What is the longitude of Canton, Ohio?
Geographic Context
Northeastern Ohio cradles Canton, about 60 km south of Lake Erie. You’ll find it halfway between Cleveland (75 km north) and Akron (20 km west). The city anchors the Stark County metro area and straddles the Glaciated Allegheny Plateau—rolling hills and fertile soil that once fed farms and later powered factories. Fun fact: Canton sits right on the 40th parallel north, just like Philadelphia and Denver. That means it gets nearly equal daylight all year long.
Key Details
- Coordinates (WGS84): 40.4172° N, 81.4000° W
- Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5 / UTC-4 during daylight saving)
- Elevation: 333 m (1,092 ft) above sea level at city hall
- Metro population (2025 est.): 400,000 within 30 km radius
- County: Stark County (county seat)
Interesting Background
Bezaleel Wells, the surveyor who mapped Canton in 1805, named the town after Canton, China. He wanted to honor trader John O’Donnell, whose voyages fascinated him. Canton’s economy flipped from farming to industry in the late 1800s. Then came a game-changer: in 1920, the American Professional Football Association (later the NFL) held its founding meeting at a Hupmobile showroom downtown. Canton proudly calls itself the “Birthplace of the NFL.” That legacy lives on at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, which opened in 1963 and still draws football fans from everywhere.
Practical Information
Akron-Canton Airport (CAK) is your main entry point, just 20 km northwest. Airlines like Allegiant, American, Delta, Southwest, Spirit, and United fly nonstop to 18 domestic spots as of 2026. From the airport to downtown Canton takes 20–25 minutes via OH-21, OH-183, or I-77 exit 109. The city’s grid layout—centered on the Public Square, the original survey point—makes getting around simple. Parking near the Hall of Fame district is easy and metered; expect to pay about $10 for a day pass in 2026. If you’ve got extra time, check out the First Ladies National Historic Site (Ida Saxton McKinley’s home) and the William McKinley Presidential Library & Museum. Both sit just a 5-minute drive from the Hall of Fame.
