Canton is a city located in Stark County, Ohio. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 80,806, but according to a July 1, 2004 Census estimate, the population has declined to 79,905. It is the county seat of Stark County.
Canton is home to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. First Ladies National Historic Site is also in the city.
Canton is located at 40°48'18" North, 81°22'33" West (40.804958, -81.375792).
Canton is bordered by Plain Township and North Canton to the north, Meyers Lake and Perry Township to the west, Canton Township to the South, and Nimishillen Township and Osnaburg Township to the east.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 53.3 km2 (20.6 mi2). 53.2 km2 (20.5 mi2) of it is land and 0.05% is water.
As of the census of 2000, there are 80,806 people, 32,489 households, and 19,785 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,518.2/km2 (3,933.0/mi2). There are 35,502 housing units at an average density of 667.0/km2 (1,728.0/mi2). The racial makeup of the city is 74.45% White, 21.04% African American, 0.49% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.61% from other races, and 3.06% from two or more races. 1.24% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 32,489 households out of which 30.0% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.1% are married couples living together, 19.1% have a female householder with no husband present, and 39.1% are non-families. 33.0% of all households are made up of individuals and 12.4% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.39 and the average family size is 3.04.
In the city the population is spread out with 26.6% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 34 years. For every 100 females there are 87.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 81.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $28,730, and the median income for a family is $35,680. Males have a median income of $30,628 versus $21,581 for females. The per capita income for the city is $15,544. 19.2% of the population and 15.4% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 27.4% of those under the age of 18 and 11.3% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Due to Canton's diverse demographic, many pollsters used Canton as a microcosm of the country as a whole. President George W. Bush visited Canton on a number of occasions, as well as Democratic Presidential Nominee and Massachusetts Senator John Kerry in an effort to win Ohio, a vital state in the 2004 Election.
The Canton area's economy is primarily industrial, with a significant agricultural segment. The city is home to the Timken Company, a major manufacturer of tapered roller bearings and specialty steel. Other companies that have significant operations are the Hoover Company (vacuums and floor cleaners), the Belden Brick Company (brick and masonry producer), and Diebold (ATMs, electronic voting devices, and bank vaults). LTV Steel (formerly Republic Steel) had historically been large employer, until its bankruptcy in 2000. Poultry production and dairy farming are also important segments of its economy.
However, like many industrial areas of the United States, employment in the manufacturing sector is in a state of long-term decline. The area is undergoing a transition to a retail- and service-based economy. In 2004 Timken Company proposed closing some of their factories in the Canton area, striking a blow to the economy and a bigger blow to city image and pride.
Canton officially became a village in 1805 and a city in 1854. Bezaleel Wells, the surveyor who divided the land of the town, named it after Canton (now Guangzhou), China. The name was a memorial to a trader named John O'Donnell, whom Wells admired. O'Donnell had named his Maryland plantation after the Chinese city, as he had been the first person to transport goods from there to Baltimore.
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Canton, OH
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