BARBERTON, OHIO

'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.

Contents

Geography

Demographics

History and Points of Interest

Preservation and Progress

Chicken

References

External links

Geography

Barberton is located at (41.015805, -81.605897), 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.

Demographics

As of the census 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.

History and Points of Interest

Barberton was founded in 1891 by Ohio Columbus Barber, who planned the town as a means for asserting his vision of industry, progress and community. In the valley running parallel to the Tuscarawas River and the Ohio & Erie Canal, he oversaw the construction of factories, residential neighborhoods and a compact commercial downtown. In the center of the new city was the beautiful Lake Anna, named after Barber's daughter, Anna.
On a high hill on the east side of town, Barber built a magnificent industrial farm and estate comprised of dozens of barns, greenhouses, a stately mansion and lush gardens. Most of the Barber estate was lost to fire or development during the last half of the 20th Century, but his imprint remains evident throughout the city. The Barber house itself is still considered by most Barbertonians to be the greatest loss in the city's history, and it was the first and most significant example of the community's often-noted failure to conserve its historic legacy. However, there are still eight buildings in existence that were built by Barber for his Anna Dean Farm, and they provide a glimpse of the beauty and vision that once characterized the city. Five of the eight remaining Anna Dean Farm buildings are owned by the Barberton Historical Society. These buildings, built in the elegant Beaux Arts style, are constructed of red brick edged in white concrete block, with royal blue trim and red tile roofing. The most significant of the remaining buildings is Barn No. 1, now home to the world headquarters of the Yoder Brothers Corporation. It is notable primarily for its castle-like towers, which are visible from much of the east side of the city.
Barberton is known as the "Magic City" due to its rapid population growth during its formative years. In 1891, when it was incorporated, the scattered farms that had originally characterized the landscape were transformed into a fledgling city of 1,800. When an Akron Beacon Journal reporter revisited Barberton in 1893, he remarked in the paper that between 1891 and 1893 the town of Barberton had grown so quickly 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 - The Magics.
Barberton High School colors are purple and white, and "purple pride" is the affectionate term the locals use to describe enthusiasm for both the school and the broader community. Barberton High School has been recognized for athletic prowess in recent years, winning state championships in basketball, football, and track and field. After an academic downturn in the 1980s, the schools have begun to show significant strides in scholastic performance, as well.
Barberton's local sources of news include daily newspapers such as Cleveland Plain Dealer, Akron Beacon Journal and a weekly newspaper, the Barberton Herald.
During the 1980’s Barberton suffered a severe disinvestment trend similar to that of much of the American Midwest. During this period, the city lost a large part of its economic base as factories shuttered and storefronts went vacant. “The Magic City: Unemployment in a Working-Class Community” (Cornell University Press, 1989) documents the consequences of the migration of major industry from the region and the responses of the people to these dramatic changes.
The establishment in the late 1990s of The Barberton Community Foundation has likely been a major factor in a rebounding trend Barberton has enjoyed for the last ten to fifteen years. Among other community projects, the Foundation facilitated the building of a new Barberton High School, located on reclaimed swampland in the northwest section of the city. New development has begun to sprout, and the population has begun to grow again.

Preservation and Progress

As the city enters a new era of possibilities, many have observed that the city still struggles to find the right balance between preservation and progress. The city’s economy is in need of reinvestment, and positive developments are occurring across the city in that area. Some citizens, however, feel that the city’s Victorian charm is being lost to the wrecking ball.
A recent example of this is the loss of a grand Queen Anne style home, which stood at 223 Third Street across from Lake Anna until it was demolished to make way for the new YMCA building – but which remains featured on the city’s web page. Others point to the greater use that will arise from creating a public facility there. This is illustrative of a tension that exists in the city between preservation and progress.
There are numerous examples of historic buildings in downtown Barberton undergoing restoration for use as part of a burgeoning success story. This effort, led by Barbertonian Rick Horvath, has resulted in renewed optimism for the city’s core. However, there are other examples of sloppy restorations and neglect which have marked other properties.
In 1997, the nationally-recognized design firm of Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company, notable for Seaside, Florida, was chosen to design a new development on recently-annexed land in the south end of the city. This development was called New Haven. When visiting the city, they noted the decline in manufacturing and stated that a key to landing new, white-collar jobs and residents was for the city to vigorously defend its historic charm. They considered the city’s Victorian architecture, along with Lake Anna, to be its greatest asset, and they recommended investment in restoration and reinvigoration of the downtown. The New Haven development did not work due to its location, but former planning director Bill Courson noted in the same article that Duany’s ideas are suited to the downtown and that the city plans to implement those ideas.
It remains to be seen if the city can accomplish this goal with uniform, high quality and with sensitivity to original materials. Yet if the work of Mr. Horvath and like-minded businessmen is any indication – there is hope that the city may indeed parlay its 19th Century charm into 21st Century success.

Chicken

Main articles: Barberton 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." Until recent years, the city was home to a zany festival known as The Chicken Fest, which celebrated its unique and quirky place in the culinary world.
The five original chicken eateries are Belgrade Gardens, Hopocan Gardens, Milich's Village Inn (which is actually just over the border, in Norton), White House Chicken, and Terrace Gardens. All remain in operation except for Terrace Gardens.

References

1. DeLorme (1991). ''Ohio Atlas & Gazetteer''. Yarmouth, Maine: DeLorme. ISBN 0-89933-233-1.

External links

★ City of Barberton web site

★ The Barberton Herald

★ Barberton Public Library

★ Lake Anna Park web site

★ Information about the Barber mansion and the Anna Dean farm