Chardon, Ohio
Encyclopedia
Geauga County, Ohio
Geauga County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 93,389. It is named for a Native American word meaning "raccoon". The county seat is Chardon...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 5,148 at the 2010 Census. It is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Geauga County
Geauga County, Ohio
Geauga County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 93,389. It is named for a Native American word meaning "raccoon". The county seat is Chardon...
.
History
Chardon is named after Peter Chardon BrooksPeter Chardon Brooks
Peter Chardon Brooks was a wealthy Massachusetts merchant born in North Yarmouth, Maine. His father, the Rev. Edward Brooks, moved to Medford, Massachusetts, his native town, in 1769, and here the boyhood of young Brooks was passed in farm work...
, who donated land to build the historic Chardon Square
Chardon Courthouse Square District
The Chardon Courthouse Square District is located in Chardon, Ohio, and contains the Geauga County Courthouse as well as the several buildings serving as the courthouse annexes. The district was added to the National Register on 1974-10-18....
.
Chardon fire
On July 24–25, 1868, a massive fire totally destroyed what is now known as Chardon Square. The fire originated in the Parlin Parkin's grocery store, and spread rapidly. By the time the fire was contained, the courthouse, post office, and many stores on the square were destroyed. Damage was estimated at around $120,000. Chardon Square was quickly rebuilt following the fire. A new courthouseGeauga County Courthouse
The Geauga County Courthouse is located at 100 Short Court Street in Chardon, Ohio. The courthouse was placed on the National Register on 1974-10-18 as part of the Chardon Courthouse Square District.-History:...
, which still stands today, was completed in 1869. Many other buildings that were constructed after the fire also still exist today.
Culture
Chardon is known for its maple syrupMaple syrup
Maple syrup is a syrup usually made from the xylem sap of sugar maple, red maple, or black maple trees, although it can also be made from other maple species such as the bigleaf maple. In cold climates, these trees store starch in their trunks and roots before the winter; the starch is then...
industry. Celebration of the syrup season begins at Tapping Sunday in March, when the sap is at prime thawing temperature. The annual Geauga County Maple Festival is a four-day celebration that takes place on the Chardon Square the last weekend in April. The festival has been rescheduled numerous times because of snowstorms in April due to Chardon’s location in the “snow belt” and infamous large amount of snowfall every year. Chardon has an active performance art community including work done by the Geauga Lyric Theater Guild, housed in the renovated Geauga theater building, which used to house an old movie theater, and which has begun to show first-run movies again. Greater Chardon features a large number of golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
courses. Chardon Lakes Golf Course
Chardon Lakes Golf Course
Chardon Lakes Golf Course is located in Chardon, a city in Geauga County, OhioChardon Lakes Golf Course opened in 1931 with 9 original holes designed by Bert Way, who also designed Firestone North and Mayfield Country Club. In 1963 the "new" nine opened, designed by Don Tincher and Carroll Bazler....
is located right in the heart of Chardon, two minutes from the Chardon square. This is a beautiful, challenging course that is open to the public. Sand Ridge Golf Club in nearby Munson Township
Munson Township, Geauga County, Ohio
Munson Township is one of the sixteen townships of Geauga County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 6,450 people in the township.-Geography:Located in the north central part of the county, it borders the following townships and city:...
is also an excellent golf course. Chardon has an abundance of park space. Due largely to the area's wide variety of weather conditions, citizens in the area can enjoy a wide variety of hobbies throughout the year.
Notable present and former residents
Carl Ricco (30), a type designer, artist and musician grew up in Chardon, and attended Chardon High School.Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, Chardon has a total area of 4.6 square miles (11.9 km²), of which, 4.6 square miles (11.9 km²) of it is land and 0.22% is water.
Climate
With an average annual snowfall of 106 inches (269 cm), Chardon is notable for being the snowiest city in Ohio. This is mainly due to its location on a 730 foot (220 m) ridge approximately 10 miles (16 km) inland from Lake Erie, creating the perfect conditions for Orographic liftOrographic lift
Orographic lift occurs when an air mass is forced from a low elevation to a higher elevation as it moves over rising terrain. As the air mass gains altitude it quickly cools down adiabatically, which can raise the relative humidity to 100% and create clouds and, under the right conditions,...
and its associated heavy snowfall when winter winds blow across the lake.
In 1996, from November 9 through November 13, a storm dropped over 70 inches of lake-effect snow in the city over a period of six days. Governor George Voinovich
George Voinovich
George Victor Voinovich is a former United States Senator from the state of Ohio, and a member of the Republican Party. Previously, he served as the 65th Governor of Ohio from 1991 to 1998, and as the 54th mayor of Cleveland from 1980 to 1989.-Personal life:Born in Cleveland, Ohio, his father was...
declared a state of emergency as a result, and the Ohio National Guard
United States National Guard
The National Guard of the United States is a reserve military force composed of state National Guard militia members or units under federally recognized active or inactive armed force service for the United States. Militia members are citizen soldiers, meaning they work part time for the National...
was brought in to assist with the cleanup.
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg high °F | 31.6 |
34.6 |
44.3 |
55.9 |
67.6 |
76.2 |
80 |
78.6 |
71.8 |
60.4 |
47.9 |
36.7 |
57.1 |
| Avg low temperature °F | 14.3 |
15.1 |
23.9 |
33.6 |
44 |
53.1 |
57.5 |
56.1 |
49.2 |
39 |
31.5 |
21.5 |
36.6 |
| Rainfall in. | 3.28 |
2.71 |
3.4 |
3.84 |
4.17 |
4.53 |
3.94 |
4.62 |
4.41 |
3.84 |
4.3 |
4.29 |
47.33 |
| Snowfall in. | 28.29 |
20.11 |
16.49 |
4.20 |
0.12 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.01 |
1.18 |
9.95 |
27.04 |
107.39 |
| Source: Chardon City Data | |||||||||||||
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2010, there were 5,148 people, 2,285 households, and 1,331 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,119.1 people per square mile (432.6/km²). There were 2,285 occupied housing units at an average density of 496.7 per square mile (192/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.9% White, 0.8% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.2% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.5% of the population.
There were 2,285 households, of which 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.1% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.8% were non-families. 37.4% of all households were made up of individuals, 3.2% had a male 65 years of age or older living alone, and 12.6% had a female living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the city, the population was spread out with 23.5% under the age of 18, 7.40% from 18 to 24, 23.9% from 25 to 44, 26.5% from 45 to 64, and 17.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.1 years. For every 100 females there were 82.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.6 males.
For the 2000 census, the median income for a household in the city was $46,074, and the median income for a family was $57,845. Males had a median income of $44,071 versus $23,750 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $21,845. About 1.3% of families and 3.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.6% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.
Notable residents
- Andrew Brown, professional baseball player in Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
as a pitcher - Mel HarderMel HarderMelvin Leroy Harder , nicknamed "Chief", was an American, right-handed, starting pitcher and coach in Major League Baseball, who played his entire career with the Cleveland Indians. He spent 36 seasons overall with the Indians, as a player from 1928 to 1947 and as one of the game's most highly...
, professional baseball player as a pitcherPitcherIn baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
for the Cleveland IndiansCleveland IndiansThe Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona... - Matt HutterMatt HutterMatt Hutter is a retired American stock car driver. He has raced in the NASCAR Busch Series and Craftsman Truck SeriesHutter made his NASCAR debut in 1998, driving the #36 Stanley Tools Pontiac Grand Prix for Team 34 in 15 races. His best finish was a ninth at Talladega Superspeedway, but he was...
, NASCARNASCARThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
driver - Halbert Eleazer Paine, U.S. Representative from WisconsinWisconsinWisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
- Seth Ledyard PhelpsSeth Ledyard PhelpsSeth Ledyard Phelps was an American naval officer, politician, and diplomat. He served with distinction in the U.S. Navy during the Civil War and afterward was appointed president of the Board of Commissioners of the District of Columbia and then as U.S...
, naval officer, politician and diplomat - Lee KempLeroy KempLeroy P. Kemp, Jr. was a successful collegiate wrestler and three-time World Champion. He earned a berth on the 1980 Olympic team, but was unable to compete because of the U.S. boycott of the Olympics...
, collegiate and Olympian wrestler - Midnight SyndicateMidnight SyndicateMidnight Syndicate is an American musical group that has been working mainly in the genre of gothic music since 1997 and is based out of Chardon, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland...
, gothic music group