Stark County, Ohio - info, facts, communities on Key to the City

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Information & Facts about Stark County, Ohio

America's Playing Field in Northeast Ohio

Attractions & other Information - Climate - Economy - Genealogy - Geography -
Government - History - Libraries - Location - Organizations & Groups -
Other Facts & Figures - Population - Schools

Government

Stark County Website
Canton is the County Seat

Stark County Health Department

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Population:

1810 - 2,734
1820 - 12,406
1830 - 26,588
1840 - 34,603
1850 - 39,878
1860 - 42,978
1870 - 52,508
1880 - 64,031
1890 - 84,170
1900 - 94,747
1910 - 122,987
1920 - 177,218
1930 - 221,784
1940 - 234,887
1950 - 283,194
1960 - 340-345
1970 - 372,210
1980 - 378,823

1990 - 367,585
2000 - 378,098
2001 - 378,721 (estimate)
2002 - 379,540 (estimate)
2003 - 380,805 (estimate)
2004 - 381,229 (estimate)
2005 - 380,608 (estimate)

Density:
2000 - 656 persons per square mile

Housing Units:
2000 - 157,024

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Location:

Stark County is located in northeast Ohio. The county seat, Canton, is about 21 miles south of Akron.

Neighboring counties:
north - Portage County
northeast - Mahoning County
East - Columbiana County
Southeast - Carroll County
South - Tuscarawas County
Southwest - Holmes County
West - Wayne County
Northwest - Summit County

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Climate:

Climate data for this area
Weather and Climate information for the Canton area

Annual average percipitation: 38.4 inches
Annual average snowfall - 47.1 inches
Average winter temperature - 25.4 degrees F.
Average spring temperature - 48.1 degrees F.
Average summer temperature - 71.8 degrees F.
Average fall temperature - 51.5 degrees F.

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Other Facts and Figures:

Household Median Income:
2000 - $39,824
2003 - $40,259

Per Capita Income:
1999 - $20,417
2000 - $20,417

Median house value:
2000 - $100,300

Stark County Profile

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History:

Among the early inhabitants of the county area were a number of Native American tribes including the Erie, Huron, Ottawa, Tuscarora, Mingo, Delaware, Shawnee and Miami. French explorer, Robert Cavelier, and other French explorers, visited the area around 1670 and did extensive exploration resulting in maps and information. After LaSalle's visit, France claimed the entire valley as their own. Many battles were fought over ownership of the area, but it wasn't settled as US owned until the War of 1812. The Northwest Territory was created on 13 July 1787 and the Land Ordinance of 1785 ensured that development would take place. Most settlers were Pennsylvania Germans who came from Germany and France.

Ohio became a state in 1803 with the establishment of Stark County on 13 Feb 1808. Final organization occurred in January of 1809. The county was named for General John Stark, a prominent officer in the Revolutionary War. He was born in 1728 in New Hampshire and died in 1822.

Historical photos of downtown Canton
National Register of Historical Places for Stark County

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Geography:

Total area: 581 square miles

Total land area: 576 square miles
Total water area: 5 square miles

Elevation:
East Canton - 1146 feet above sea level

Latitude 40.80 (at Canton)
Longitude: 81.38 (at Canton)

Most of the county is rolling hills with some areas having more slope than others. Generally the soil is a sandy loam, though there is more clay in the soil in parts of the north and east portions of the county.

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Genealogy:

Stark County US GenWeb project page

Stark County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society
Alliance Genealogical Society
Genealogy Links for Stark County
Cemetery Records for Stark County
Stark County District Library Genealogy
The Political Graveyard for Stark County

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Libraries:

Stark County District Library
715 Market Ave N
Canton, OH 44702
Phone: 330-452-0665

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Schools:

Stark Education Partnership, Inc

Canton City Schools
Canton Local Schools
Jackson Local Schools
Lake Local School District
North Canton City Schools
Perry Local School District
Plain Local Schools
Malone College
in Canton

Kent State University - Stark County Campus
in North Canton
Mount Union College
in Alliance
Ohio State University - Stark Extension
Walsh University
in North Canton

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Economy:

Stark County has rich agricultural lands on which principal crops are wheat, corn, oats, potatoes, barley, grass, flax and clover seed. It is one of the highest producers of wheat in the state. Manufacturing accounts for 23.5% of employment with education, health and social services having 19.8% and retail trade taking 12.6% of the employment.

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Organizations & Groups

Stark County Convention and Visitors Bureau

The Millennium Centre
222 Market Avenue
North Canton, Ohio 44702
Phone: 330-454-1439
Toll Free: 800-533-4302
Fax: 330-456-3600

Alliance Area Chamber of Commerce
Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce
Lake Township Chamber of Commerce
Jackson-Beldon Chamber of Commerce
Louisville Area Chamber of Commerce

Massillon Area Chamber of Commerce
Minerva Chamber of Commerce
North Canton Area Chamber of Commerce

Stark County Humane Society
P.O. Box 7077
Canton, Ohio 44705

YMCA of Central Stark County

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Attractions & Other Information

William McKinley Presidential Library and Museum
800 McKinley Monument Drive NW
Canton, OH 44708
Phone: 330.455.7043

National First Ladies Library
in Canton
Phone: 330-452-0876