Stark County villages largely lost population in 2025, even though the county as a whole is growing.
Stark County grew from 2024 to 2025, and most townships and cities grew with it, according to new U.S. Census estimates.
But most Stark County villages saw slight declines, and two villages, East Canton and Hills and Dales, had no population change.
Bob Nau, executive director of Stark County Regional Planning Commission, said the small population declines for villages are “part of a longer trend of urban sprawl where people are moving to suburban and rural areas.”
Canton, the largest city in Stark County, was the only city to lose population, dropping from 69,125 to 69,001. Canton’s population has declined each year since 2020, according to estimates. The rate of decline appears to be slowing.
Canton is one of many legacy cities that has experienced population loss over time.
“It is part of a regional trend of population loss in older Rust Belt communities in this part of the country,” Nau said.
Additionally, work to remove blighted properties in the city has decreased housing stock, Nau said. Infill developments are going up, but more housing is still needed.
The shortage of affordable housing is still an issue across Stark County and could impact population if not addressed.
The county’s growth in 2025 is a good sign, but it’s too soon to declare a long-term trend, Nau said.
“From a housing supply standpoint, we need to invest in affordable housing in both our established urban areas and our growing suburban communities,” he said.
What areas in Stark County grew in 2025?
Every Stark County city except Canton grew in 2025, according to census estimates.
Louisville had the largest percent change of about 1.1%. Its population is now estimated at 9,874.
Louisville City Manager Andrew Turowski said growth is attributable to recent housing developments and city amenities.
“Louisville is the kind of community that people want to live in,” he said. “It’s a safe community. We have an incredible park system. We have a growing number of recreational opportunities in the city.”
Louisville is the only community in Stark County that’s gained population in each yearly estimate since the 2020 census. Its population is up 4.29% from the 2020 census count, which is the highest percent change across the county.
Hartville and Brewster were the only villages that grew from 2024 to 2025.
Hartville has also seen decent percent growth since the 2020 census. The village’s population grew 3.54% to 3,456 in the most recent estimate.
“It doesn’t surprise me,” Hartville Mayor Cindy Billings said. “If you put a house up for sale here, in less than a week it’s sold.”
Billings said the school district and emergency services make Hartville an attractive place to live. She also thinks residents are drawn to the small-town feel.
“I’m glad people are moving out here,” she said. “They must move down here because they like it, and that’s good.”
Nationally, growth of largest cities slowed in 2025
Across the U.S., the largest cities had drop-offs in average growth, according to the Census Bureau.
Even for cities that maintained strong growth in 2025, they were often outpaced by smaller cities nearby. This pattern held throughout the country.
“Big-city growth slowed significantly between 2024 and 2025, with some major hubs even seeing small declines,” Census Bureau statistician Matt Erickson said in a statement. “In contrast, midsized cities found a ‘Goldilocks zone’ where domestic and international migration, paired with new housing, helped prevent the sluggish growth seen in small towns and larger metropolitan centers.”
Cities in the South made up most of the nation’s fastest-growing areas. Celina, Texas, which is located near Dallas, was the fastest-growing city in the nation. It grew by 24.6%. It was also the nation’s fastest-growing city in 2023.
Columbus was the only city in Ohio to rank within the top 15 cities with the largest numeric increase between 2024 and 2025. It landed at the 14th spot, increasing by 7,696 people to an estimated population of 938,396.
Columbus is the 15th most-populous city in the nation.
Reach Grace at 330-580-8364 or gspringer@usatodayco.com. Follow her on X @GraceSpringer16.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Stark County population estimates. See what areas are growing
Reporting by Grace Springer, Canton Repository / The Repository
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By Grace Springer, Canton Repository | USA TODAY Network
