Page Contents for Canton, Mississippi

Statistics & Facts

Location

History & History-related items

Government

Historical Events

Chamber of Commerce.

Organizations, Churches, and Sports.

Libraries.

Schools.

Miscellany

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Statistics & Facts

The Mississippi state capital is Jackson.
The population of Canton is approximately 10,328 (1996), 13189 (2010).
The approximate number of families is 3,592 (1990), 4500 (2010).
The amount of land area in Canton is 17.684 sq. kilometers.
The amount of land area in Canton is 22.3 sq. miles.
The amount of surface water is 0.247 sq kilometers.
The distance from Canton to Washington DC is 874 miles.
The distance to the Mississippi state capital is 22 miles. (as the crow flies)
Canton is positioned 32.61 degrees north of the equator and 90.03 degrees west of the prime meridian.
Canton average annual rainfall is 52.07 inches per year
Canton average temperature is 65.6 degrees F.

Location

in central Mississippi, 22 miles north of Jackson, Mississippi. Canton is located at north exit 124 and south exit 119 of Interstate 55.

Canton is located in the exact geographic center of Madison County
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Weather

seasonal. Spring and Fall are mild and comfortable. Winters are not severe with only a few short very cold spells. In the summer, it will become quite warm.
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History & History Related Items

Here is a history page for Canton.

No one knows for sure about the naming of Canton, but one of the more popular "naming stories" goes as follows:
"A family moving from Bolton to Kirkwood had a Chinese servant named Canton who died during the trip; he was buried where he died, which was on Mr. Walton's 40 acre tract which was later chosen as the town site. It seems there was a grave marker erected with "Canton" inscribed on it, and in looking around for a name, the officials saw the board saying "Canton." Why anybody back in those days would be lugging around a Chinese servant is something else, but it makes a good story."

"In 1833 the Madison County Board of Police (a governing body similar to our present day supervisors) appointed surveyor John B. Peyton to select a geographical center for a new county seat and to lay it out in blocks. In 1834, the land for the town was legally incorporated - a lively community of 400. The first recorded ordinance made it a misdemeanor to gallop a horse, mare, or mule on any street or alley." (This excerpt is taken from the above linked history page, for more information on history, go to that page)
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Canton City Government

Canton is governed by a Mayor and Board of Aldermen. The full-time mayor is elected

Canton Mayor's Office
226 E Peace St
Canton, MS 39046-4500
P.O. Box 1605
Canton, MS 39046
Phone: 601-353-7303

Canton Historical Events

1900, April 30
Casey Jones
Canton Mississippi was the Eastern end of the run from Memphis to Canton, where the famous Casey Jones was killed in a train accident. Casey was known all along the Illinois Central Railway by his distinctive way of blowing a whistle. He was killed at Vaughan Station on April 30th 1900 at four o'clock in the morning while on his way to Canton.

Canton Chamber

Canton Chamber of Commerce
100 Depot Drive
P.O. Box 74
Canton, MS 39046
Phone: (601) 859-5816

Canton Organizations

Canton Chamber of Commerce
100 Depot Drive
P.O. Box 74
Canton, MS 39046
Phone: (601) 859-5816

Canton Libraries

Canton - Madison County Public Library
102 Priestley Street
Canton, MS 39046
Phone: (601) 859-3202

Canton Schools

Canton Public Schools
Superintendent's Office
403 Lincoln Street
Canton, MS 39046
Phone: (601) 859-4110 Canton

Miscellany

The population of Canton was:
1990 - 10,062
1996 - 10,328