Canton, Georgia
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| Canton, Georgia | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | Georgia |
| County | Cherokee |
| Government | |
| - Mayor | Gene Hobgood (R) |
| Area | |
| - Total | 14.3 sq mi (36.9 km²) |
| - Land | 14.3 sq mi (36.9 km²) |
| - Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km²) |
| Elevation | 968 ft (291 m) |
| Population (2005) | |
| - Total | 17,685 |
| Time zone | EST (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP codes | 30114, 30115, 30169 |
| Area code(s) | 770 |
| FIPS code | 13-12988[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0331320[2] |
| Website: City Website | |
Canton is a city in and the county seat of Cherokee County[3], Georgia, United States. I The population was 7,709 at the 2000 census. Canton is the fastest growing city in Georgia and the 5th fastest growing city in the United States over 10,000 people with an estimated population of 17,685 in 2005.
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[edit] Geography
Canton is located at (34.227307, -84.494727)[4].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 14.3 square miles (36.9 km²). The city lies just north of Lebannon and South of Ball Ground
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 7,709 people, 2,702 households, and 1,750 families residing in the city. The population density was 540.5 people per square mile (208.7/km²). There were 2,879 housing units at an average density of 201.8/sq mi (78.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 77.97% White, 5.56% African American, 0.91% Native American, 0.61% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 12.87% from other races, and 1.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 23.73% of the population.
There were 2,702 households out of which 33.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.9% were married couples living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.2% were non-families. 27.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.23.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.9% under the age of 18, 12.6% from 18 to 24, 33.6% from 25 to 44, 16.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 101.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $40,361, and the median income for a family was $48,906. Males had a median income of $26,579 versus $25,431 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,324. About 6.6% of families and 11.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.6% of those under age 18 and 17.4% of those age 65 or over.
Canton was originally named Etowah and, upon the completion of its courthouse, renamed Cherokee Courthouse. Soon afterward, local businessmen launched an entrepreneurial adventure into silk production and were allowed to rename the town as Canton in recognition of Canton, China, a world-renowned producer of silk. Although silk production eventually failed, the town name remained.
Canton was the hometown of Joseph E. Brown, who was elected governor of Georgia in 1857 and later served as U.S. Senator from Georgia. In 1844, Brown served as head-master at the academy in Canton, which began his lifelong devotion to public education.
[edit] History - Past and Current
The county seat of Cherokee County was established in 1833 and re-named Canton in 1834. Once famous for its "Canton Denim," known world-wide for the high-quality denim produced by Canton Cotton Mills. Canton is now enjoying the greatest economic boom in its history.
Many projects are underway in the city including new construction, renovation and revitalization. Canton has received millions of dollars in grants for park and sidewalk improvements in the city. The city's public buses have established routes and carry thousands of passengers throughout the city from residential areas to downtown, shopping areas, the medical district and job sites.
The Historic Canton Theatre on Main Street features plays and other special entertainment events throughout the year, injecting new life into the downtown business district. Streets in the downtown area were recently improved as part of the "Streetscapes" program, bringing brick pavers to sidewalks, lamp posts, lush landscaping and intersection upgrades.
In May 2004, the city held a ribbon cutting ceremony for Heritage Park. Heritage Park is the first phase of the Etowah River Greenway. Heritage Park consists of approximately 30 acres of passive use pedestrian and bike trails and a natural amphitheater. The city holds concerts and movies in Heritage Park throughout the summer free of charge to its residents.
The city, in partnership with the Metro Atlanta YMCA, constructed an $8 million community center on Waleska Street contiguous to Heritage Park. Now completed, the community center includes an indoor swimming pool, a gymnasium, wellness center, aerobics studio, childcare facilities and the Cherokee Sports Hall of Fame.
Phase two of the Etowah River Greenway north of Heritage Park consists of active recreation fields for softball, baseball, tennis and soccer. This phase involves approximately 60 acres of property.
In June 2004, the Bluffs Parkway opened off of Riverstone Boulevard. This parkway funded by an $8 million grant from the Georgia Department of Transportation bisects the Bluffs at Technology Park. The Park which is owned by Technology Park/Atlanta, Inc. will be home to 15,000 high tech jobs when built out in 10 years. The Park will also include a satellite campus of Appalachian Tech to train employees of the companies locating there.
Hickory log creek dam project was approved by the US Army Corps of Engineers. The construction and ownership of the Hickory Log Creek Raw Water Reservoir will be shared by the Cobb County Marietta Water Authority and the City of Canton on a 75% and 25% respective basis and should be completed by December 2007. This water source will provide 44 million gallons of water per day and will be bordered by 15-25 acres of park land with picnic and other public areas.
[edit] Controversy
[edit] Confederate Flag Debate
In September 2002, students were banned from wearing t-shirts depicting the Confederate flag at Cherokee High School[1]. The next day, around 150 students protested by arriving at school wearing Rebel flag t-shirts in a gesture of defiance.[2] The Sons of Confederate Veterans and others waved Confederate flags and protested outside the school for several days afterward. This spawned a debate over whether the Rebel flag represented racism and intolerance, or was a symbol of Southern heritage.
[edit] Communities
- Buffington
- Clayton
- Gold Ridge
- Keithsburg
- Univeter
[edit] Subdivisions
- Bradshaw Estates
- Bridgemill
- Brooke Park
- Brookwood
- Carrington Farms
- Copper Creek
- Cottonwood Creek
- Creekside At Prominence
- Deerfield Farms
- Dogwood Farms
- Diamond Ridge
Falls at Mill Creek
- Fieldstone
- Forest Creek
- Governors Preserve
- Governors Walk
- Great Sky
- Hillcrest
- Lakeside at Allatoona
- Little Bear
- Manor at Mill Creek
- Middlebrooke
- Mountain View
- Orange Shoals
- River Brooke
- River Green
- Shoals At Arbor Hill
- Village At Holly Mill
- View At Holly Mill
- Waverly Park
- Whispering Hills
- Woodmont
[edit] References
- ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ Find a County. National Association of Counties. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
[edit] External links
- City of Canton website
- Cherokee County Democratic Party
- Cherokee County Republican Party
- Libertarian Party of Cherokee & Pickens Counties
- Cherokee Today
- Canton, Georgia is at coordinates Coordinates:
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