Massillon, Historic industrial city in Stark County, Ohio, United States.
Massillon is a city in Stark County, Ohio, United States, stretching along the Tuscarawas River at an elevation of 289 meters (950 feet). The community covers 16.7 square miles (43.3 km²) and has a population of around 32,146 residents.
Thomas Rotch founded the settlement of Kendal in 1812 at this location along the Tuscarawas River. James Duncan later drew up the plot plans for the present city and named it after French bishop Jean-Baptiste Massillon in 1826.
The city honors Jean-Baptiste Massillon, an 18th-century French Catholic preacher, an unusual choice for a rural Ohio community. This naming reflects the educational background of early settlers and their familiarity with European religious history.
The Stark Area Regional Transit Authority operates public transit throughout the city, connecting it with surrounding communities. Visitors can orient themselves along short routes through downtown, with most public facilities located centrally.
Every newborn boy at the local hospital receives a football as a gift at birth, a tradition reflecting the central role of high school football in city life. This gesture has endured for decades and symbolizes the bond between the community and its sports team.
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