Canton, Texas

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Canton, Texas
Location of Canton, Texas
Coordinates: 32°33′13″N 95°52′0″W / 32.55361, -95.86667
Country	United States
State	Texas
County	Van Zandt
Area
- Total	5.6 sq mi (14.6 km²)
- Land	5.2 sq mi (13.5 km²)
- Water	0.4 sq mi (1.1 km²)
Elevation	505 ft (154 m)
Population (2000)
- Total	5,100
- Density	633.8/sq mi (244.7/km²)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
- Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code	75103
Area code(s)	903
FIPS code	48-12496[1]
GNIS feature ID	1332115[2]

Canton is a city in Van Zandt County, Texas, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 3,292. It is the county seat of Van Zandt County^[3].

[edit] History

Canton was surveyed as early as 1840 by a company of men under Dr. W. P. King. The community stands on the original survey of Jesse Stockwell, who arrived in the area at that time. No settlement was made until 1850, when the town was laid out and named by settlers moving from Old Canton in Smith County. The first district courthouse at Canton opened in 1850, and a post office, the county's fourth, was established in that year.

When the Texas and Pacific Railway built across the county in 1872, it missed Canton by ten miles, and citizens of Wills Point persuaded the county officials to move the county seat there. In the resulting dispute residents of Canton in 1877 went armed to Wills Point to get the records back, and the county judge wired Governor Richard B. Hubbard for aid. The Supreme Court of Texas finally decided in favor of Canton. Unwilling to use the railroad at Wills Point, Canton businessmen established Edgewood, ten miles to the northwest of town, and built an extension to the railroad at a siding formerly called Stevenson.

Property for the town's first school, Canton Academy, was acquired in 1853. Sid S. Johnson began publication of the Canton Weekly Times, the county's first newspaper, in 1860. A Grange was founded in 1876. By 1890 Canton had a population of 421, flour mills, sawmills, cotton gins, and a bank. Brick buildings were under construction by 1892, and a new brick courthouse was completed in 1894. Iron ore and anthracite coal were discovered in 1887 and 1891. By 1896 the town reached a population high of 800 and had several churches, a steam gristmill and gin, two weekly newspapers, three general stores and two hotels. But residents had dropped to 421 by 1904. Canton was incorporated in 1919 and elected a mayor and aldermen. Despite the Great Depression, development of the Van oilfield after 1929 brought further expansion, and a Public Works Administration project in the 1930s completed a new courthouse in the community. In 1933 area schools registered 500 white and twenty-eight black students. The population reached 715 in 1940, but residents dwindled again after 1949. In the 1950s, local business included a sweet-potato curing plant, an ice factory, a concrete-tile factory, lumberyards, and a cotton gin. Expansion of the Canton city limits doubled its territory in the 1960s. In 1970 the community had a municipal lake with recreational facilities, seven churches, a school, a bank, a library, a newspaper, and eighty-six businesses. The population doubled between 1960 and 1970 from roughly 1,000 to 2,000, and reached nearly 3,000 by 1990. The population was 3,292 in 2000. However, the city council decide to recount the population. They found that the town had a population of 5100 instead of the previous census total of 3,292.

Canton is known for its First Monday Trade Days. According to various sources, the tradition began with district court meetings held on the first Monday of each month or with the monthly visit of neighbors in the Confederate times. The custom began with the swapping of surplus stock by barter and grew to include casual bargaining for or swapping of dogs, antiques, junk, and donkeys on a thirty-acre grounds. It is so popular canton goes from a town of 5,100 to a town of over 100,000 during the first Monday weekend, making it one of the three largest flea markets in the world.{{Fact|date=January 2008date} In the past, due to the success of First Monday, the city of Canton had no property tax, however, as of 2006, that is no longer the case.

Canton also holds The Van Zandt County Fair and Rodeo and the Annual Bluegrass Festival, which takes place in August. Since 2003, Canton has been the host community for the United States Equestrian Drill Championship, which showcases top color guard and mounted drill teams from throughout the country.

The only major company with significant employment in Canton is Wal-Mart^[4]

[edit] Geography

Canton is located at 32°33'13" North, 95°52'0" West (32.553576, -95.866710)^[5].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.6 square miles (14.6 km²), of which, 5.2 square miles (13.4 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1.1 km²) of it is water. The total area is 7.80% water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2003, there are 3,292 people (as of today around 5,100), 1,296 households, and 848 families residing in the city. The population density is 633.8 people per square mile (244.9/km²). There are 1,486 housing units at an average density of 286.1/sq mi (110.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city is 94.14% White, 2.73% African American, 0.52% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 1.09% from other races, and 1.09% from two or more races. 3.49% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 1,296 households out of which 27.0% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.5% are married couples living together, 10.9% have a female householder with no husband present, and 34.5% are non-families. 31.4% of all households are made up of individuals and 19.2% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.30 and the average family size is 2.87.

In the city the population is spread out with 21.4% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 25.9% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 42 years. For every 100 females there are 86.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 83.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $32,098, and the median income for a family is $42,500. Males have a median income of $32,117 versus $20,598 for females. The per capita income for the city is $17,351. 11.3% of the population and 7.9% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 10.6% of those under the age of 18 and 10.9% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

[edit] Education

The City of Canton is served by the Canton Independent School District. Canton ISD is classified as a 3A school district, by the University Interscholastic League. Canton athletics include football, girls volleyball, cross country, basketball, power lifting, track and field, golf, tennis, softball, and baseball.

State Championship: Cross Country 2 Band 3

[edit] Places of interest

Canton is the home of First Monday Trade Days, held on the Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday before the first Monday of every month. It claims to be the oldest and biggest flea market in the United States.

Canton is also the host city of the annual United States Equestrian Drill Championship ^[6]

Canton is also home to the only water park in East Texas: Splash Kingdom Waterpark. It is located on I-20 just outside of Canton.

Canton-Hackney Airport is just north of Canton on I-20

[edit] Notable former residents

• James S. Hogg, who once served as Canton district attorney, was elected governor in 1890.
• Notorious bank robbers Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow once lived briefly at the Dixie Hotel, built in 1915.
• Jerry Hunt, composer, established IRIDA Records there in 1979.

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b} American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
2. ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
3. ^ Find a County. National Association of Counties. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
4. ^ http://www.sra.dst.tx.us/basin/community_profiles/profiles/Canton.pdf Community Profile by the Sabine River Authority
5. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
6. ^ United States Drill

[edit] External links

• City of Canton, TX Website
• Canton Herald
• Canton-Hackney Airport
• Canton Eagle High School Band
• First Monday Vendor Locator Site
• Canton, Texas is at coordinates 32°33′13″N 95°52′00″W / 32.553576, -95.86671 (Canton, Texas)Coordinates: 32°33′13″N 95°52′00″W / 32.553576, -95.86671 (Canton, Texas)

v • d • e Municipalities and communities of Van Zandt County, Texas County seat: Canton Cities Canton | Edom | Fruitvale | Grand Saline | Van | Wills Point Town Edgewood Unincorporated communities Ben Wheeler | Martin's Mill

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