Stark County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2000 census, the population was 378,098. It is named for John Stark, an officer in the American Revolutionary War. Its county seat is Canton. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 581 square miles (1,505 km²).576 square miles (1,492 km²) of it is land and 5 square miles (12 km²) of it (0.82%) is water.Stark County was named in honor of American Revolutionary War General John Stark. John Stark (August 28, 1728 – May 8, 1822) was a general who served in the American Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. He became widely known as the "Hero of Bennington" for his exemplary service at the Battle of Bennington in 1777.In the later 20th century, Stark County's voting record swung from one party to another, closely tracking the winner of the U.S. Presidential election. Even within the swing state of Ohio, Stark County is regarded as a quintessential bellwether, and thus presidential candidates have typically made multiple visits to the region. Major media outlets typically pay close attention to the election results in the county. The New York Times in particular has covered the county's citizens and their voting concerns in a series of features each election cycle for over a decade.
