Barberton, Ohio
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Barberton is a city in Summit County, Ohio, United States. The population was 27,899 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Akron metropolitan area and has the ZIP code 44203.
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[edit] Geography
Barberton is located at (41.015805, -81.605897),GR1 along the Tuscarawas River.[1]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 23.9 km² (9.2 mi²). 23.3 km² (9.0 mi²) of it is land and 0.6 km² (0.2 mi²) of it (2.38%) is water.
Lake Anna, a glacial kettle lake, is a 10 acre natural spring lake, which lies in the center of the original village of Barberton and is the center of a 21 acre park which is named after it. Lake Anna is named for O. C. Barber's daughter Anna Laura Barber.
[edit] Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 27,899 people, 11,523 households, and 7,443 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,195.5/km² (3,095.2/mi²). There were 12,163 housing units at an average density of 521.2/km² (1,349.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.43% White, 5.33% African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.37% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.24% from other races, and 1.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.64% of the population.
There were 11,523 households out of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.9% were married couples living together, 15.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.4% were non-families. 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.8% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 87.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,178, and the median income for a family was $39,387. Males had a median income of $32,294 versus $21,778 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,764. About 11.5% of families and 13.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.3% of those under age 18 and 7.5% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Trivia
Barberton was founded in 1891 by Ohio Columbus Barber. There are still eight buildings in town that were built by Barber for his Anna Dean Farm. Five of the eight remaining Anna Dean Farm buildings are owned by the Barberton Historical Society. These buildings built in Beaux Arts style are constructed of red brick, white concrete block and royal blue trim, giving them a patriotic red white and blue appearance.
Barberton is known as the "Magic City" because of its rapid population growth during its formative years. In 1891, when it was incorporated, the original scattered farms had grown into a city of 1,800. When a Beacon Journal reporter revisited Barberton in 1893, he remarked in the paper that between 1891 and 1893 the town of Barberton had grown so fast that it appeared to grow by magic (hence its nickname).
Currently most people know Barberton as the Magic City as a result of the mascot name for Barberton High School - Magics. Barberton High School colors are purple and white.
"Purple pride" is often evidenced in the city. Barberton High School has been recognized for sports success and enthusiasm in recent decades, winning state championships in basketball, football and track and field.
Barberton's local source of news, as well as Norton's, is the Barberton Herald, a weekly paper covering events in Barberton and surrounding areas. The Herald covers the bigger news stories as well as providing full police reports, while the South Summit Weekender, their weekend paper, focuses more on the entertainment of the town as well as "happier" stories.
Residents of Barberton are known as Barbertonians.
During the 1980’s Barberton experienced serious "de-industrialization" losing a large part of its economic base. “The Magic City: Unemployment in a Working-Class Community” (Cornell University Press 1989) documents the consequences of the closing of major industry in the region and the responses of the people to these dramatic changes.
However, in recent decades, the City of Barberton has enjoyed significant progress, development and increased population. The recent establishment of The Barberton Community Foundation has been a major factor in Barberton's progress. Among other major community projects, the Barberton Community Foundation facilitated the building of a new, centrally-located Barberton High School.
[edit] Chicken
The Fried Chicken restaurants in Barberton are famous among chicken lovers, even as far away as the Deep South. In fact, to some, Barberton is known as the "Chicken Capital of the World".
The five original chicken eateries are Belgrade Gardens, Hopocan Gardens, Milich's Village Inn,(Norton Ohio) White House Chicken, and Terrace Gardens. All are still in operation except for Terrace Gardens.
[edit] References
- ^ DeLorme (1991). Ohio Atlas & Gazetteer. Yarmouth, Maine: DeLorme. ISBN 0-89933-233-1.
[edit] External links
- City of Barberton web site
- The Barberton Herald
- Barberton Public Library
- Lake Anna Park web site
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
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Municipalities and Communities of Summit County, Ohio (County Seat: Akron) |
|---|---|
| Cities | Akron | Barberton | Cuyahoga Falls | Fairlawn | Green | Hudson | Macedonia | Munroe Falls | New Franklin | Northfield | Norton | Stow | Tallmadge | Twinsburg |
| Villages | Boston Heights | Clinton | Lakemore | Mogadore | Peninsula | Reminderville | Richfield | Silver Lake |
| Townships | Bath | Boston | Copley | Coventry | Franklin | Northfield Center | Richfield | Sagamore Hills | Springfield | Twinsburg |
| CDPs | Montrose-Ghent | Pigeon Creek | Portage Lakes |
| Unincorporated communities | Ghent | Hammond's Corners | Montrose |
