Canton

The Cherry Avenue neighborhood sits east of Canton's historic downtown district. While most of downtown is made up of office buildings, restaurants, attractions and other businesses, most of the Cherry Avenue neighborhood retains a distinctly residential feel. There are some small businesses, but for the most part, the neighborhood remains a place where people live, work and play. There is also an array of churches throughout the neighborhood offering programs and events to residents daily. Ranch-style homes and bungalows line the streets with quick access to nearby shaded parks and Canton Public School District’s historic schools. The neighborhood is never far from the excitement of downtown, with many homes less than a mile away from popular museums and theaters. Homes in the neighborhood are modestly sized and budget-friendly compared to other downtown Canton neighborhoods, with a mixture of mostly older houses built in the 1950s and a few more recent constructions. Residences often have similar styles, which can range from a ranch style to newer Foursquare homes. Many homes are on smaller neat lots with local beech and birch trees shading front yards and porches, often sporting chairs and tables. Prices in the neighborhood range from around $40,000 to $120,000. Cherry Avenue, a major one-way street heading north out of Canton, borders the neighborhood to the west. Tuscarawas Street, another main thoroughfare of the city's north-south dividing line, is to the immediate south. U.S. Highway 30 is a few blocks south and connects to Interstate 77 and U.S. Highway 62, providing easy access to the entire metro area. The Stark Area Regional Transit Service (SARTA) offers public transportation to Canton and neighboring communities. “The area gets a lot of foot traffic with people walking to the SARTA stations so close by,” says Johnna Artzner, the executive director of the One Center for Leadership, who has been helping the community for over five years. For trips to either the east or west coast, Akron-Canton Airport is 11 miles to the north of the neighborhood. Canton City Public Schools serves Cherry Avenue students. They can start their education at Gibbs Elementary School, which receives a C-minus rating on Niche. Madge Youtz Intermediate School is the next stop until sixth grade, then Crenshaw Middle School until eighth grade. Students then finish up at McKinley High School, which has been a proud part of the city since 1918. The high school, intermediate school and middle school each earn a C rating. For dining, many locals head to Deli Ohio. This local, community-focused, family-owned sandwich shop is “under renovations and merging with Unhitched Brewery so that it will be a popular spot for all hours of the day,” Artzner says. There is also Muggswigz Coffee and Tea for a hot and fresh cup of joe. For groceries, residents can head to independent stores like Starkfresh Grocery Store on the neighborhood's western border or travel 3 miles west along Tuscarawas Street to reach big box stores like Walmart. There are two city parks adjacent to the neighborhood. Nimisilla Park is a heavily shaded area offering plenty of walking paths next to a basketball court and a colorful playset. Cook Park also offers playground facilities but is best known for its baseball diamond. The Cook Park baseball field was home to some of Canton's finest amateur teams for decades and hosts many games in the summer. Just to the south, there is also the Southeast Community Playground, built by Habitat for Humanity, which offers a massive, colorful playset for locals to enjoy. Fourth of July fireworks at the McKinley Monument are an annual tradition in Canton. The Canton Museum of Art is only a mile away, and it offers daily tours and educational programs with art from the 1800s to contemporary times. The Canton Palace Theatre, a historic entertainment venue hosting over 300 events and 100,000 visitors annually, is also just about a mile away. Cherry Avenue is close to the excitement of downtown, but it is also close to an electric substation on the neighborhood's western border. The CAP Index score for the neighborhood is 9/10, which is higher than the national average of 4. Residents of Cherry Avenue seeking medical care are 2 ½ miles away from the Aultman Hospital, which specializes in Cancer, Heart and Emergency/Trauma.

With the Stark County Fairgrounds at the heart of this residential enclave, fun and games are a big part of the Fairgrounds neighborhood. But for the other 51 weeks a year, when one of the Canton, Ohio-area's biggest event isn't in town, the turn-of-the-century homes, the small shops and the family-owned restaurants combine into an affordable and affable place to live for about 1,300 households. Homes are nestled close together along quiet streets, laid out in an orderly grid. Front porches add to the neighborly feel of the two-story residences, built primarily in the early- to mid-1900s. Popular architectural styles include farmhouses, Craftsman bungalows and turn-of-the-century homes with Italianate influences. Prices range from $60,000 to $130,000, while homes in need of repair sell for $20,000 to $60,000. Annually, toward the end of summer, the Stark County Fair rolls into the 80-acre facility in the northwestern corner of the neighborhood, drawing crowds from all over Canton and Stark County for concerts, rides, exhibits, and food. And something a little louder. “The truck and tractor pulls and the demolition derby are always a big hit,” says Stark Fairgrounds Secretary, Chrystal Bean. “We usually come close to selling out.” Also in late summer, a weeklong celebration at the Pro Football Hall of Fame culminates in a parade, fashion show, football game and Hall of Fame enshrinement. Numerous stores, restaurants, pharmacies and professional offices line Tuscarawas Street West on the neighborhood's southern border. Johnnie's Bakery of Canton is a family-owned neighborhood mainstay that has served the community since 1946. El Rincon Canton is a highly rated Mexican restaurant just south of the neighborhood. For shopping, there’s a Giant Eagle Supermarket on Raff Road Southwest and a Walmart less than half a mile west of there. Located within the neighborhood on 13th Street Northwest and Harrison Avenue Northwest is Westbrook Veterans Memorial Park. Surrounding a serene fishing pond, this sprawling green space features a memorial sculpture, a playground, a picnic pavilion and a walking path along the waterfront. Just east of Interstate 77 is Stadium Park, one of Canton's largest green spaces featuring 68 acres of scenic nature, sports courts and picnic spots. The park is home to a playground, a fishing pond, the Canton Garden Center and a variety of sports facilities. Visitors can play tennis, shuffleboard, baseball, softball, soccer or pickleball. The park is also home to The Herbert Fisher Walking Track, which runs 1.5 miles along the tree-lined West Branch Nimishillen Creek. The Canton City School District serves Fairgrounds’ residents. Students can begin their education at Harter Elementary School, which scored a B on Niche. Located centrally within the neighborhood is Clarendon Intermediate School, which received a C-minus on Niche. Students can continue their education at McKinley High School, which scored a C on the site. McKinley High’s football team, the McKinley Bulldogs, are known for their famous rivalry with Washington High’s Massillon Tigers. Running north to south, Interstate 77 borders Fairgrounds to the east and connects to U.S. Route 30 and U.S. Route 62 to the south, both of which are major east-west arteries. Tuscarawas Street West, on the neighborhood's southern border, is the thoroughfare that connects downtown Canton to Perry Township, Massillon and other points on the west side. The Stark Area Regional Transit Authority serves the residents of Fairgrounds through several bus stops along Wertz Avenue. For long-distance travel, the Akron-Canton Airport is about 9 miles north of Fairgrounds. Aultman Hospital borders the neighborhood just south of Tuscarawas Street West, while Cleveland Clinic Mercy Medical Center is located on Mercy Drive Northwest, less than a half-mile north of the neighborhood.

Just north of Downtown Canton is Gibbs Area, a small neighborhood with convenient access to highways, parks and schools. Its high percentage of renters and smaller homes make Gibbs a more economical neighborhood than its surrounding areas. The median single-family home price in Gibbs hovers around $65,000, while the median in Canton as a whole is $154,000. Gibbs Area residents enjoy community activities and support through the local school district and the parks department. “I would describe Gibbs as a front-porch community,” says Mike Boylan, who grew up in Gibbs and is now a Realtor at Cutler Realty. “Everyone knows each other.” Laid out in a grid, Gibbs is bordered by the thoroughfare of 12th Street Northeast to the south and 15th Street Northeast to the north. The homes are historic, many of them built in the first half of the 20th century. Architectural styles vary, with Craftsman bungalows, ranch-style and two-story colonial-style homes the most prominent. These houses tend to be more compact, with most 1,500 square feet or less. Homes needing renovation tend to sell for $20,000 to $50,000, while turn-key homes go for $60,000 to $120,000. “There are also property investors that buy many of these houses and rent them out, which also contributes to the area’s high renter rate,” Boylan explains. Nearly half of Gibbs Area residents rent their homes. The Canton City School District serves the students of Gibbs Area. Prospective schools include Gibbs Elementary School and Crenshaw Middle School, both of which achieved an overall C-minus grade on Niche. Plans to improve Crenshaw include adding a gymnasium and a new 9,199-square-foot building for career- and technical-education classes. There are also plans to convert a section of former administrative offices into a family resource center. Students can continue their education at McKinley Senior High School, which received a C. McKinley High is known for its football team, the McKinley Bulldogs, which has famously rivaled Washington High School’s Massillon Tigers since 1894. Though Gibbs Area is mainly residential, shopping and dining options are nearby. The Desert Inn is a local Mediterranean restaurant that has served the community since 1970. For a night out, Hob Nob Tavern is located on Harrisburg Road Northeast, just east of the neighborhood. “It’s like Cheers, everybody knows everybody,” says Angela Porter, manager and daughter of the owner of Hob Nob Tavern. “Everybody grew up together; everybody’s kids and grandkids play together.” Serving locals for over 30 years, this hometown bar is open to residents of Gibbs Area only. “If you belong to the neighborhood, you just fill out an application to become a member.” For discounted groceries, there is a Save A Lot on Tuscarawas Street West. Other local markets include Giant Eagle Supermarket, StarkFresh Grocery and Marc’s Stores. Belden Village Mall, located about 6 miles northwest of the neighborhood, has over 90 stores and restaurants. To the east of Gibbs is Nimisilla Park; the grounds have basketball courts and a playground, making it the local go-to park for short walks or recreation. To the north, Brian’s Park is a popular small park for dog walking. Additional parks nearby include Riverside, Schreiber, Weis and Stadium parks. Canton’s Parks and Recreation offers many youth recreation programs, including baseball, softball, basketball, football, golf and tennis. The department also offers softball and volleyball leagues for adults. The Pro Football Hall of Fame, a Canton fixture, is about 3 miles east of the neighborhood and draws crowds to the area every summer for annual induction ceremonies and a traditional preseason National Football League game. This walkable neighborhood also provides public transportation through The Stark Area Regional Transit Authority, which serves several bus stops along Gibbs Avenue and 12th Street. The Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital is about a mile to the west for emergencies or clinical treatments. The closest airport is the Akron-Canton Airport, which is about 11 miles north via Interstate 77. Other highway routes include State Route 43, State Route 153 and I-77 for commuting to northeast Ohio. The Gibbs Area experiences a higher rate of crime than the average U.S. neighborhood, with a CAP Index score of 9 compared to the nation's average score of 4.

On the outskirts of Canton, quiet streets with distinct homes line the friendly Harter Heights. The calm environment allows for pleasant evening strolls after work. If you need to travel further, public transportation is available within the neighborhood. Most people, though, use their cars to get around using Interstate 77. The Stark Regional Transit Authority also offers curbside pickup for people with disabilities. The community borders one of Canton's oldest and most popular shopping districts such as the Country Fair Shopping Center, a neighborhood favorite, along with regional grocery stores in the area. Harter Heights is less than 7 miles from Canton, south of the premier Belden Village Mall, and close to local landmarks like the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the McKinley National Monument. Architecture in Harter Heights runs a variety of styles such as colonials and Tudors with brick exteriors. You’ll notice that most homes come equipped with paved driveways and have lot sizes smaller than half an acre. Stores, restaurants, pharmacies and professional offices line Tuscarawas Street West to the south and Whipple Avenue Northwest. The Country Fair Shopping Center can be found at the intersection, a perfect location for running errands near your Harter Heights home. Downtown Canton is about 3 miles east of the area for work and entertainment. In the surrounding area, you can also find the Canton Museum of Art, filled with indoor exhibitions; the Canton Civic Center, a multi-purpose arena; the Cultural Center for the Arts and the Palace Theatre for plays or musicals; and the Pro Football Hall of Fame for football fanatics. The Belden Village Mall is 5 miles north if you love shopping at name-brand stores. Harter Heights is close enough to most places in Canton, making it an easy place to live and explore. Watch the stars shine over Harter Heights at the Hoover-Price Planetarium or take in the gala fireworks show on the Fourth of July at the nearby McKinley Presidential Library & Museum 3 miles away. The Stark County Fairgrounds, just east of Harter Heights, is named for the annual week-long Stark County Fair and also hosts other festivals and events. When it comes to celebrations, the Harter Heights community enjoys each other's company and celebrate together. Lawrence Playground is a small park inside the western edge of Harter Heights, along Whipple Avenue Northwest. The playground's swing sets, slides and climbing gym give kids options to run around and burn off energy. Once tired, kids and parents can fuel up and eat at one of the park's picnic tables. Harter Heights, part of the Canton City School District is home to Harter Elementary School in the neighborhood’s northeast corner, which serves students in prekindergarten through second grade. Clarendon Intermediate School, just outside the neighborhood, is the assigned school for grades four through six. The district offers several options for middle school students before enrolling at McKinley High School. The surrounding Canton area also offers private, parochial and charter school options. In the friendly Harter Heights, picket fences, manicured lawns and other slices of Americana are featured prominently. Although it's close to some of Canton's busiest shopping and dining areas, the neighborhood has maintained its curb appeal and small-town atmosphere. Residents from Harter Heights work in private sectors in the downtown area of Canton. There are also grocery stores, pharmacies and the Aultman Hospital nearby for quick errands or emergencies. Most professional, retail and industrial locations in Canton and surrounding communities are within a short distance, making commuting to and from work relatively easy. Interstate 77 is 2 miles east of Harter Heights. It connects Canton neighborhoods to other major cities, like Akron and Cleveland to the north and Dover and New Philadelphia to the south. State Route 62 is about 2 miles south and connects to state Route 30 to the east. Tuscarawas Street West, on the neighborhood's southern border, is the major thoroughfare connecting Canton to Perry Township and Massillon. Whipple Avenue Northwest provides a direct connection to points north, including Plain Township, Jackson Township and North Canton. You can also use the Stark Area Regional Transit Authority to travel throughout Harter Heights.