Need info please on Massillon area (Cleveland, Akron: city hall, rentals, townhouses)

[Alaskapat528]

Can anyone give me some feedback on Massillon and areas surrounding? I'm looking for info on the job market, housing, crime, etc. We are wanting to relocate back to Ohio and I'm not familiar with that area.

[mkeller234]

Massillon???? Massillon is great if you like football and sewer smell...ha, I'm kidding, mostly. For only living a few miles from Massillon, I know very little about it. Since Massillon and Canton are so close, I think they generally share the same economy, jobs, and problems. It's all about what industry you are apart of, I am in printing, and those jobs are scarce, while others are probably better. Neither Canton or Massillon are booming, Akron may be a little better off if you make enough to pay for the extra mileage.

As far as crime, drugs, etc... Yes, for sure. A woman in line at taco bell got hit in the jaw with a pool ball inside a tube sock. I just assume that any urban area will have a degree of this. Massillon does have some beautiful neighborhoods, a bit north on massillon road (wales) is nice, and farther away from the sewer smell. I am from Canton, and by nature, am forced to rip on Massillon to a degree.

[IonRedline08]

I agree with the sewer smell wholeheartedly. I grew up in the area, and that area around the Wal Mart around 30/21 has to be one of the worst smelling areas I have ever seen..err smelt

Really, the whole area is economically depressed and has been that way for some time. Not a whole lot of jobs or opportunity. There is abundant cheap housing though.

[JR_C]

Originally Posted by IonRedline08

Really, the whole area is economically depressed and has been that way for some time.

Welcome to the rust belt.

How far away do you notice the sewer smell? I've noticed it in the Wal-Mart/Lowes shopping plaza parking lot--and it has been bad on occasion. I visit the area at least every few months throughout the year, and I've never noticed it outside of the plaza. (well, maybe driving by the plaza on 21)

Historically, Massillon--the city proper--is defined by NE, NW, SE, and SW, divided at the intersection of Lincoln Way and Erie. The NW neighborhoods had the most wealth, so the housing is of higher quality. The SE has nice housing too. But I've been told that most of the undesirable element lives on that side of town. (not close to downtown, though) The NW and SW sides developed less. But the NW is most "rural/suburban." It depends on what kind of house you're looking for. If you want a newer house, then all of the surrounding communities are nice. If you want an older house, then look closer to downtown.

Since I don't live there anymore, I can't really tell you much about the day to day life there. But I know a lot about the city's history. And, as I said earlier, I visit often. (family still lives there)

[JR_C]

Here's a photo tour I made earlier this summer for another website:

I was in my hometown of Massillon this last weekend to attend the "19th Annual Cruise-On-In Dance Party" While I was home, I thought I'd take some pictures.
In and around downtown:





This is city hall. Unfortunately, I've read that the building this replaced was still in good condition.

I've heard this called the "Stone block." The Mansard roof on the left portion of the building used to extend the entire length. But, was damaged in a fire. It would be great if the glass block windows were removed, and the building was restored someday.









This is the Massillon public library. The wing on the right was originally a house built in 1835 by the founder of Massillon, James Duncan.


Here are some of Massillon's many churches in and around downtown.
St. John's (and some townhouses)

I don't know the name of this church.

First United Methodist: I guess it has great stained glass windows, but they are covered with yellowed Plexiglas.

St. Paul's Lutheran:

St. Mary's, my favorite of the churches.


Now, here are some homes on historic 4th St NE.












Lillian Gish Lillian Gish - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia lived in the small house that may seem out of place on this street..








Here are some homes west of 4th street--still nice, but not mansions. While most of these are on 3rd street, they are more characteristic of the rest of the inner portion of Massillon's residential neighborhoods.




Not all of the mansions were on 4th street. While on a walking tour, an older gentleman remembered how he used to be woken early by an opera singer who practiced on the back balcony of this house.

[chance2jump]

The Massilion area is very pretty (in my opinion), but I agree with the sewer smell in one area. I personally lived in Doylestown/Wayne Co and really liked it - fairly close to decent shopping (Fairlawn, Wadsworth, etc, even Medina by way of back roads) and close proximity to highways. Doylestown also had quite a few inexpensive rentals (I had 2bd 1 bath 2 floor townhome for $500/mth). I have some pics of Mass area on my home computer that I can upload later on.

Job market is so-so. Panther II in Seville usually hiring for dispatching, Time Warner has some openings periodically out of the Green office, of even Cleveland if you can swallow the drive with gas prices.

[Alaskapat528]

JR, very nice pics. Thanks everyone for the feedback. I'm looking into possibly moving to Navarre or Bolivar. Don't think Massillon is the place for us, but would be ok to work in.

[JR_C]

I don't know much about Bolivar. I don't have a photo tour of Navarre, but I have family roots there. It is a great little village.

Are you looking to be in town or out in the country?

[Alaskapat528]

Originally Posted by JR_C

I don't know much about Bolivar. I don't have a photo tour of Navarre, but I have family roots there. It is a great little village.

Are you looking to be in town or out in the country?

Hoping more for being in the country with decent access to town. I don't like it where houses are real close together.

[JR_C]

Originally Posted by Alaskapat528

Hoping more for being in the country with decent access to town. I don't like it where houses are real close together.

Well, I'm guessing you won't see much difference between Navarre and Bolivar, then. But, as I'm sure you can see from maps, Navarre gives easier access to the bigger cities.

BTW, I hope you haven't ruled out Massillon based solely on my pictures. You could probably find what you're looking for on the outer NW or SW sides of the city.