John Saxton, grandfather of Mrs. William McKinley, first published the still-circulating Ohio Repository (today The Repository ) in 1815. In 1867, William McKinley opened a law office in the town and, in 1896, conducted his "front porch campaign" for the presidency. After his assassination, his body was brought back to Canton for burial. Because of his love for the red carnation, it was made the state flower.

This large steel-processing city, important a century ago for farm machinery, is in the middle of rich farmland, on the edge of "steel valley" where the three branches of Nimishillen Creek come together. It is one of the largest producers of specialty steels in the world.