Shifting population on road to Medina: U.S. Census Bureau releases estimates for area counties.

Byline: Rick Armon

Mar. 22--SHARON TWP. -- Larry Rexroad leans forward, his elbows on the front counter at his Country Trader store, and chuckles at the question about the changes he's seen over the years in Medina County.

For starters, he grew up on a farm along Interstate 76 -- well, truth be told, the highway wasn't there at the time. That farm is now a commercial development that includes a Target and Kohl's.

Then there's the clientele at his small store, which sells everything from deli meat to antiques. He and his wife have run the place for 20 years.

"We used to cater to farmers at one point," said the 67-year-old Rexroad, wearing a flannel shirt, jeans and camouflage baseball cap. "And now there's a whole different kind of people."

The kind of people who move into the mansions that steadily pop up in the community. The kind, he laughs, who buy wine.

Sharon Township is a microcosm for the continued population growth …