About Us - General Information



Geography
The City of Canton is the county seat of Stark County. The municipality is located in northeastern Ohio and is situated on Nimishillen Creek, approximately 24 miles south of Akron and 60 miles south of Cleveland.

History
Founded in 1805, Canton originally functioned as a prominent manufacturing center which expanded during the turn of the century due to industrialization and the addition of railroad lines. After the decline of heavy manufacturing, the city's industry diversified in the areas of service, retail, education, finance, and healthcare sectors.

While Canton was first founded in 1805, it was first incorporated as a village in 1822 and did not become a city until 1838. Bezaleel Wells, the surveyor who divided the land, named it after Canton, China. The name was a memorial to a trader named John O'Donnell, whom Wells admired.

Population
The current population of the city is estimated at 78,000 residents. In 2004, the United States Census moved Canton from 9th to 8th place among Ohio cities. According to the US Census 2007 estimate, the Canton-Massillon, Ohio Metropolitan Statistical Area has a total population of 407,180 residents.

For more population information, click here.