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The county was created in 1808 and organized the next year. It is named for John Stark, an officer in the American Revolutionary War.
In the 1760s Moravian missionaries from Pennsylvania attempted to establish missions aimed at converting the native people. The earliest of these were Christian Frederick Post and John Heckewelder.
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.
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.
Adjacent Counties
- Portage County
- Mahoning County
- Columbiana County
- Carroll County
- Tuscarawas County
- Summit County
- Holmes County
- Wayne County
Cities & Villages
- Alliance
- Beach City
- Brewster
- Canal Fulton
- Canton (County Seat)
- East Canton
- East Sparta
- Hartville
- Hills & Dales
- Louisville
- Magnolia
- Massillon
- Meyers Lake
- Minerva
- Navarre
- North Canton
- Waynesburg
- Wilmot
Townships & Communities
Avondale | Bethlehem | Bolton | Cairo | Crystal Springs | East Greenville | Freeburg | Greentown | Harrisburg | Jackson | Justus | Lake | Lawrence | Lexington | Limaville | Mapleton | Marchand | Marlboro | Maximo | McDonaldsville | Middlebranch | New Baltimore | New Franklin | Newman | Nimishillen | North Industry | North Lawrence | Osnaburg | Paris | Perry | Perry Heights | Pigeon Run | Pike | Plain | Reedurban | Richville | Robertsville | Sandy | Sippo | Sugar Creek | Tuscarawas | Uniontown | Waco | Washington
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