Located in the northeastern part of the state, Canton, Ohio is a city of 78,000 and the principal urban area for a metropolitan area of over 400,000. This eighth-largest city in Ohio is the county seat of Stark County and can be found at the confluence of several forks of the Nimishillen Creek. Canton, while a major city in its own right, is close to several other Ohio cities, including (Akron is 24 miles away, while Cleveland is 60 miles). Anyone moving to Canton will find many attractions.
Economy:
Canton moving companies are busy as they bring new residents to the area for work. The economy of Canton is primarily industrial in nature, although there is a significant agricultural segment as well. Major employers in the city include the Timken Company (a manufacturer of specialty steel and roller bearings), the Belden Brick Company (a brick and masonry producer) and Diebold (makers of ATMs, voting machines and bank vaults). Dairy and poultry farming are the main agricultural pursuits, and there are several food production industries in the city as well. Recent decades have seen the loss of several traditional industries in Canton with LTV (formerly Republic) Steel going bankrupt in 2000 and the Hoover Company moving most manufacturing after a 2007 buyout.
History:
Canton was founded in 1805 at the confluence of the West and Middle Branches of Nimishillen Creek. The town initially grew slowly and only rose to prominence as a manufacturing center after railway lines met at that location. The town was named for Canton (now Guangzhou), China by Bezaleel Wells, the town's surveyor and an admirer of trader John O'Donnell (the first to transport goods from China to Baltimore). Canton was incorporated as a village in 1822 and as a city in 1838. In the 1860s, William McKinley arrived in Canton to practice law. He campaigned first for state governor and later for president from the city. On September 17, 1920, the American Professional Football Association – the forerunner of today's NFL – was founded at a Canton car dealership.
Tourism:
As an important Ohio urban center, Canton has many activities to offer its residents and visitors. Historical sites include the William McKinley Presidential Library and National Memorial (burial place of the McKinley family), the National First Ladies Library and Research Center and the Haines House (a stop on the Underground Railroad). Culture is also well-represented in Canton, and you can attend performances by the Canton Symphony Orchestra and the Canton Ballet. The city's museums include the Canton Museum of Art (focusing on 19th and 20th-century American works), the Canton Classic Car Museum and the Ohio Military Museum. Canton's biggest tourist attraction is the NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame, an 83,000-square-foot center focusing on all of the country's professional football teams. The nearest commercial airport to Canton is the Akron-Canton Airport, with flights to 14 cities available. Within the Canton area, public transit is available from the Stark Area Regional Transit Authority.