Stark County, Ohio

Stark County, Ohio
Stark County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 374,853. Its county seat is Canton. The county was created in 1808 and organized the next year. It is named for John Stark, an officer in the American Revolutionary War.
Stark County is included in the Canton-Massillon, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH Combined Statistical Area.
History
Stark County was named in honor of American Revolutionary War General John Stark. John Stark (August 28, 1728 – May 8, 1822) was a general who served in the American Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. He became widely known as the "Hero of Bennington" for his exemplary service at the Battle of Bennington in 1777.
In the 1760s and 1770s Moravian missionaries from Pennsylvania came to preach the gospel to the native people, and also to lead and resettle already converted native people migrating away from whites encroaching on their land in Pennsylvania. The earliest of these were Christian Frederick Post and John Heckewelder. See also the history of neighboring Tuscarawas County, Ohio
The first permanent settlements were established in 1805, beginning with Canton. Possibly 80% of the early settlers were German-speakers from Pennsylvania, although others came from Virginia, New York, and New England. Lumbering and sawmills were important early industries, to cater to the enormous demand for lumber from the incoming settlers. Stark County was originally part of Columbiana County, but was split off in 1807.
At the start of the Civil War the men of Stark County were quick to volunteer to preserve the Union. As of 1862 over 1,100 had enlisted.
During the early 20th century, Stark County was an important location in the early development of professional football. The rivalry between the Massillon Tigers and Canton Bulldogs helped bring the Ohio League to prominence in the mid-1900s (decade) and again in the late 1910s. The Bulldogs ended up a charter member of the National Football League, where it played for several years. (The role Stark County had in developing the game is part of the reason the Pro Football Hall of Fame is located in Canton.) Two relatively large football stadiums, Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton and Paul Brown Tiger Stadium in Massillon, are still in use (albeit now mostly for high school football), with Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium hosting the NFL's annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Game each year.
In the later 20th century, Stark County's voting record swung from one party to another, closely tracking the winner of the U.S. Presidential election. Even within the swing state of Ohio, Stark County is regarded as a quintessential bellwether, and thus presidential candidates have typically made multiple visits to the region. Major media outlets typically pay close attention to the election results in the county. The New York Times in particular has covered the county's citizens and their voting concerns in a series of features each election cycle for over a decade.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.9%) is water.
Adjacent counties
Portage County (north)
Mahoning County (northeast)
Columbiana County (east)
Carroll County (southeast)
Tuscarawas County (south)
Holmes County (southwest)
Wayne County (west)
Summit County (northwest)
Major highways
National protected area
First Ladies National Historic Site
Demographics
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 378,098 people, 148,316 households, and 102,782 families living in the county. The population density was . There were 157,024 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 90.28% white, 7.20% black or African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.54% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.29% from other races, and 1.43% from two or more races. 0.92% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 148,316 households, out of which 31.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.20% were married couples living together, 11.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.70% were non-families. 26.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.80% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 27.80% from 25 to 44, 24.00% from 45 to 64, and 15.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 92.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.40 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $39,824, and the median income for a family was $47,747. Males had a median income of $37,065 versus $23,875 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,417. About 6.80% of families and 9.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.90% of those under age 18 and 6.60% of those age 65 or over.
2010 census
As of the 2010 census, there were 375,586 people, 151,089 households, and 100,417 families living in the county. The population density was . There were 165,215 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 88.7% white, 7.6% black or African American, 0.7% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.5% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.6% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 33.6% were German, 15.5% were Irish, 10.1% were English, 10.1% were Italian, and 7.7% were American.
Of the 151,089 households, 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.2% were married couples living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.5% were non-families, and 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.96. The median age was 41.1 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $44,941 and the median income for a family was $55,976. Males had a median income of $44,238 versus $31,896 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,015. About 9.5% of families and 12.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.5% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.
Politics
Stark County has often been described as "the swing county, in the swing state" when it comes to presidential elections. Locally, it has generally been a strong Republican area, but that changed in the 1990s and into 2000s, where it remained highly competitive for both parties. In 1992, it became a swing county that tilted Democratic, and over the next 15–20 years more local office holders were Democrats. That has changed, however, in the last 10 years or so, beginning in 2010. Republicans now hold most of the local elected positions.
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Government
Elected officials
Commissioners: Janet Weir Creighton (R), Bill Smith (R), Richard Regula (R)
Auditor: Alan Harold (R)
Clerk of Courts: Lynn Todaro (R)
Judges of the Court of Common Pleas: Hon. Kristin Farmer (R), Hon. Natalie Haupt (D), Hon. Taryn L. Heath (D), Hon. Francis G. Forchione (D), Hon Chryssa Hartnett (D)
Coroner: Ron Rusnak M.D. (R)
Engineer: Keith Bennett (D)
Family Court: Hon. Rosemarie Hall (R), Hon Jim D. James (R), Hon David R. Nist (R)
Probate Court: Hon. Dixie Park (R)
Prosecutor: Kyle Stone (R)
Recorder: Jamie Walters (R)
Sheriff: George Maier (D)
Treasurer: Alex Zumbar (R)
Education
Colleges and universities
Kent State University at Stark
Malone University
Stark State College
University of Mount Union
Walsh University
Technical/Career centers
R. G. Drage Career Technical Center
Sours Adult Career & Technical Center
Public school districts
Alliance City School District
Canton City School District
Canton Local School District
Fairless Local School District
Jackson Local School District
Lake Local School District
Louisville City School District
Marlington Local School District
Massilon City School District
Minerva Local School District
North Canton City School District
Northwest Local School District
Osnaburg Local School District
Perry Local School District
Plain Local School District
Sandy Valley Local School District
Tuslaw Local School District
Private school districts
Stark County Catholic Schools
High schools
Alliance High School
Canton McKinley High School
Canton South High School
Central Catholic High School
Early Collage High School
East Canton High School
Fairless High School
GlenOak High School
Hoover High School
Indian River High School
Jackson High School
Lake Center Christian School
Lake Middle/High School
Louisville High School
Marlington High School
Massillon Christian School
Minerva High School
Northwest High School
Perry High School
St. Thomas Aquinas High School
Washington High School
Communities
Cities
Alliance
Canal Fulton
Canton (county seat)
Louisville
Massillon
North Canton
Villages
Beach City
Brewster
East Canton
East Sparta
Hartville
Hills and Dales
Magnolia
Minerva
Meyers Lake
Navarre
Waynesburg
Wilmot
Townships
Prior to 1815, Stark County consisted of only eight large townships. After a number of partitions and a few transfers between counties, the townships are:
Bethlehem
Canton
Jackson
Lake
Lawrence
Lexington
Marlboro
Nimishillen
Osnaburg
Paris
Perry
Pike
Plain
Sandy
Sugar Creek
Tuscarawas
Washington
Census-designated places
Bolton
Greentown
Harrisburg
Limaville
Marlboro
Middlebranch
North Industry
North Lawrence
Perry Heights
Reedurban
Richville
Robertsville
Uniontown
Unincorporated communities
Avondale
Cairo
Crystal Springs
East Greenville
Freeburg
Justus
Mapleton
Marchand
Maximo
McDonaldsville
New Baltimore
New Franklin
Newman
Paris
Pigeon Run
Sippo
Waco
See also
National Register of Historic Places listings in Stark County, Ohio
References
External links
Stark County official website
Canton Stark County Convention & Visitors Bureau official website
1809 establishments in Ohio
Populated places established in 1809