Chardon   About Chardon  Country : United States of America State : Ohio County : Geauga Population :   5 156 inhabitants  The city of Chardon is located 25 miles east of downtown Cleveland. It is among the early communities on the Western Reserve, and is the county seat. Its central park, with court house, business and residential area encircling it, immediately inform the visitor that its pioneers came mainly from New England. Chardon received its name from Peter Chardon Brooks, a Boston millionaire. He was a large land owner in the early 1800's and deeded the village square to the town upon condition that the county seat be located here and that they bestow upon the town his middle name, which is a French word meaning 'thistle'.  (Geauga County Maple Festival - Chardon) 2005 ...Chardon has many maple trees which owners tap. In the heart of the Maple belt, Chardon has become widely known for its annual Maple Festival, which is always held the weekend after Easter, that draws thousands of persons to the village annually. (By Paul E. Denton) 2006   Rolling hills surround the community providing a beautiful landscape in all seasons. To the North, Lake Erie is just minutes away. To the South, Alpine Valley Ski Area provides ideal conditions for winter sports, while Punderson State Park provides a variety of recreational opportunities.  (Geauga County Maple Festival - Chardon) Because of it's elevation above lake level and location away from the lake, Chardon is directly in the path of winter snowstorms that begin over Lake Erie and move to the east and south. The area around Chardon is known as the "snow capital of Ohio" because of this. They get two times and three times as much snow as Cleveland, only 30 miles away. Sometimes there will be NO snow in Cleveland, but 50cm in Chardon!  ( Vic Cooke ) ...Today Chardon remains to many, a town rich in history & culture. Its public square is surrounded by government offices and quaint shops and many activities and events are still held there throughout the year. (City of Chardon - History and facts) August 5, 2005 - 7:00 pm Friday, August 4th 2006   7:00 - 9:00 pm   Abbey Rodeo Chardon Gazebo Concert            www.thecrossroadsband.com July 20, 2007 - 7:00 pm     Chardon's first bandstand was built in 1875 on the town square. The one you see in these photographs is an exact replica built to replace it in 1981 using the same foundation stones. For more than 130 years now, this place has been a center for community gatherings in Chardon, and place where musical performances have been an attraction for many generations of its citizens. ( Vic Cooke )   Crédits Links Pictures and information Vic Cooke pbase Artist Vic Cooke  Information  City of Chardon Official Website City of Chardon To see it on Google-Earth Lattitude : 41,58200  Longitude : -81,20327