Massillon, Ohio facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Massillon, Ohio
City
Downtown Massillon Lions Lincoln Theatre Massillon Government & Justice Center Massillon Public Library Massillon Museum
Nickname(s):  Tiger Town
Motto(s):  City of Champions
Location of Massillon in Stark County.
Massillon, Ohio Location in Ohio Show map of Ohio Massillon, Ohio Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Ohio
County	Stark
Incorporated	1868
Government
• Type	Mayor-Council
Area
• Total	19.15 sq mi (49.60 km2)
• Land	18.97 sq mi (49.13 km2)
• Water	0.18 sq mi (0.47 km2)
Elevation	984 ft (300 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	32,146
• Density	1,694.66/sq mi (654.32/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes	44646-44647
Area code(s)	330
FIPS code	39-48244
GNIS feature ID	1086982
Website	https://massillonohio.gov/

Massillon is a city in western Stark County, Ohio, United States. It is located along the Tuscarawas River. In 2020, the city had a population of 32,146 people.

Massillon is a main city in the Canton–Massillon metropolitan area. This area includes all of Stark and Carroll counties. In 2020, about 401,574 people lived there. Massillon is about 8 miles (13 km) west of Canton. It is also about 20 miles (32 km) south of Akron and 50 miles (80 km) south of Cleveland.

History of Massillon

Early Days in the 1800s

The Ohio and Erie Canal in Massillon around 1900.

The first settlement here was called Kendal. It was started in 1812 by Thomas Rotch. He was a Quaker from Massachusetts. James Duncan later settled in Kendal. He officially planned the town of Massillon on December 6, 1826.

Duncan is known as the city's founder. He named the town after Jean-Baptiste Massillon. This was a French Catholic bishop. The town was built along the east side of the Tuscarawas River. This river was part of the planned route for the Ohio and Erie Canal. This canal would connect Lake Erie with the Ohio River.

The canal section from Cleveland to Massillon was finished in 1828. Massillon quickly became a busy port town on the canal. It was known as the Port of Massillon. The whole canal was completed in 1832.

The first telegraph lines reached Massillon in 1847. The Ohio & Pennsylvania Railroad came to Massillon in 1852. Massillon became a village in 1853. In 1868, it officially became a city when its population reached 5,000.

Women's Rights and Industry

In 1852, the Ohio Women's Convention met in Massillon. Hannah Tracy Cutler was the president of this meeting. They met at the Massillon Baptist Chapel. Attendees voted to create the Ohio Women's Rights Association (OWRA).

Russell & Company Works in 1908.

The C. M. Russell & Company started in 1848. It was founded by Charles M. Russell and his brothers. They made threshing machines and other farm tools in Massillon. The company began making train cars in 1852. In 1884, Russell & Company started making famous steam engines. They became one of the biggest makers of industrial and farm equipment. The company closed in 1962.

The Massillon Iron Bridge Company was founded in 1869 by Joseph Davenport. He also invented the first locomotive "cowcatcher" and cab in Massillon. The company designed and built steel bridges. Many of these bridges are still standing today.

Massillon State Hospital in the early 1900s.

The Massillon State Hospital for the Insane opened in 1898. It was built on 240 acres of land given to Ohio. Governor William McKinley helped establish it. By 1950, it had 3,100 patients. Today, it is called Heartland Behavioral Healthcare.

Massillon in the 1900s

The Forest City Motor Company moved to Massillon in 1906. They made about 1,000 Jewel automobiles here. The company stopped making cars in 1909.

Massillon's "steel age" began in 1909. That's when the first sheet of steel was made at the Massillon Rolling Mill Company. This company later became part of Central Steel Company. Central Steel eventually became Republic Steel. By 1959, Republic Steel employed almost half of Massillon's workers. The main Republic Steel facilities in Massillon closed by 2002.

Stanley Macomber invented the open-web steel joist in 1921. He worked for Massillon's Central Steel Company. He later started the Massillon Steel Joist Co. in 1923. His invention was a new way to support floors, ceilings, and roofs. The basic design of his steel joist is still used today. Stanley Macomber was added to the Inventors Hall of Fame in 2011.

Lincoln Highway (now US-30) looking east into downtown Massillon in 1966.

The Lincoln Highway was the first U.S. highway to go from coast to coast. It was planned in 1913. It followed Main Street through Massillon. Main Street was later renamed Lincoln Way. In 1928, the federal government changed its name to U.S. 30. A new freeway was built in 1971. This freeway bypassed U.S. 30 around the city. The old Lincoln Highway through Massillon is now State Route 172.

Workers' Rights and Activism

Massillon was the site of a sad event during the Little Steel strike of 1937. Workers were trying to form a union at Republic Steel. On July 11, 1937, police opened fire near a picket line. They then raided a peaceful gathering at the union headquarters. Police used tear gas and shot into the crowd. Three men were killed, and many were hurt.

An Ohio Historical Marker was placed in 2004. It is in front of Massillon City Hall. It remembers the Little Steel Strike of 1937.

Jacob S. Coxey, Sr. was a politician from Massillon. He was sometimes called General Coxey. He led Coxey's Army twice, in 1894 and 1914. This was a group of unemployed men. They marched from Massillon to Washington, D.C. They wanted Congress to create jobs for people without work. His march did not immediately succeed. However, it helped bring attention to the need for unemployment support. Jacob Coxey was elected mayor of Massillon in 1931. He served for one year.

Geography

Massillon is located along the Tuscarawas River. The city's area is mostly in the western part of Perry Township. Some parts extend into other townships. The village of Navarre is next to the city on the south side.

The city has a total area of about 18.76 square miles (48.59 km²). Most of this is land, with a small amount of water.

Population Information

Census Data from 2010

In 2010, there were 32,149 people living in Massillon. There were 13,140 households. About 29.6% of households had children under 18. The average household had 2.37 people.

The city's population was mostly White (87.4%). About 8.8% were African American. The average age in the city was 40.1 years. About 22.9% of residents were under 18.

Religion

Massillon is home to St. Mary's Catholic Church. It used to have a special shrine to St. Dymphna. On August 4, 2015, a fire broke out in the church. It destroyed the shrine and a baptistery. The building's main structure survived. However, there was a lot of damage from smoke. St. Mary's reopened on December 25, 2016, after being cleaned and fixed.

Economy

Massillon no longer has the very large steel plants it had in the 1900s. However, many businesses are based here or have a strong presence. These include:

• Ameri Cold Logistics
• Aqua Ohio
• A.R.E.
• Campbell Oil (Headquarters)
• Crown Cork & Seal
• Fresh Mark Inc. (Headquarters)
• Greif Brothers
• The Health Plan
• Heinz Frozen Food Co.
• Massillon Cable TV
• Midwestern Industries (Headquarters)
• NFM Welding (Headquarters)
• People's Cartage
• Republic Steel
• R.W. Screw
• Shearer's Foods (manufacturing and headquarters)
• Sugardale (pork products)
• Tower Industries
• King Machine and Tool Company

Massillon has a main shopping area downtown along Lincoln Way. There are also several other shopping centers. These include Towne Plaza and Massillon Marketplace.

Arts and Culture

Museums to Explore

The Massillon Museum.

The Massillon Museum opened in 1933. Its goal is to save the city's history. The museum is in downtown Massillon. It has about 100,000 objects. It also has 60,000 photos and many historical documents.

One interesting collection is the Immel Circus. This is a miniature circus that is 100 square feet (9.3 m²). It has 2,620 pieces. These include elephants, horses, wagons, tents, and tiny people. Dr. Robert Immel of Massillon carved most of these pieces by hand.

Spring Hill Historic Home was the home of Thomas and Charity Rotch. They were the founders of Kendal, the town before Massillon. In 1973, their home became a historic site open to the public. Today, the home focuses on the Rotches' work with the Underground Railroad. It is a site on the National Park Service's Network to Freedom.

The Ohio Military Museum has thousands of items. These honor Ohioans who served in the armed forces. The museum moved to the MAPS Air Museum in 2016.

Lions Lincoln Theatre

The Lions Lincoln Theatre.

The Lions Lincoln Theatre was built in 1915. It is a landmark movie theater. A local Lions International club saved it from being torn down in 1982. It is thought to be one of the oldest movie theaters still running in the country.

Today, the theater hosts community events. It also shows classic and older movies on weekends. Live plays are also performed on its stage.

Parks and Recreation

The City of Massillon Parks & Recreation Department manages many places. These include a recreation center and a senior center. They also operate 35 parks and open spaces.

Massillon's city golf course is called The Legends of Massillon. It opened in 1995. The city also maintains part of the Sippo Valley Bike & Hike Trail. This trail leads to Dalton. The Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail also goes through Massillon.

Football in Massillon

A statue of Paul Brown outside Paul Brown Tiger Stadium.

Football is a very important part of Massillon's culture. In 2008, Massillon was chosen as a finalist for ESPN's "Titletown U.S.A." contest. Massillon finished fourth in the voting.

High School Football: The Tigers

Massillon is most famous for the Massillon Washington High School football team, the Tigers. Famous alumni include Paul Brown. He coached at Ohio State University, the Cleveland Browns, and the Cincinnati Bengals. Another famous player is Chris Spielman. He played for Ohio State and was an NFL All-Pro linebacker.

The Tigers are one of the most successful high school football teams in the United States. They are second only to Valdosta High School in Georgia. The Tigers have a big rivalry with the Canton McKinley High School Bulldogs. Many people think this is the greatest high school football rivalry in the nation. The 2001 documentary film Go Tigers! is about Massillon and this rivalry.

Paul Brown Tiger Stadium was built in Massillon in 1939. It was built through the Works Progress Administration program. The stadium can hold 16,884 people. It is named after Paul Brown, who played and coached for the Tigers. The stadium hosts many state football playoff games. It also holds the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame drum and bugle corps competition.

The Paul L. David Athletic Training Center was built in 2008. It is the largest indoor football practice facility in Ohio. It is 80,000 square feet (7,400 m²).

The Massillon Tigers have won 25 state championships. They have also won 9 national championships. As of 2012, their overall record was 837 wins, 249 losses, and 35 ties. This is a record no other Ohio high school team has come close to. In 2023, the Tigers won the OHSAA D-II state football championship. This ended a 53-year wait for a state title.

The Tiger Swing Band

The Massillon Football Band started in 1915. Students brought their instruments to games to cheer on the team. The name "The Massillon Tiger Swing Band" began in 1938. George "Red" Bird created the swing style. The band became known as "The Greatest Show in High School Football."

The band's swing style includes moving formations. Musicians march with a swing step. Mr. Bird invented the "6 to 5 step." The Tiger Swing band starts every home game with traditional songs. These include "Massillon Will Shine" and the National Anthem. At halftime, they perform their "Opening Routine." This tradition has been going on for decades. It includes "Turn Arounds," "Fanfare," "Tiger Rag," and "Carry On." This routine is marched very fast. The band also learns a new show for every home game.

Professional Football History

The first professional football rivalry was between the Massillon Tigers and Canton Bulldogs. This happened from 1903 to 1906 and 1915 to 1919. This rivalry happened before the NFL even existed. The high school teams in Massillon and Canton still use these old team names.

Education

Public Schools

Massillon Washington High School.

The city has several public school districts:

• Massillon City School District
• Jackson Local School District
• Perry Local School District
• Tuslaw Local School District

The R.G. Drage Career Technical Center is also in Massillon. It serves students in the Massillon area.

Private Schools

Massillon has three private schools. Massillon Christian School teaches students from kindergarten through 12th grade. There are also two Catholic elementary schools. These are St. Barbara School and St. Mary School.

Transportation

Massillon is served by several state and federal highways: US Route 30, US Route 62, Ohio State Route 21, Ohio State Route 172, Ohio State Route 241, Ohio State Route 236, and Ohio State Route 93. Interstate 77 goes around the city to the east. You can get to it from US-30, SR-21, SR-241, and SR-172.

The Stark Area Regional Transit Authority (SARTA) has a transit center downtown. It provides bus service within the city. You can take buses to Canton and the Akron-Canton Regional Airport. You can also get to the Amtrak train station in Alliance.

Fidelity US Coach Tours offers charter bus service from the city.

Air Travel

The Akron–Canton Airport is about 10 miles (16 km) north of the city. It offers daily flights for passengers and cargo.

Train Service

Amtrak offers daily train service on its Capitol Limited. You can travel to Chicago and Washington, D.C. from a station in Alliance, Ohio. Freight train service is provided by Norfolk Southern, Wheeling-Lake Erie, and the R. J. Corman railroads.

Media

Massillon is part of the Cleveland–Akron–Canton media market. The Independent is the local newspaper. It serves Massillon and western Stark County. WTIG AM 990 is a local radio station in Massillon. Massillon Cable TV provides local TV channels.

Washington High School has a Media Arts and Communications program called WHS-TV. Students record school events, like football games. They also produce their own talk shows and a high school news channel called Accent.

Notable People from Massillon

See also

In Spanish: Massillon (Ohio) para niños