorf is an American multinational financial and retail technology company that specializes in the sale, manufacture, installation and service of self-service transaction systems (such as ATMs and currency processing systems), point ...
, a maker of
ATMs, electronic voting devices, and bank vaults, and
Medline Industries
Medline Industries, LP is a private American healthcare company headquartered in Northfield, Illinois. In June, 2021 it was acquired by a consortium of private equity firms Blackstone, Carlyle
Carlyle may refer to:
Places
* Carlyle, Illinois ...
, 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
Aultman Hospital is a non-profit hospital located in Canton, Ohio, United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. ...
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
Republic Steel is an American steel manufacturer that was once the country's third largest steel producer. It was founded as the Republic Iron and Steel Company in Youngstown, Ohio in 1899. After rising to prominence during the early 20th Cen ...
) 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 ...
, a major employer for decades in the region, reached an agreement to sell Hoover to Hong Kong-based
Techtronic Industries
Techtronic Industries Company Limited (TTI Group or TTI) is a Hong Kong-based, multinational company that designs, produces, and markets power tools; outdoor power equipment; hand tools, and floor care appliances. It pioneered cordless power to ...
. The main plant in nearby North Canton closed its doors in September 2007 due to classified reasons. On June 30, 2014, the
Timken Company
The Timken Company is a global manufacturer of bearings and power transmission products. Timken operates from 42 countries.
Company history
In 1898, Henry Timken obtained a patent for an improved tapered roller bearing, and in 1899 incorpora ...
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
Belden Village Mall is a shopping mall in Jackson Township, Stark County, Ohio, United States, a suburb of Canton. Its current anchor tenants are Dave & Buster's (in the upper level of the former Sears), Dillard's (formerly Higbee's), and Macy's ( ...
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
The Lincoln Highway is the first transcontinental highway in the United States and one of the first highways designed expressly for automobiles. Conceived in 1912 by Indiana entrepreneur Carl G. Fisher, and formally dedicated October 31, 1913 ...
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
Louisville ( , , ) is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the 28th most-populous city in the United States. Louisville is the historical seat and, since 2003, the nominal seat of Jefferson County, on the Indiana border. ...
and
Alliance
An alliance is a relationship among people, groups, or states that have joined together for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out among them. Members of an alliance are called ...
.
During the past century Canton has come to experience a renaissance. At the heart of this transformation is the
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame for professional American football, located in Canton, Ohio. Opened on September 7, , the Hall of Fame enshrines exceptional figures in the sport of professional football, including players, coac ...
, 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
A ceramic is any of the various hard, brittle, heat-resistant and corrosion-resistant materials made by shaping and then firing an inorganic, nonmetallic material, such as clay, at a high temperature. Common examples are earthenware, porcelain, ...
, 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 c ...
, although students north of 17th Street NW have an overlap with
Canton Local School District. Canton Local School District serves the better part of Canton South.
Malone University
Malone University is a Private university, private Christian university in Canton, Ohio. It was founded in 1892 by Walter and Emma Malone as a small, co-educational Bible college, Bible institute called Cleveland Bible College. The institution h ...
, a private, four-year liberal arts college affiliated with the Evangelical Friends Church, is located on 25th Street NW. Catholic-run
Walsh University
Walsh University is a private Roman Catholic university in North Canton, Ohio. It enrolls approximately 2,700 students and was founded in 1960 by the Brothers of Christian Instruction as a liberal arts college. Walsh College became Walsh Uni ...
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
Kent State University (KSU) is a public research university in Kent, Ohio. The university also includes seven regional campuses in Northeast Ohio and additional facilities in the region and internationally. Regional campuses are located in A ...
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
Our Lady of Peace, Mother of Peace, Queen of Peace or Our Lady Queen of Peace is a title of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Roman Catholic Church. She is represented in art holding a dove and an olive branch, symbols of peace. Her official memori ...
. Additional Catholic schools in the Canton area include Canton St. Michael School, ranked first in the
Power of the Pen 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
Maria Tecla Artemisia Montessori ( , ; August 31, 1870 – May 6, 1952) was an Italian physician and educator best known for the philosophy of education that bears her name, and her writing on scientific pedagogy. At an early age, Montessori e ...
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 Repository'' is an American daily local newspaper serving the Canton, Ohio area. It is currently owned by Gannett.
History
Historically, the newspaper had strong Republican connections, most notably with President William McKinley, who was ...
'', the city's only newspaper.
TV
Canton is part of the
Cleveland
Cleveland ( ), officially the City of Cleveland, is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located in the northeastern part of the state, it is situated along the southern shore of Lake Erie, across the U ...
/
Akron
Akron () is the fifth-largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Summit County. It is located on the western edge of the Glaciated Allegheny Plateau, about south of downtown Cleveland. As of the 2020 Census, the city pro ...
/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 Television ...
(
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
WOHZ-CD (channels 19 and 43) is a low-power, Class A television station in Canton, Ohio, United States. Owned by Gray Television, it serves as an ultra high frequency (UHF) translator of Gray's two full-power stations in the Cleveland market: ...
(
CBS/
CW -
WOIO
WOIO (channel 19) is a television station licensed to Shaker Heights, Ohio, United States, serving the Cleveland area as an affiliate of CBS. It is owned by Gray Television alongside Low-power broadcasting#Television, low-power Telemundo affili ...
/
WUAB
WUAB (channel 43) is a television station licensed to Lorain, Ohio, United States, serving the Cleveland area as an affiliate of The CW. It is owned by Gray Television alongside low-power Telemundo affiliate WTCL-LD (channel 6) and Shaker Hei ...
simulcast) and
WIVM-LD
WIVM-LD, virtual channel 39 (UHF digital channel 34), is a low-powered television station licensed to Canton, Ohio, United States. WIVN-LD (virtual channel 29 and VHF digital channel 5) and WIVD-LD (virtual and UHF digital channel 26) in Newcom ...
(
Independent
Independent or Independents may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups
* Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in the New Hope, Pennsylvania, area of the United States during the early 1930s
* Independe ...
). 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
Cable may refer to:
Mechanical
* Nautical cable, an assembly of three or more ropes woven against the weave of the ropes, rendering it virtually waterproof
* Wire rope, a type of rope that consists of several strands of metal wire laid into a hel ...
Public-access television
Public-access television is traditionally a form of non-commercial mass media where the general public can create content television programming which is narrowcast through cable television specialty channels. Public-access television was cre ...
channel,
Canton City Schools 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
National Public Radio (NPR, stylized in all lowercase) is an American privately and state funded nonprofit media organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with its NPR West headquarters in Culver City, California. It differs from other ...
-
WKSU
WKSU (89.7 FM) is a non-commercial educational radio station licensed to serve Kent, Ohio, featuring a public radio format. Owned by Kent State University and operated by Ideastream Public Media, WKSU's primary signal encompasses the Akr ...
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 o ...
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
WHBC-FM (94.1 MHz) is a commercial radio station in Canton, Ohio, United States with a hot adult contemporary format. The station was established in 1948 as the sister station to WHBC, and it has been commonly owned with the AM station ever since ...
94.1 (
Hot AC
Adult contemporary music (AC) is a form of radio-played popular music, ranging from 1960s vocal and 1970s soft rock music to predominantly ballad-heavy music of the present day, with varying degrees of easy listening, pop, soul, R&B, qui ...
),
WHOF
WHOF (101.7 FM) is a commercial radio station licensed to North Canton, Ohio, carrying a classic hits format known as "Sunny 101.7". Owned by iHeartMedia, Inc., the station serves both the Canton and Akron metro areas and is the local affilia ...
101.7 (
Classic hits
Classic hits is a radio format which generally includes songs from the top 40 music charts from the late 1960s to the early 2000s, with music from the 1980s serving as the core of the format. Music that was popularized by MTV in the early 198 ...
),
WRQK
WRQK-FM (106.9 FM) is a commercial radio station licensed to serve Canton, Ohio, featuring a mainstream rock format known as "Rock 106.9". Owned by iHeartMedia, the station serves both the Canton and Akron metro areas and is the local affiliat ...
106.9 (Rock),
WTIG 990 (
Sports
Sport pertains to any form of competitive physical activity or game that aims to use, maintain, or improve physical ability and skills while providing enjoyment to participants and, in some cases, entertainment to spectators. Sports can, ...
),
WILB 1060 (
Catholic
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwide . It is am ...
),
WDPN 1310 (
Soft AC
Adult contemporary music (AC) is a form of radio-played popular music, ranging from 1960s vocal and 1970s soft rock music to predominantly ballad-heavy music of the present day, with varying degrees of easy listening, pop, soul, R&B, quiet sto ...
),
WHBC 1480 (
News/Talk
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues and consisting entirely or almost entirely of original spoken word content rather than outside music. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often featur ...
), and
WINW 1530 (
Gospel
Gospel originally meant the Christian message (" the gospel"), but in the 2nd century it came to be used also for the books in which the message was set out. In this sense a gospel can be defined as a loose-knit, episodic narrative of the words a ...
).
Sports

Canton is home to the
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame for professional American football, located in Canton, Ohio. Opened on September 7, , the Hall of Fame enshrines exceptional figures in the sport of professional football, including players, coac ...
. 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 maj ...
, 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 Lea ...
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
Hot air balloon festivals are held annually in many places throughout the year, allowing hot air balloons operators to gather- as well as for the general public- to participate in various activities. They can include races; evening "night glows" ...
, 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, formerly Fawcett Stadium, is a football stadium and entertainment complex in Canton, Ohio. It is a major component of ''Hall of Fame Village'', located adjacent to the grounds of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The ...
.

Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, used during the regular season by
Canton McKinley High School
McKinley Senior High School is a public high school in Canton, Ohio, United States. It is the only high school in the Canton City School District and has two campuses: Downtown Campus (mostly known as Early College High School or Timken High Sc ...
(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
The Canton Legends was a professional indoor football team based out of Canton, Ohio. They were a charter member of the American Indoor Football Association, which played their first season under the name Atlantic Indoor Football League, and th ...
played in the
American Indoor Football Association
American Indoor Football (AIF) was a professional indoor football league, one of the several regional professional indoor football leagues in North America.
The AIFL began as a regional league with six franchises on the East Coast of the United ...
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
The Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL) was an indoor football league based along the Midwestern United States region that played nine seasons from 2006 to 2014. It began play in April 2006 as the Great Lakes Indoor Football League (GLI ...
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
The NBA G League, or simply the G League, is the National Basketball Association's (NBA) official minor league basketball organization. The league was known as the National Basketball Development League (NBDL) from 2001 to 2005, and the NBA De ...
team, the
Canton Charge
The Cleveland Charge are an American professional basketball team in the NBA G League based in Cleveland, Ohio, and are affiliated with the Cleveland Cavaliers. The team plays its home games at the Wolstein Center in downtown Cleveland.
The f ...
, 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 The Canton Invaders was an indoor soccer club based in Canton, Ohio that competed in the National Professional Soccer League.
After the 1995–96 season, the team relocated and became the Columbus Invaders.
History
The Canton Invaders were a pro ...
of the
National Professional Soccer League II
National may refer to:
Common uses
* Nation or country
** Nationality – a ''national'' is a person who is subject to a nation, regardless of whether the person has full rights as a citizen
Places in the United States
* National, Maryland, c ...
and
American Indoor Soccer Association
American(s) may refer to:
* American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America"
** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America
** American ancestry, pe ...
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
A professional is a member of a profession or any person who works in a specified professional activity. The term also describes the standards of education and training that prepare members of the profession with the particular knowledge and skil ...
. 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
The Canton Terriers was the name of a minor league baseball team from Canton, Ohio that played between 1928 and 1942. The team was formed in 1928 as a member of the Central League and played there until 1932. In 1936 a new Terriers team was form ...
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
The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. Since , they have played at Progressive ...
for nine years, playing at
Thurman Munson Memorial Stadium
Thurman Munson Memorial Stadium is a stadium in Canton, Ohio, USA, primarily used for baseball. The facility is named after former Major League Baseball player Thurman Munson, who grew up in Canton. Munson was a New York Yankees catcher who was ki ...
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
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 ...
, 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
The Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps, or simply The Bluecoats, is a World Class competitive drum and bugle corps. Based in Canton, Ohio, the Bluecoats are a member corps of Drum Corps International (DCI). The Bluecoats were the 2016 Drum Corps Int ...
, a world-class competitor in
Drum Corps International
Drum Corps International (DCI) is a governing body for junior drum and bugle corps responsible for developing and enforcing rules of competition, and for providing standardized adjudication at sanctioned drum and bugle corps competitions through ...
. 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
The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, commonly known as the Interstate Highway System, is a network of controlled-access highways that forms part of the National Highway System in the United States. T ...
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
Marietta is a city in, and the county seat of, Washington County, Ohio, United States. It is located in southeastern Ohio at the confluence of the Muskingum and Ohio Rivers, northeast of Parkersburg, West Virginia. As of the 2020 census, M ...
, and points south, and to Cleveland and Akron, Ohio, to the north.
U.S. Route 30
U.S. Route 30 or U.S. Highway 30 (US 30) is an east–west main route in the system of the United States Numbered Highways, with the highway traveling across the northern tier of the country. With a length of , it is the third longest ...
connects Canton to
Wooster, Ohio
Wooster ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Wayne County. Located in northeastern Ohio, the city lies approximately south-southwest of Cleveland, southwest of Akron and west of Canton. The population was 27,232 at ...
, and points west, and to
East Liverpool, Ohio
East Liverpool is a city in southeastern Columbiana County, Ohio, United States. The population was 9,958 at the 2020 census. It lies along the Ohio River within the Upper Ohio Valley and borders Pennsylvania to the east and West Virginia to t ...
, and points east.
U.S. Route 62
U.S. Route 62 or U.S. Highway 62 (US 62) runs from the Mexico–United States border, Mexican border at El Paso, Texas, to Niagara Falls, New York, near the Canada–United States border, Canadian border. It is the only east-west ...
connects Canton to
Millersburg, Ohio
Millersburg is a village and the county seat of Holmes County, Ohio, United States located south of Cleveland. The population was 3,025 at the 2010 census. Holmes County Airport, located two miles southwest of Millersburg, serves the county.
H ...
, and points southwest, and to
Youngstown, Ohio
Youngstown is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio, and the largest city and county seat of Mahoning County, Ohio, Mahoning County. At the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, Youngstown had a city population of 60,068. It is a principal city of ...
, and points northeast.
The city has several
arterial road
An arterial road or arterial thoroughfare is a high-capacity urban road that sits below freeways/motorways on the road hierarchy in terms of traffic flow and speed. The primary function of an arterial road is to deliver traffic from collector ...
s.
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
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak () , is the national passenger railroad company of the United States. It operates inter-city rail service in 46 of the 48 contiguous U.S. States and nine cities in Canada ...
's passenger trains ''
Broadway Limited
The ''Broadway Limited'' was a passenger train operated by the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) between New York City and Chicago. It operated from 1912 to 1995. It was the Pennsylvania's premier train, competing directly with the New York Central Ra ...
'' and the ''
Capitol Limited
The ''Capitol Limited'' is a daily Amtrak train between Washington, D.C., and Chicago, running via Pittsburgh and Cleveland. Service began in 1981 and was named after the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad's '' Capitol Limited'' which ended in 1971 ...
'' made stops at
Canton station.
Norfolk Southern
The Norfolk Southern Railway is a Class I freight railroad in the United States formed in 1982 with the merger of Norfolk and Western Railway and Southern Railway. With headquarters in Atlanta, the company operates 19,420 route miles (31, ...
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 bus ...
(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
The ''Capitol Limited'' is a daily Amtrak train between Washington, D.C., and Chicago, running via Pittsburgh and Cleveland. Service began in 1981 and was named after the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad's '' Capitol Limited'' which ended in 1971 ...
'' 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
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame for professional American football, located in Canton, Ohio. Opened on September 7, , the Hall of Fame enshrines exceptional figures in the sport of professional football, including players, coac ...
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
Belden Village Mall is a shopping mall in Jackson Township, Stark County, Ohio, United States, a suburb of Canton. Its current anchor tenants are Dave & Buster's (in the upper level of the former Sears), Dillard's (formerly Higbee's), and Macy's ( ...
and Cornerstone Transit Center. A first round of public meetings was held.
Notable people
Sister cities
Canton has two
sister cities
A sister city or a twin town relationship is a form of legal or social agreement between two geographically and politically distinct localities for the purpose of promoting cultural and commercial ties.
While there are early examples of inter ...
:
* –
Acre
The acre is a unit of land area used in the imperial and US customary systems. It is traditionally defined as the area of one chain by one furlong (66 by 660 feet), which is exactly equal to 10 square chains, of a square mile, 4,840 square ...
, Israel
* –
Saltillo
Saltillo () is the capital and largest city of the northeastern Mexican state of Coahuila and is also the municipal seat of the municipality of the same name. Mexico City, Monterrey, and Saltillo are all connected by a major railroad and highwa ...
,
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