Canfield, Ohio... I'm confused! (Youngstown, Warren: appointed, houses, school districts)

[mdmagana]

Can someone please clarify some questions I have on Canfield?

So apparently there is a City of Canfield and a Township of Canfield? And the Township completely surrounds the city?

From what I gathered the city is very small, only a few blocks. Why is it setup this way? Does that affect schools? Is one better than, or more prestigious than the other? I imagine that local taxes would work differently too? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each?

I've been there many times and never realized that there were two separate entities. This baffles me.

[CortlandGirl79]

Here's a link on Canfield City Canfield, Ohio - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia



If you look at the above picture you'll see that Counties in Ohio are made up of townships, in this example Trumbull Co. is a square county, made up of 25 equal township squares. Cities sometimes are located w/in a township or w/in several townships. For example, Cortland is located in Bazetta, Johnston and Fowler townships.

Here's a map showing Mahoning Co

The most common form of township government has an elected board of trustees or supervisors. Some additional offices, such as Clerk or Constable, may also be elected. The most common responsibilities include such things as road maintenance, land use planning, and trash collection. Many townships in Ohio, Michigan, New Jersey and Pennsylvania provide police and fire protection, similar to what an incorporated city would provide.

Township (United States) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[CortlandGirl79]

Typically townships don't charge a wage tax, but there are many cities that also don't charge a wage tax, Cortland don't tax your wages, Warren does. Townships usually are more rural or suburban in nature, while cities are more densely populated and urban.

[JR_C]

If Cortlandgirl didn't answer your question, let me add that townships--generally--came first. As population grew, the residents voted to form a village. Per Ohio law, when a village gains so many residents, it becomes a city.

There used to be a Youngstown township. But the city grew to fill the township, so it ceased to exist.

School districts are independent of municipal boundaries.

I have no idea if one is more prestigious than the other. But if I were forced to live in that area, I'd choose to live in the city, because it's the most town-like, and that's where the oldest houses tend to be. (although, there are probably great old farmhouses scattered throughout the township, too)

I do believe there is a wage tax in the city.

[South Range Family]

The City, and Township both form one school district. Only people inside the city limits pay the wage tax, but everybody pays school taxes through their property tax.

The City runs from Shields Rd. all the way down to Leffingwell Rd. by the fairgrounds. East to West it runs from Raccoon Rd. to Palmyra Rd. The Township borders are Tippecanoe to Crory Rds. and Kirk to Western Reserve Rds. You can tell because the speed limit drops to 35 within city limits.

There are people with Canfield addresses that are not in the Township, or the school district. That's why I always say search for houses by school district not address.

People in the City have to ask for permission to do anything. Install a fence, paint their house, or even have a garage sale.

[CortlandGirl79]

Thanks guys for elaborating a little more, i was trying to answer quickly while i was getting ready for work. I didn't realize Canfield city had a wage tax.

I can also add to the converstation that a village becomes a city after the population reaches 5,000 in the state of Ohio. Cortland was a village until the late 70s/early 80s. McDonald is a village. Newton Falls was a city, but after losing population recently it became a village again.

[South Range Family]

Here is a little history on Canfield. History of Canfield (http://www.ci.canfield.oh.us/HistoryofCanfield.html - broken link)

Chidester Drive is across the street from the Vocational school. Canfield battled in court with Youngstown to be the County seat. President James A. Garfield was the losing lawyer. I would guess that is why nothing in Canfield is named after him.

I found this quote humorous. It appears that Canfield had a fence fetish all the way back to the beginning.

"The Township's first election was held in 1803. Officers were appointed to govern and manage the township. Two of the officers were "Overseer of the Poor" and "Fence Viewer," a forerunner of today's Zoning Commission."
"