Townapedia
Downtown Kenton - panoramio
Downtown Kenton - panoramio · Art Anderson, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quiet Morning in Kenton - panoramio
Quiet Morning in Kenton - panoramio · Art Anderson, CC BY-SA 3.0
First Reformed UCC in Kenton
First Reformed UCC in Kenton · Nyttend, Public domain
Kenton Courthouse Square Historic District
Kenton Courthouse Square Historic District · Nyttend, Public domain
Fort McArthur historical marker in Kenton
Fort McArthur historical marker in Kenton · Nyttend, Public domain
Ohio Historical Marker - The Hardin County Courthouse, 13-33 (Kenton, Ohio)
Ohio Historical Marker - The Hardin County Courthouse, 13-33 (Kenton, Ohio) · Nheyob, CC BY-SA 4.0

Kenton, Ohio

Kenton is a city of 7,663 people in Hardin County, Ohio, founded in 1845.

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Population7,663 -7.5% since 2019
CountyHardin County
Elevation991 ft 302 m
Founded1845
Land area5.0 sq mi
ZIP code43326
Nearest airportLima Allen County Airport (AOH) 22 mi

Why visit Kenton

Townapedia lists 6 museums and landmarks, 6 parks and trails, 23 places to eat, 3 places to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.

Highlights include Kenton 3 Theatre, North Main-North Detroit Street Historic District and Hardin County Courthouse.

July is the warmest month, with average highs of 84°F; January lows average 18°F, and about 26 inches of snow fall in a normal year.

About Kenton

Kenton is a city in and the county seat of Hardin County, Ohio, United States, located in the west-central part of Ohio about 57 mi (92 km) northwest of Columbus and 70 mi (113 km) south of Toledo. Its population was 7,947 at the 2020 census. The city was named for frontiersman Simon Kenton of Kentucky and Ohio.

From the Wikipedia article Kenton, Ohio (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Things to do1

Kenton 3 Theatre

Cinema and theater

221 West Franklin Street

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Museums and landmarks6

North Main-North Detroit Street Historic DistrictCC BY-SA 3.0

North Main-North Detroit Street Historic District

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi

Historic district in Ohio, United States

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Hardin County Courthouse

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places

Local government building in the United States

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Kenton Public Library

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places

Historic building in Kenton, Ohio, United States

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Hardin County Historical Museum

Museum

223 North Main Street, Kenton

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Kudo Studio

Museum

14 North Main Street, Kenton

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Kenton Courthouse Square Historic District

Monument and historic site

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Parks, trails and playgrounds6

C E Wharton Memorial Park

Park

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Home Run Memorial Park

Park · 1.7 mi

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Pioneer Park

Park · 1.8 mi

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Pioneer Park

Park · 0.7 mi

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Saulisberry Park

Park · 2.0 mi

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Veterans Memorial Park

Park · 2.1 mi

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Restaurants and cafes23

Pizza Hut

Restaurant · Pizza · 1.1 mi

946 East Columbus Street, Kenton

Open in Google Maps · +1 419-674-1217

En Lai Chinese

Restaurant · Chinese · 1.1 mi

955 East Columbus Street, Kenton

Open in Google Maps · +1-419-675-2382

Fillin Station

Restaurant · Breakfast

130 South Main Street, Kenton

Open in Google Maps · +1-419-674-4455

Jimmy's Pizza

Restaurant · Pizza

306 West Franklin Street, Kenton

Open in Google Maps · +1-419-675-3529

Jitterz Coffee Co

Restaurant · Coffee Shop

23 North Detroit Street, Kenton

Open in Google Maps · +1-419-675-0901

Michael Angelo's Pizza

Restaurant · Pizza

215 South Detroit Street, Kenton

Open in Google Maps · +1-419-673-7101

Midway Restaurant

Restaurant · Sandwich

350 West Franklin Street, Kenton

Open in Google Maps · +1-419-673-9188

Royal Buffet

Restaurant · Asian · 1.1 mi

952 East Columbus Street, Kenton

Open in Google Maps · +1-419-673-0882

Salsa's Mexican Buffet/Grill

Restaurant · Mexican · 1.6 mi

1235 SR 67 E / East Columbus St, Kenton

Open in Google Maps · +1 419 674 4343

The Sweet Note

Restaurant · Lunch

16 North Main Street, Kenton

Open in Google Maps · +1-419-767-9443

Hillcrest Lanes

Bar and pub · 0.8 mi

1001 West Lima St, Kenton

Open in Google Maps · +1-419-675-6214

Jolene's Cozy Cafe

Restaurant · 0.6 mi

507 East Columbus Street, Kenton

Open in Google Maps · +1-419-674-4551

11 more on the map.

History

Kenton was originally the site of Fort McArthur, erected in 1812 by Colonel Duncan McArthur as one of the forts along the line of General William Hull's march against the British headquarters at Fort Detroit during the War of 1812.

In 1845, Kenton was incorporated as a village; it became a city in 1886. The city was named after frontiersman Simon Kenton.

The city began as a center for agricultural trade, then in the late 19th century, developed industry common to America of the time. From 1890 to 1952, Kenton was home to the Kenton Hardware Company, manufacturers of locks, cast-iron toys, and the very popular Gene Autry toy cap guns.

International Car Company, a manufacturer of rail cabooses, operated in Kenton for many years. In 1975, it was purchased by Paccar, a manufacturer of medium- and heavy-duty trucks. In 1983, Paccar closed down the business, noting a decrease in demand for rail equipment.

The 2001 CSX 8888 incident involving an unmanned freight train ended in Kenton.

From the History section of Kenton, Ohio on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where to stay3

Churches and places of worship24

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Shopping4

Gas and EV charging11

Schools, colleges and libraries7

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Healthcare5

Map of Kenton

90 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.

Climate by month

20°40°60°80°January: 2.6 in of rainFebruary: 2.5 in of rainMarch: 2.8 in of rainApril: 3.7 in of rainMay: 3.7 in of rainJune: 3.9 in of rainJuly: 3.4 in of rainAugust: 3.6 in of rainSeptember: 3.1 in of rainOctober: 2.6 in of rainNovember: 2.9 in of rainDecember: 2.8 in of rainJanuary: 33°FFebruary: 36°FMarch: 47°FApril: 60°FMay: 72°FJune: 81°FJuly: 84°FAugust: 83°FSeptember: 76°FOctober: 64°FNovember: 50°FDecember: 38°FJanuary: 18°FFebruary: 20°FMarch: 29°FApril: 39°FMay: 50°FJune: 60°FJuly: 64°FAugust: 62°FSeptember: 54°FOctober: 43°FNovember: 33°FDecember: 24°FJFMAMJJASOND
Average high Average low Rain
Monthly table
MonthHighLowRainSnow
Jan33°F18°F2.6 in9.3 in
Feb36°F20°F2.5 in7.4 in
Mar47°F29°F2.8 in4.5 in
Apr60°F39°F3.7 in0.3 in
May72°F50°F3.7 in0.0 in
Jun81°F60°F3.9 in0.0 in
Jul84°F64°F3.4 in0.0 in
Aug83°F62°F3.6 in0.0 in
Sep76°F54°F3.1 in0.0 in
Oct64°F43°F2.6 in0.1 in
Nov50°F33°F2.9 in0.7 in
Dec38°F24°F2.8 in3.5 in

U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Kenton Hcn (0 mi away), NOAA NCEI.

People and cost of living

$56,033median household income
$107,100median home value
$625median monthly rent
41.0median age
16.8%of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher
72.5%of homes are owner-occupied
22.4 minaverage commute
Age of residents
Under 1822%18 to 3421%35 to 6437%65 and over20%

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.

Disaster history

Hardin County has had 10 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.

  • 2020-03-31: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
  • 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
  • 2012-08-20: Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds (Severe Storm)
  • 2012-06-30: Severe Storms (Severe Storm)
  • 2008-04-24: Record Snow And Near Record Snow (Snowstorm)
  • 2007-08-27: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes (Severe Storm)

OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.

Getting there and nearby towns

Lima Allen County Airport (AOH) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 22 miles away.

  • Forest 12 mi northeast, about 19 min by car
  • Ada 14 mi northwest, about 23 min by car
  • Arlington 17 mi north, about 28 min by car
  • Russells Point 19 mi southwest, about 31 min by car
  • Lakeview 20 mi southwest, about 32 min by car
  • Bellefontaine 21 mi south, about 34 min by car
  • Upper Sandusky 22 mi northeast, about 35 min by car
  • Bluffton 22 mi northwest, about 36 min by car
  • Richwood 22 mi southeast, about 36 min by car
  • Marion 26 mi east, about 42 min by car

Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.

Reviews, tips and questions

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Sources and licences

Photo credits

Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.