Chardon, Ohio

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Chardon is a city in Geauga County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The population was 5,242 at the 2020 census.<ref name="cityhist">City of Chardon - History Template:Webarchive.</ref> Chardon is located about Template:Cvt south of Lake Erie within the "snow belt" of the Great Lakes and is part of the Cleveland metropolitan area. It is the only incorporated city in Geauga County and includes land that was once part of Chardon, Hambden and Munson townships.<ref name="cityhist-2">File:Map of Geauga County Ohio With Municipal and Township Labels.PNG.</ref>

History

File:Geauga County Fire of 1868.jpg

Main Street after the fire of 1868

Chardon is named after Peter Chardon Brooks, who donated land to build Chardon Square.<ref name="cityhist"/> Chardon Township celebrates its incorporation in 1812, and thus the City of Chardon does the same.<ref name="cityhist-3">Template:Cite web.</ref>

On July 24–25, 1868, a large fire destroyed the center of uptown, the area 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.<ref>Terrible Conflagration.; The Entire Business Portion of Chardon, Ohio, in Ashes-Loss Over $100,000. The New York Times, August 1, 1868.</ref> Chardon Square was quickly rebuilt following the fire. A new county courthouse, which still stands today, was completed in 1869. Many other buildings that were constructed after the fire also survive and are used today.<ref name="cityhist"/>

School shooting

Template:Main On February 27, 2012, a student from Lake Academy in Willoughby, Ohio opened fire at the Chardon High School cafeteria, killing three and injuring two students. Daniel Parmertor, 16 years old, was killed at the time of the shooting. Two other victims, Demetrius Hewlin and Russell King, Jr., were pronounced dead on February 28.<ref name="3rd">Template:Cite web</ref> The shooter was taken into custody by police and was charged with three counts of aggravated murder. He was sentenced to three consecutive life terms in prison without parole.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Geography

Chardon is located on U.S. Route 6 about Template:Convert east of Cleveland. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert or about Template:Convert is water.<ref name="Gazetteer files">Template:Cite web</ref>

Climate

With an average annual snowfall of Template:Convert,<ref name="Schmidlin">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>City of Chardon - Snowfall Template:Webarchive</ref> Chardon is notable for being the snowiest city in Ohio.<ref>Chardon ranks as one of the snowiest cities</ref> This is mainly due to its location on a Template:Convert ridge approximately Template:Convert inland from Lake Erie, creating the perfect conditions for orographic lift and its associated heavy snowfall when winter winds blow across the lake.Template:Citation needed

In 1996, from November 9 through November 13, a storm dropped over Template:Convert of lake-effect snow in the city over a period of six days.<ref>Data and Analyses, November 9-14, 1996 in the Great Lakes - WW2010 Archives, University of Illinois.</ref><ref>National Agricultural Summary, November 11-17, 1996 - National Agricultural Statistics Service, United States Department of Agriculture.</ref> Governor George Voinovich declared a state of emergency as a result, and the Ohio National Guard was brought in to assist with the cleanup.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Chardon has a humid continental climate (Dfb). Summer days are warm to hot while nights remain cool. Summer is also the rainiest time of the year. Winters are moderately long, cold, and very snowy. Precipitation peaks during the month of August.

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Demographics

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File:Chardon Bus Dist P7010529.JPG

Downtown Chardon

As of the census<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 5,156 people, 2,147 households, and 1,344 families residing in the city. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 2,271 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the city was 97.77% White, 0.43% African American, 0.02% Native American, 0.45% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.10% from other races, and 1.22% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.47% of the population.

There were 2,147 households, out of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.7% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.4% were non-families. 32.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the city the population was spread out, with 24.9% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $54,063, 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 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.

2010 census

As of the census<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">Template:Cite web</ref> of 2010, there were 5,148 people, 2,285 households, and 1,331 families residing in the city. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 2,457 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the city was 96.9% White, 0.8% Black, 0.2% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.2% from other races, 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 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.1% were married couples 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, and 15.8% had someone 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.

The median age in the city was 41.1 years. 23.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.8% were from 25 to 44; 26.5% were from 45 to 64; and 17.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 45.1% male and 54.9% female.

2020 census

As of the census<ref name="census2020">Template:Cite web</ref> of 2020, there were 5,242 people residing in the city. The population density was Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the city was 96.0% White, 1.3% Black, 0.0% Native American, 0.0% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, and 2.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.0% of the population.

There were 2,066 households, with an average household size of 2.47 individuals.<ref name="census2020"/> The owner-occupied housing unit rate was 65.2%, with a median value of owner-occupied housing units at $274,500.<ref name="census2020"/>

The median age in the city was 37.1 years. 22.2% of residents were under the age of 18, and 19.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.9% female.<ref name="census2020"/>

The median household income was $86,618, with a per capita income of $54,895. Approximately 10.02% of the population were below the poverty line.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Culture

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Bathtub races at the 2018 Geauga County Maple Festival

Chardon is known for its maple syrup 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<ref>Geauga County Maple Festival official site</ref> 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” of the Great Lakes; it receives a large amount of snowfall every year.

Chardon has an active performance art community. The Geauga Lyric Theater Guild is housed in the renovated Geauga Theater building, which was constructed in 1939 as an Art Deco movie house. The theater is also being used again to show first-run movies.<ref>"Guild restores murals that set the tone for Chardon's 1939, art deco cinema", The Plain Dealer, February 5, 2001.</ref><ref>Movies for 4 Template:Webarchive - Geauga Lyric Theater Guild website.</ref>

Greater Chardon features numerous parks and golf courses. Chardon Lakes Golf Course is located in the heart of Chardon, two minutes from the square. Sand Ridge Golf Club in nearby Munson Township is also an excellent course. Chardon has an abundance of park space. Due to the area's varying weather conditions, sports activities are available for every season.

Education

Chardon and the area surrounding the city are served by the Chardon Local School District. The district contains Chardon High School, as well as one middle school, and two elementary schools: Park and Munson. Hambden and Maple were no longer elementary schools starting in the 2018–2019 school year. Hambden and Munson elementary are not within the city limits.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> As of the 2011–2012 school year, the district had received an "Excellent" rating from the State of Ohio Board of Education for eleven consecutive years.<ref>About the District. Retrieved from http://www.chardon.k12.oh.us/AbouttheDistrict.aspx.</ref>

Chardon has a public library, a branch of the Geauga County Public Library.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>