Canton, Ohio facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Canton
City
Downtown Canton Pro Football Hall of Fame McKinley Tomb First Ladies National Historic Site McKinley Presidential Library
Flag Seal
Nickname(s):  Hall of Fame City
Canton Location in Ohio Show map of Ohio Canton Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Ohio
County	Stark
Founded	1805
Incorporated	1822 (village)
–	1838 (city)
Named for	Canton, China
Government
• Type	Mayor–council
Area
• City	26.41 sq mi (68.41 km2)
• Land	26.35 sq mi (68.25 km2)
• Water	0.06 sq mi (0.16 km2)
Elevation	1,066 ft (325 m)
Population  (2020)
• City	70,872
• Estimate  (2023)	69,197
• Density	2,689.44/sq mi (1,038.41/km2)
• Urban	295,319 (US: 137th)
• Urban density	1,638.9/sq mi (632.8/km2)
• Metro	401,574 (US: 136th)
• CSA	3,769,834 (US: 17th)
Demonym(s)	Cantonian
Time zone	UTC−5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes	44701–44711, 44714, 44718, 44720–44721, 44730, 44735, 44750, 44767, 44799
Area code/Area code	330 & 234
FIPS code	39-12000
GNIS feature ID	1086974
Website	www.cantonohio.gov

Canton is a city in Ohio, United States. It is the main city of Stark County. Canton is about 60 miles (97 km) south of Cleveland. It is also 20 miles (32 km) south of Akron. The city is located in Northeast Ohio, near Ohio's Amish Country.

In 2020, Canton had a population of 70,872 people. This makes it one of the larger cities in Ohio. It is the biggest city in the Canton–Massillon metropolitan area. This area includes Stark and Carroll counties. In 2020, about 401,574 people lived in this wider area.

Canton was founded in 1805. It grew near the Nimishillen Creek. The city became a center for making many things, thanks to its railroad lines. Later, the manufacturing industry changed. Many factories closed or became smaller. Because of this, Canton's economy changed. Now, it focuses more on services like shopping, education, and healthcare.

Canton is famous for being the home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It is also where the National Football League (NFL) was started. William McKinley, who became the 25th U.S. President, lived in Canton. He ran his famous "front porch campaign" from his home here. This campaign helped him win the presidency in 1896. The McKinley National Memorial and the William McKinley Presidential Library and Museum teach about his life. The First Ladies National Historic Site is also in Canton. It honors his wife, Ida Saxton McKinley.

Since the mid-2010s, Canton has been growing and improving. Its downtown area has a lively arts district. Many old buildings have been fixed up. They are now modern apartments, bringing new people to live downtown.

Discovering Canton's Past

Canton was established in 1805. It became a village in 1822 and a city in 1838. Bezaleel Wells, a surveyor from Maryland, officially recorded the city's plan in 1805. Canton was likely named after Captain John O'Donnell. He was an Irish merchant who admired Canton, China. O'Donnell had named his estate in Maryland after the Chinese city. The name might also come from the French word "canton." This word means a part of a district. Thanks to Wells, Canton became the main city of Stark County in 1809.

President William McKinley's Home in Canton

Canton is home to both the McKinley National Memorial (pictured) and the McKinley Presidential Library.

Canton was the home of William McKinley for most of his adult life. He was the 25th president of the United States. McKinley was born in Niles, Ohio. He started practicing law in Canton around 1867. He also served as the prosecuting attorney for Stark County.

Canton was his base when he ran for governor of Ohio. It was also the place for his "front-porch presidential campaigns." These campaigns happened in 1896 and 1900. Today, Canton has the William McKinley Presidential Library and Museum. It also has the McKinley National Memorial, which opened in 1907.

President McKinley's influence is still seen in Canton. For example, McKinley Senior High School is named after him.

Important Companies in Canton's History

Timken Roller Bearing Co., 1922.

The Timken Company has been a major employer in Canton for almost 100 years. In 1898, Henry Timken invented the tapered roller bearing. He started his company in 1899. In 1901, the company moved to Canton. This was because it was close to car factories in Detroit and steel centers like Pittsburgh.

By 1960, Timken had operations around the world. In 2014, the company split into two. The Timken Company still makes roller bearings. TimkenSteel makes special steel. TimkenSteel is still based in Canton. It employs many people in Northeast Ohio. The Timken Co. is now in Jackson Township, a suburb of Canton. It has many employees globally.

The Dueber-Hampden Watch Company was also a big employer in the early 1900s. In 1888, John Dueber moved his watch companies to Canton. They quickly became major employers. In 1888, they hired 2,300 people. This made Canton an important place for watch making. The company closed in 1930. Its large factories were later taken down to build Interstate 77.

Canton's Football Heritage

The 1923 Canton Bulldogs were NFL champions.

On September 17, 1920, a special meeting happened in Canton. It was held in a car showroom. At this meeting, the American Professional Football Association was formed. This group later became the National Football League (NFL) in 1922. Ralph Hay, who owned the local team, the Canton Bulldogs, was there. So was George Halas, a famous football figure. Jim Thorpe, a star player for the Bulldogs, became the league's first president. In 2014, a sculpture called Birth of the NFL was put up in downtown Canton. It marks the exact spot where the NFL began.

In 1959, a local newspaper suggested that Canton should have a football hall of fame. Canton officials offered their city as the location in 1961. The NFL quickly agreed. To help, the city donated land for the project. Local people also raised nearly $400,000 to help build it.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame opened on September 7, 1963. It started with two buildings. Over the years, it has grown with several expansions. By 2013, it had five buildings. More than 10 million people have visited the Hall of Fame. When someone new is chosen for the Hall of Fame, people say, "Welcome to Canton!"

Canton's Natural Surroundings

City Landscape and Waterways

Nimishillen Creek flows through Canton.

Canton is located at an elevation of about 1,060 feet (323 meters). The Nimishillen Creek flows through the city. It has East, Middle, and West Branches.

Canton is surrounded by other towns and townships. These include Plain Township and North Canton to the north. To the west are Meyers Lake and Perry Township. Canton Township is to the south. To the east are Nimishillen Township, Osnaburg Township, and East Canton.

The city covers a total area of about 25.48 square miles (66.0 km2). Most of this area is land.

Canton's Weather Patterns

Canton has a humid continental climate. This means it has warm, humid summers and cold winters. In January, the average high temperature is 34°F (1°C). The average low is 19°F (-7°C). Temperatures can change a lot in winter. Snowfall is not as heavy as in areas further north. The Akron-Canton Airport gets about 47.7 inches (121 cm) of snow each winter.

Springs are short, quickly changing from winter to summer. Summers are warm, sometimes hot. In July, the average high is 83°F (28°C). The average low is 62°F (17°C). Summers are usually humid with thunderstorms. Temperatures can reach 90°F (32°C) about 10 times each summer. Fall is usually the driest season. It has many clear, warm days and cool nights.

The highest temperature ever recorded was 104°F (40°C) in August 1918. The lowest was -25°F (-32°C) in January 1994.

How Canton's Streets are Organized

Canton's street system helps organize addresses in Stark County. The city is divided into four sections: Northwest (NW), Northeast (NE), Southwest (SW), and Southeast (SE). Tuscarawas Street divides north and south. Market Avenue divides east and west. South of the city, Cleveland Avenue and Ridge Road take over as the east-west divider. Street names often end with these directions, like "Tuscarawas St W." Numbered streets usually run east and west. Named avenues typically run north and south.

Exploring Canton's Neighborhoods

Houses at the corner of Yale Avenue and 22nd Street in the Ridgewood Historic District.

Canton has many different neighborhoods, each with its own feel. Some of these include:

The Ridgewood Historic District is a special historic neighborhood. It was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1982. This is because of its beautiful architecture. The neighborhood has well-preserved buildings from the early 1900s. These homes are built in styles like Tudor, Georgian, and French-Norman. The area also has original brick streets and unique streetlights. Famous architects like Charles Firestone designed homes here.

Canton's People and Growth

Location of the Canton–Massillon metropolitan area in Ohio.

Canton is the largest city in the Canton–Massillon metropolitan area. This area includes Carroll and Stark counties. In 2010, the total population of this area was 404,422.

Canton's Population in 2020

In 2020, Canton had 70,872 people. The city's population is made up of different groups. About 60.86% of residents were White. About 24.48% were Black or African American. Other groups included Native American, Asian, Pacific Islander, and people of two or more races. About 5.05% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

Canton's Population in 2010

In 2010, Canton had 73,007 people living in 29,705 households. About 31.5% of households had children under 18. About 30.8% were married couples. The average household had 2.35 people. The average family had 3.04 people.

The average age in the city was 35.6 years. About 25.1% of residents were under 18. About 12.8% were 65 or older. The city had slightly more females (52.6%) than males (47.4%).

Canton's Economy and Jobs

Production of half-track armored cars in a converted Diebold Safe and Lock Company plant, Canton, Ohio.

Canton's economy used to be mostly about making things in factories. Now, it also has strong healthcare and farming parts. TimkenSteel Corporation is a big company in Canton. It makes special steel. Other large companies in the Canton area include Timken Company, which makes bearings. Belden Brick Company makes bricks. Diebold makes ATMs and bank vaults. Medline Industries makes healthcare supplies.

The area also has several food producers. These include Nickles Bakery, Case Farms (poultry), and Shearer's Foods (snacks). Poultry farming and dairy farming are also important.

Since 2000, Canton has had low unemployment. The healthcare industry is very strong. Aultman Hospital and Mercy Medical Center are big employers. However, like many industrial cities, factory jobs have decreased. Companies like LTV Steel and Hoover Company have changed. The Timken Company moved its headquarters to a nearby suburb.

Bricks manufactured in Canton.

Because of these changes, Canton is shifting to a retail and service-based economy. In the 1970s, many downtown shops moved to the suburbs. Now, most big stores are near the Belden Village Mall in Jackson Township. However, in the 2010s, downtown Canton started to grow again. New cafes and restaurants opened. An arts district was created.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame is a big part of this change. It has a large "Hall of Fame Village" expansion project. City leaders have also invested in improving downtown. For example, the Hotel Onesto was turned into modern apartments. Other plans are underway to redevelop the downtown Market Square area. Private businesses have also invested, like the Gervasi Vineyard.

Major Employers in Canton

Market Street, Showing Northwest Corner Public Corner, Canton, Ohio.

Here are some of the top employers in Canton, based on a 2022 report:

Arts and Culture in Canton

Palace Theatre.

The Canton Museum of Art started in 1935. It helps promote fine arts in Canton. The museum focuses on American artists from the 1800s and 1900s. It also has American ceramics from the 1950s onward. The museum holds yearly shows for high school students. It also gives out scholarships. Educational programs bring the museum to schools and libraries.

Canton's Arts District is downtown. It hosts "First Friday" arts celebrations every month. Canton also has the main branch of the Stark County District Library.

Sports in Canton

Football: The Heart of Canton

Entrance to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Canton is famous for being the home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The American Professional Football Association, which became the NFL, was founded here in 1920. The Canton Bulldogs were an NFL team that played from 1920 to 1926.

Every year, Canton hosts the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival. This event includes many fun activities. There's a hot air balloon festival, a ribs cook-off, a fashion show, and parades. The festival ends with the new Hall of Fame members being honored. It also features the NFL/Hall of Fame Game. This is a pre-season game played at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.

Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium is home to the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Game. In 2023, it was a hub for the USFL.

Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium is also used by Canton McKinley High School. It's considered one of the best high school football venues in America. This is partly due to the rivalry between the Bulldogs and the Massillon Washington High School Tigers. All seven of Ohio's high school state football championship games are played here.

The Canton Legends played indoor football here. The Continental Indoor Football League also has offices in Canton. In 2023, Canton was a main location for the United States Football League (USFL). Teams like the New Jersey Generals played their home games at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.

Other Sports and Activities

The first official female bodybuilding competition happened in Canton in November 1977. It was called the Ohio Regional Women's Physique Championship.

For 10 seasons, Canton had an NBA G League team called the Canton Charge. They played at the Canton Memorial Civic Center. This team was connected to the Cleveland Cavaliers. In 2021, the team moved to Cleveland.

The Canton Invaders were an indoor soccer team. They played at the Canton Memorial Civic Center from 1984 to 1996. They won five league championships.

Canton has also had professional baseball teams. The Canton Terriers played in the 1920s and 1930s. The Canton–Akron Indians were a minor league team for the Cleveland Indians. They played at Thurman Munson Memorial Stadium until 1996. Later, two independent minor league teams, the Canton Crocodiles and the Canton Coyotes, played there.

Canton is home to the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps. This group competes at a world-class level in Drum Corps International. The Bluecoats have been top finalists since 2013. They won the Founders' Trophy in 2016.

Education in Canton

Canton McKinley High School is the largest secondary school in Canton.

Most K-12 students in Canton attend schools in the public Canton City School District. This district includes eight elementary schools, three middle schools, and two high schools. Some parts of northern Canton are in the Plain Local School District. There is also an overlap with the suburban Canton Local School District.

Catholic grade schools in Canton include St. Peter, St. Joseph, and Our Lady of Peace. Nearby Catholic schools are St. Michael the Archangel School and Central Catholic High School. There is also Heritage Christian School (K–12). Canton Country Day School is a private PreK–8 school just outside the city. The Canton Montessori School is inside the city.

Malone University is a private, four-year college in Canton. It is connected with the Evangelical Friends Church - Eastern Region. Walsh University, a Catholic university, is nearby in North Canton. Stark State College and a branch of Kent State University are also close by in Jackson Township. Downtown Canton also has a small annex for Stark State College.

Media and Communication

Print Media

Canton's local newspaper is The Repository.

Television Channels

Canton is part of the Cleveland/Akron/Canton television market. Four TV stations are licensed to Canton. These include full-power stations WDLI and WRLM. There are also low-power stations WOHZ-CD and WIVM-LD. The full-power stations serve the whole market. The low-power stations focus on Canton.

Canton also has a cable Public-access television channel, Canton City Schools TV 11. The content on this channel changes depending on where you live.

Radio Stations

Canton is its own radio market. It has several radio stations. These include WKRW 89.3 (NPR), WDJQ 92.5 (Contemporary hits), WHBC-FM 94.1 (Hot AC), WHOF 101.7 (Classic hits), WRQK 106.9 (Rock), WTIG 990 (Sports), WILB 1060 (Catholic), WDPN 1310 (Soft AC), WHBC 1480 (News/Talk), and WINW 1520 (Gospel).

Getting Around Canton

A SARTA bus in 2013.

Canton is connected to the Interstate Highway System by Interstate 77. This highway goes south to Marietta and north to Cleveland. U.S. Route 30 connects Canton to Wooster to the west and East Liverpool to the east. U.S. Route 62 connects Canton to Millersburg southwest and to Youngstown northeast.

The city also has several main roads. These include Ohio 43, Ohio 153, and Ohio 172 (part of The Lincoln Highway). Other routes are Ohio 297, Ohio 627, Ohio 687, and Ohio 800.

Until 1990, Amtrak passenger trains stopped at Canton station. Now, Amtrak's Capitol Limited stops about 20 miles (32 km) northeast in Alliance station. Norfolk Southern and the Wheeling and Lake Erie railroads provide freight train service.

The Stark Area Regional Transit Authority (SARTA) provides public bus service. It serves areas within the county, including Massillon and the Akron-Canton Regional Airport. In 2022, SARTA began studying the idea of a light rail line. This line could connect the Pro Football Hall of Fame to downtown Canton. It might also expand to other parts of the county. The plan suggests a nine-mile line from the airport to downtown.

Famous People from Canton

Many notable people have come from Canton, Ohio.

Canton's Sister Cities

Canton has two sister cities. These are cities that have a special partnership to promote cultural ties and understanding:

• – Acre, Israel
• – Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico

Images for kids

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  The McKinley National Memorial in Canton.

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  President McKinley during his re-election campaign in Canton, 1900.

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  Eugene V. Debs speaking in Canton, 1918.

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  Ohio Historical Marker for Eugene V. Debs' speech at Nimisilla Park, 1918.

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  The Timken Roller Bearing Company in 1922.

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  The 1923 Canton Bulldogs were NFL champions.

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  The West Branch of Nimishillen Creek.

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  Houses at the corner of Yale Avenue and 22nd Street in the Ridgewood Historic District.

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  Production of half-track armored cars in a converted Diebold Safe and Lock Company plant, Canton, Ohio.

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  Bricks manufactured in Canton.

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  Market Street, showing the northwest corner of Public Square, Canton, Ohio.

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  The Palace Theatre in Canton.

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  The entrance to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

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  Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton.

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  A SARTA bus in 2013.

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  Canton McKinley High School is the largest secondary school in Canton.

See also

In Spanish: Canton (Ohio) para niños