Kenton (Ohio)
Hardin County
39-39886
Kenton is a city in Hardin County, Ohio, United States of America. Situated on Scioto River city is the administrative center of the county. The population was 8,262 inhabitants at the census in 2010. Kenton, making it the largest city in the county, here lives a quarter of the population of Harding.
Geography and transport
Kenton is located in the center of the triangle between the cities of Findlay, Lima and Marion. Kenton is affected by all three cities and one can hardly say belongs to which these metropolitan county seat. Several major highways such as the compound Fort Wayne - Toledo - Columbus or Springfield constitute a traffic junction in the city.
History
1833 Kenton as the administrative seat ( county seat ) of the newly constructed Hardin County was established. The city was named after the pioneer Simon Kenton (1755-1836), a companion of Daniel Boone and General Anthony Wayne's army soldier at the Battle of Fallen Timbers. Simon Kenton in 1805 was brigadier general in the militia of Ohio and participated in battles against the British in the British - American War. His grave monument is located in Urbana.
In 1840 Kenton only 300 inhabitants. 1845 Kenton got its own council and mayor. In 1846 there were two churches, a sawmill and a flour mill, twelve shops and a newspaper office at the site. The water power of the Scioto Rivers contributed to the economic growth of the city and as the Mad River and Lake Erie Railroad ran through the town, Kenton grew very rapidly. 1880 already lived nearly 4,000 people in the city, in 1886 there were already eight churches, three banks and four newspaper editors.
Today the radio station WKTn is based in Kenton, the only daily newspaper remained the Kenton Times.
Economy
The largest employer in the city was the Champion Iron Fence Company, which manufactured fences made of iron and had 125 employees. There were also other iron processing plants, but an important economic factor was and is agriculture in the surrounding counties of Harding and the companies in Kenton, who manufacture or supply equipment and goods for the farmer.
Famous people
- John R. Goodin (1836-1885), a graduate of Kenton High School, after his move to Kansas congressman from Kansas (Democratic Party)
- William Lawrence (1819-1899), Congressman for Ohio ( Republican), heavily involved in the trial of the impeachment of President Andrew Johnson, died in Kenton
- Jacob Parrott (1843-1908), first winner of the Medal of Honor, died in Kenton
- Paul D. Robinson (1898-1974), born in Kenton, signatories of the comic strips Etta Kett for King Features Syndicate