Kent, Ohio Population, Hospitals, Airports, and Schools

Kent, Ohio is a vibrant city located in Portage County, Ohio. It is conveniently located just south of Akron and east of Cleveland. The city has a population of over 28,000 people and is home to Kent State University, one of the largest universities in the state.

The city was first founded in 1805 and was originally known as Franklin Mills. The name was changed to Kent in 1864 after Marvin Kent, a prominent businessman from the area. In 1910, the city was officially incorporated as a village and later became a City in 1959.

The downtown area of Kent is bustling with activity and has been recently revitalized with new shops, restaurants, and businesses opening up throughout the area. There are many unique shops where you can find anything from antiques to art galleries to clothing stores. The downtown area also features live music venues and nightlife spots for those looking for some evening entertainment.

The city of Kent has many parks and recreational areas that offer something for everyone. Acorn Alley Park offers playgrounds, basketball courts, baseball fields, picnic areas and more while Fred Fuller Park features walking trails along with outdoor activities like fishing or boating on Lake Brady Reservoir or Standpipe Lake Reservoir.

Kent State University is one of the main attractions in the city which provides several cultural events throughout the year such as concerts, lectures by prominent speakers, theater productions and much more! There are also several museums located on campus such as The Rockwell Museum or The May 4th Visitor Center which honors those who lost their lives during an anti-war protest at KSU on May 4th 1970.

Overall Kent is an exciting place to live with plenty of things to do both on campus at KSU or off-campus around town! There are plenty of opportunities for shopping, dining out at local restaurants or exploring nature through its many parks! Whether you’re looking for an educational experience at KSU or want to explore all that downtown Kent has to offer there’s something here for everyone.

Population: 27,906. Estimated population in July 2024: 28,135 (+0.8% change)
Males: 12,793 (45.8%), Females: 15,113 (54.2%)

Portage County

Zip codes: 44240, 44243.

Demographics

Median resident age: 22.9 years
Median household income: $29,582
Median house value: $113,300

Population by Race

Races in Kent:

  • White Non-Hispanic (85.3%)
  • Black (9.1%)
  • Two or more races (2.0%)
  • Hispanic (1.3%)
  • Chinese (0.8%)
  • American Indian (0.7%)

Ancestries: German (26.1%), Irish (15.1%), English (11.1%), Italian (10.8%), Polish (5.3%), United States (4.5%).

Elevation: 1097 feet

Land area: 8.7 square miles

Population by Education

For population 25 years and over in Kent

  • High school or higher: 91.7%
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher: 37.0%
  • Graduate or professional degree: 16.1%
  • Unemployed: 5.7%
  • Mean travel time to work: 21.1 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Kent city

  • Never married: 57.7%
  • Now married: 29.8%
  • Separated: 0.7%
  • Widowed: 4.1%
  • Divorced: 7.8%

4.4% Foreign born (2.5% Asia, 1.2% Europe).

Population change in the 1990s: -976 (-3.4%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near Kent:

  • ROBINSON MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (about 9 miles; RAVENNA, OH)
  • EDWIN SHAW HOSPITAL (about 10 miles; AKRON, OH)
  • CUYAHOGA FALLS GENERAL HOSPITAL (about 11 miles; CUYAHOGA FALLS, OH)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Kent:

  • AKRON-CANTON REGIONAL (about 18 miles; AKRON, OH; Abbreviation: CAK)
  • CUYAHOGA COUNTY (about 29 miles; CLEVELAND, OH; Abbreviation: CGF)
  • BURKE LAKEFRONT (about 34 miles; CLEVELAND, OH; Abbreviation: BKL)

Other public-use airports nearest to Kent:

  • KENT STATE UNIV (about 3 miles; KENT, OH; Abbreviation: 1G3)
  • PORTAGE COUNTY (about 9 miles; RAVENNA, OH; Abbreviation: 29G)
  • MILLS (about 10 miles; MANTUA, OH; Abbreviation: 7E3)

Amtrak station near Kent:

  • 12 miles: AKRON (906 E. BOWERY ST.). Services: enclosed waiting area, public restrooms, public payphones, free short-term parking, free long-term parking, taxi stand.

Colleges and Universities

College/University in Kent:

  • KENT STATE UNIVERSITY-MAIN CAMPUS (Full-time enrollment: 18,677; Public; Website: www.kent.edu; Offers Doctor’s degree)

Other colleges/universities with over 2000 students near Kent:

  • UNIVERSITY OF AKRON MAIN CAMPUS (about 12 miles; AKRON, OH; Full-time enrollment: 16,801)
  • STARK STATE COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY (about 19 miles; CANTON, OH; Full-time enrollment: 2,324)
  • KENT STATE UNIVERSITY-STARK CAMPUS (about 19 miles; NORTH CANTON, OH; Full-time enrollment: 2,053)
  • MOUNT UNION COLLEGE (about 24 miles; ALLIANCE, OH; Full-time enrollment: 2,188)
  • JOHN CARROLL UNIVERSITY (about 28 miles; CLEVELAND, OH; Full-time enrollment: 3,861)
  • CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY (about 30 miles; CLEVELAND, OH; Full-time enrollment: 7,729)
  • CLEVELAND STATE UNIVERSITY (about 32 miles; CLEVELAND, OH; Full-time enrollment: 11,000)

Schools

Public high school in Kent:

  • ROOSEVELT HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 1,300; Location: 1400 N MANTUA ST; Grades: 08 – 12)

Public primary/middle schools in Kent:

  • STANTON MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 827; Location: 1175 HUDSON RD; Grades: 06 – 08)
  • BRIMFIELD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 584; Location: 4182 STATE ROUTE 43; Grades: 01 – 06)
  • DAVEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 428; Location: 196 N PROSPECT ST; Grades: PK – 05)
  • WALLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 416; Location: 900 DORAMOR ST; Grades: KG – 05)
  • LONGCOY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 305; Location: 1069 ELNO AVE; Grades: KG – 05)
  • HOLDEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 263; Location: 132 W SCHOOL ST; Grades: KG – 05)
  • FRANKLIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 257; Location: 6662 STATE ROUTE 43; Grades: KG – 05)
  • KENT DIGITAL ACADEMY (Students: 26; Location: 321 N DEPEYSTER ST; Grades: 03 – 12)

Private primary/middle school in Kent:

  • ST PATRICK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 393; Location: 127 PORTAGE STREET; Grades: KG – 8)

Libraries

Library in Kent:

  • KENT FREE LIBRARY (Operating income: $1,986,238; Location: 312 W. MAIN ST.; 174,969 books; 9,509 audio materials; 6,609 video materials; 391 serial subscriptions)