About Massillon, Ohio

A History of Shipping and Industry

Located about eight miles west of Canton, Ohio, Massillon was a shipping town in the 1820s, delivering wheat and, later, coal via the Ohio & Erie Canal. After the railroad arrived in the mid-1850s, the town became a center of heavy industry, producing steam engines and steam tractors. The town began producing steel in 1880 and, in the 1930s, experienced a period of labor unrest and union organization. Massillon reached its current population of about 30,000 around 1950. The steel industry declined late in the 20th century, but new companies moved into the area, keeping the population relatively stable.

According to the U.S. Bureau of the Census, the town’s population in 2016 was around 32,300 (89% White and 7% Black). About 5,200 of Massillon’s inhabitants were aged 5-17. The median household income in 2016 was estimated at $42,808, somewhat below the national median of $53,808.

A Proud Football Legacy

Football has played a large role in the city and the school district of Massillon for more than a century. In the late 1800s, Northeastern Ohio had three professional teams. One of them, the Massillon Tigers, inspired the formation of a high school team, which took its name from the professional team and was officially recognized by the school in 1904. The high school team thrived under a succession of strong coaches, most notably Paul Brown. Over the years, the Washington High School Tigers won many state championships and achieved almost iconic status in the world of high school football. The Massillon community enthusiastically embraced the high school team, forming booster clubs, attending games, and providing generous financial support for school district athletics, including the construction of a 21,000-seat stadium and, more recently, a state-of-the-art field house. Today, as in the past, football provides a strong connection between the district and its community.