The Birth of Jackson Township, Ohio and the Question of Incorporation

Jackson Township in Stark County, Ohio has become a bustling suburb in the last two decades. The township is now occupied by an estimated 40,000 residents, making it the second largest township in the county, and continues to grow as a center of commercial development and new subdivisions. It is the home of an award winning local school district and a commerce area that has more restaurants in that area than any other city of equal proportion in the United States. Jackson Township is a city without the official designation as a city, which may be changed in the near future. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the affect of urban sprawl, also known as suburbanization, on Jackson Township from 1950 to 1990, combined with possible explanations of why this may benefit and hinder the well being of the citizens of the township. The paper will also divulge in to the question of incorporation, providing supporting evidence for and against Jackson Township becoming an incorporated city.