 Located on the western end of the Glaciated Allegheny Plateau , the topography of Kent includes rolling hills and varied terrain . The Cuyahoga River passes through the city , cutting a gorge with a drop of nearly 40 feet ( 10 m ) adjacent to the downtown area . The United States Geological Survey lists the city 's elevation at 1 @,@ 056 feet ( 322 m ) above sea level at a point near Kent 's geographic center . Elevations vary slightly within the city limits with several buildings on the Kent State University campus at altitudes in excess of 1 @,@ 160 feet ( 350 m ) and points as high as 1 @,@ 200 feet ( 370 m ) . According to the United States Census Bureau , as of 2010 the city has a total area of 9 @.@ 28 square miles ( 24 @.@ 04 km2 ) , of which 9 @.@ 17 square miles ( 23 @.@ 75 km2 ) is land and 0 @.@ 11 square miles ( 0 @.@ 28 km2 ) is water . 
