History of Kent, Ohio facts for kids
The city of Kent, Ohio, has a rich history that began long before European settlers arrived. For many years, various Native American tribes lived in this area. While there aren't many records of their settlements, the land was part of important trails. For example, at Towner’s Woods Park, you can still find a mound built by early inhabitants.
In 1798, a man named Aaron Olmsted bought the land. He named it "Franklin" after his son. The first European settlers, the Haymaker family, arrived in 1805. They were drawn to the Cuyahoga River because its powerful water could run gristmills, which grind grain into flour.
Two small villages grew along the river, known as the "upper" and "lower" villages. Together, they were called Franklin Mills. The upper village was also called Carthage for a while. In the 1830s and 1840s, a canal was built, which helped create a central business area. However, the canal didn't bring as much growth as people hoped.
Later, the village became a railroad hub, thanks to Marvin Kent. He made sure his railroad came through the village. He also convinced the railroad company to build its maintenance shops and yards there. Because of his efforts, the village was renamed Kent in 1864. This change became official in 1867, the same year Kent became an official town. Other industries soon followed.
In 1910, Kent was chosen for a new teacher training school. This school eventually grew into Kent State University. The university expanded quickly, becoming a full university by 1935. After World War II, Kent grew even more. Many people moved from cities to suburbs, and Kent became the College town it is today.
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Early Days of Kent
Long ago, the Kent area was home to different American Indian tribes. This included the Mound Builders. We don't know exactly when they lived here or if they had big settlements. But the area was close to other Native American villages.
A large rock in the Cuyahoga River, called Standing Rock, is believed to have been a special meeting place for these tribes. Many trails crossed through the area before European settlers arrived. Around 1780, a frontiersman named Captain Samuel Brady became famous here. He made a daring 21-foot leap over the Cuyahoga River to escape capture. A nearby lake was later named Brady Lake after him.
First Settlers Arrive
European settlers began arriving in the late 1790s and early 1800s. The land was part of the Connecticut Western Reserve. In 1798, it was divided into areas called townships. Most of what is now Kent was part of Franklin Township.
Aaron Olmsted, a rich merchant from Connecticut, bought the 16,000-acre township for $2,000. He named it after his son, Aaron Franklin. In November 1805, the Haymaker family became the first settlers. They built a gristmill in 1807. That same year, Portage County was formed, and Franklin Township became part of it. Olmsted had hoped Franklin would be the county seat, but he died before he could donate the land. Instead, Ravenna became the county seat.
Growth was slow at first. But two small villages eventually grew because of the Cuyahoga River's power. This power could run mills and factories. There were once two waterfalls in downtown Kent. The first village, Franklin Mills, grew around the original Haymaker property. For a short time, it was called Reedsburg.
In 1818, Joshua Woodard started building homes north of Franklin Mills. This created the "Upper Village," known as Carthage. The two villages became rivals because they were so close. This rivalry ended when the Pennsylvania and Ohio Canal opened in 1840. Today, Carthage is a residential and business area in Kent. You can still find Carthage Avenue there.
Canal and Railroad Eras
In the 1820s and 1830s, plans were made for the Pennsylvania and Ohio Canal. This canal would connect Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Cleveland, Ohio. Franklin Mills was chosen as part of the route. Because of the rocky river gorge, a lock and dam had to be built.
When canal construction began in the 1830s, people bought a lot of land in northeast Ohio, hoping to get rich. This included Franklin Mills. An industrial and business area was built along the river in what is now downtown Kent. Many factories and mills were planned or built. However, some were never finished or failed because of an economic downturn in 1837.
Much of the old canal bed is still visible in downtown Kent. This includes the historic lock and arch dam, first built in 1836. It's the only known arch dam connected to a canal lock in the United States. It's also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. An aqueduct (a bridge for the canal) can still be seen in southern Kent. The canal era was short, ending by the 1860s. By 1870, the canal was completely closed.
Before the American Civil War, Franklin Mills was a stop on the Underground Railroad. This was a secret network that helped enslaved people escape to Canada. Safe places in Franklin Mills included the Cuyahoga House and the Woodard Tavern. The Woodard house, along Fairchild Avenue, still stands today.
In 1835, a famous abolitionist named John Brown lived in the village. He ran a tannery (a place that processes animal hides) with Zenas Kent. Today, a park is on the site of the old tannery. In 2004, a historical marker was placed in downtown Kent to remember the city's role in the Underground Railroad.
In 1863, a local businessman named Marvin Kent helped bring the Atlantic and Great Western Railroad through the village. The railroad made the village an important stop between St. Louis and New York City. It also became home to the railroad's maintenance yards and shops.
To honor Marvin Kent, the village was renamed Kent in 1864. This became official when the village was incorporated on May 6, 1867. Before choosing "Kent," leaders also thought about naming the city "Rockton," which Marvin Kent actually preferred. This name came from Standing Rock.
John Davey came to Kent in 1881. He was the head groundskeeper at Standing Rock Cemetery. He planted many trees and experimented with them. In 1901, he wrote a book called The Tree Doctor, sharing his ideas about tree surgery. Later, in 1909, he started the Davey Tree Expert Company. This led to Kent being known as "The Tree City."
On February 15, 1949, Kent was officially named "The Tree City of Ohio." It has been a Tree City USA for over 20 years. The city's official symbol even has a tree logo.
Kent in the 20th Century
In 1892, the Kent Free Library opened. Kent was the first city in Ohio to use a new state law. This law allowed smaller towns to tax residents to support a library. In 1903, the library moved to its current location. The building was paid for by a $10,000 gift from Andrew Carnegie, a famous businessman. Carnegie gave the money if residents provided the land and $1,000 a year for upkeep. The people voted yes, and Marvin Kent donated the land.
The original library building still stands today. It now holds the library's history and family research areas. In 2006, a new, much larger addition opened, tripling the space.
In 1910, Kent was chosen for a new college to train teachers. It was called the "Kent State Normal School." William S. Kent, Marvin Kent's son, donated 53 acres of land for the school. To honor his gift, the school was named after him, not the city. This makes it the only public university in Ohio named after a person.
In 1929, the school became Kent State College. It started offering degrees in arts and sciences. In 1935, it became Kent State University when it was allowed to grant advanced degrees. The bill giving it university status was signed by Ohio governor Martin L. Davey, who was from Kent.
In 1927, William and Frank Fageol started the Twin Coach Company in Kent. They designed new types of buses. The factory made buses, delivery trucks, and other vehicles. As the demand for buses went down, the factory slowed. Bus production stopped by 1953. The company was sold in 1958 and the factory closed in the 1960s.
In 1961, some black squirrels were brought to the Kent State campus from Canada. By 1964, there were about 150 of them. Today, they have spread throughout Kent and are unofficial mascots for both the city and the university. Since 1981, the annual Black Squirrel Festival is held every fall on the KSU campus.
Kent State Shootings
In May 1970, students at Kent State University protested the United States' involvement in the Vietnam War. On May 1, a protest in town became unruly, and police broke it up. The mayor declared a state of emergency and asked for help from the Ohio National Guard.
That night, some demonstrators broke windows in downtown businesses. The next day, the mayor set a curfew. That night, the Army ROTC (Reserve Officers' Training Corps) building was set on fire. Protesters tried to stop firefighters from putting out the blaze. The Ohio National Guard arrived later to clear the area.
On May 3, another protest on campus was broken up with tear gas. The events reached a sad peak on May 4. During a protest, four students were killed and nine were wounded in what became known as the Kent State shootings. The campus closed immediately until June 15. The shootings received national and international attention. They also caused tension between the city and the university.
Later 20th Century Changes
In 1975, the Haymaker Parkway opened. This new road helped traffic flow better. Before it was built, trains often blocked roads, splitting the city in half. The parkway includes two bridges that go over all three of Kent's railroad lines. Construction on the project began in 1968. By 1980, train traffic had greatly reduced, so the problem was no longer as big.
In 1995, Kent's tap water won first place at an international water tasting competition. The city and its water were even featured on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno!
Kent in the 21st Century
In 2003, the old arch dam was changed to meet new water quality rules. To save the historic dam, a small park called Heritage Park was built behind it. The river was rerouted through the old canal lock. During warm months, water is pumped over the dam. Heritage Park was officially opened in May 2005.
Starting in 2008, many downtown redevelopment projects began. These projects brought nearly $110 million in investments. The first project was the Phoenix Project, which updated and expanded shops on East Main Street. It included a pedestrian alleyway called Acorn Alley, which opened in 2009.
Other parts of the redevelopment included a large parking garage, a bus station, a hotel, and new buildings. New offices for Ametek and the Davey Tree Expert Company opened in late 2012. The hotel, run by Kent State University, opened in June 2013. The new parking garage opened in April 2013.
The old Kent hotel, which opened in 1920, was also bought and renovated. After being empty for many years, it reopened in April 2013 with new businesses and apartments. These developments attracted attention from major newspapers and earned the city and university an award for their cooperation.
More development has also happened on the Kent State University campus and in the nearby neighborhoods. The university bought many properties to link the campus with downtown. The University Esplanade extension, a path connecting campus to downtown, started construction in 2012. It also extended the Portage Hike and Bike Trail.
Kent State is building a new facility for its College of Architecture and Environmental Design. They also moved the former home of Mary Prentice, the first female faculty member, to the Esplanade. It is now home to the Wick Poetry Center. In total, there are plans for about $150 million in new facilities and upgrades across campus.
