Canton, Massachusetts facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Canton, Massachusetts
Town
Town Hall
Seal
Location of Canton in Norfolk County
Country	United States
State	Massachusetts
County	Norfolk
Settled	1630
Incorporated	1797
Government
• Type	Open town meeting
Area
• Total	50.7 km2 (19.6 sq mi)
• Land	49.0 km2 (18.9 sq mi)
• Water	1.7 km2 (0.6 sq mi)
Elevation	30 m (100 ft)
Population  (2020)
• Total	24,370
• Density	497.3/km2 (1,289.4/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (Eastern)
ZIP Code	02021
Area code(s)	781/339
FIPS code	25-11315
GNIS feature ID	0619457
Website	www.town.canton.ma.us

Canton is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. It is home to about 24,370 people, based on the 2020 census. Canton is part of the larger Greater Boston area. It is located about 15 miles southwest of Downtown Boston.

History of Canton

The area where Canton is today has been lived in for thousands of years. Long ago, Paleo-Indians lived here. Scientists found proof of their presence from over 12,000 years ago at a place called Signal Hill.

When European settlers came in the early 1600s, the Neponset band of the Massachusett people lived here seasonally. Their leader was named Chickatawbut.

Over time, more English settlers moved into the area. This, along with new diseases, led to native people moving into special villages called Praying Towns. These were early forms of reservations.

Canton was once the site of Ponkapoag, the second Praying Town in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. It was set up in 1657. The native people who lived there are now known as the Massachusett Tribe at Ponkapoag.

In 1674, a big conflict called King Philip's War happened. Many people left Ponkapoag. In 1675, the remaining Praying Indians were moved to Deer Island. After the war, Ponkapoag continued to exist, but native and settler populations mixed more over time.

In 1726, the area became part of Stoughton. Then, on February 23, 1797, Canton officially became its own town. The name "Canton" was suggested by Elijah Dunbar. He thought it was on the opposite side of the world from Canton, China. While not exactly true, they are far apart! Elijah Dunbar was also the first president of the Stoughton Musical Society, which is now the oldest singing group in the United States.

Paul Revere built the first copper rolling mill in the country here in 1801. He even wrote a poem about Canton called Canton Dale. Canton was also home to the Rising Sun Stove Polish Company, started by Elijah Morse.

Businesses in Canton

Canton is an important place for many companies. It is the main office for Dunkin' Donuts. Other companies with headquarters or major offices here include Computershare (North American HQ), Organogenesis, Inc., Boston Mutual Life Insurance Company, Interpolymer Corporation, and Casual Male Retail Group. The Massachusetts office of the Salvation Army is also in Canton.

Main Employers

Here are some of the biggest employers in Canton:

Canton's Geography

Canton covers about 19.6 square miles. Most of this is land, with about 0.6 square miles being water.

The town is located at the base of Great Blue Hill. The Canton River flows through the middle of town. It connects small lakes like Bolivar and Forge Ponds. The river then flows into the Neponset River. The Neponset River forms the border between Canton and its western neighbors: Norwood, Westwood, and Dedham. Canton also has many wooded areas and wetlands.

Canton shares borders with several other towns. These include Dedham, Milton, Norwood, Randolph, Sharon, Stoughton, Westwood, and the Hyde Park area of Boston.

Population Information

In 2010, there were 21,561 people living in Canton. There were about 7,952 households. Many of these households were families.

The population includes people of different backgrounds. About 81.6% of residents were White, 6.6% African American, and 7.5% Asian. About 3.9% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

The average age in Canton was 40 years old. About 23.6% of the population was under 18. About 16.9% were 65 years or older.

Education in Canton

Canton has a good public school system. There are three elementary schools:

• The John F. Kennedy School
• Lt. Peter M. Hansen School
• Dean S. Luce School

After elementary school, students go to the William H. Galvin Middle School. This school serves grades 6 through 8. For high school, students attend Canton High School, which has grades 9 through 12.

There is also a private school called St. John the Evangelist. It has been open since 1883 and teaches students from preschool to 8th grade. The state's Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children is also in Canton. The Marilyn G. Rodman Educational and Administrative Center houses administrative offices and a preschool.

Other schools in Canton include the Blue Hills Regional Technical School. This school offers vocational training. Massasoit Community College also has a campus here. Porter and Chester Institute has a campus in Canton too.

Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech, also known as Clarke Boston, has a school in Canton. It helps children who are deaf learn to lip-read and speak.

Canton High School Awards

Canton High School teams have won many awards:

• The Boys Varsity Hockey team won Division II State Championships in 2010 and 2019.
• The Girls Volleyball team won the Division II State Championship in 2019.
• In 2011, several teams won Hockomock Davenport Champions, including Field Hockey, Girls Soccer, Volleyball, and Boys Soccer.
• The Hock Golf team won 1st Place in 2011.
• The Field Hockey and Girls Soccer teams were South Sectional Champions in 2011.
• The Girls Soccer team was EMASS Champions in 2014.
• The CHS Math Team is also one of the top teams in their league.

Transportation in Canton

Canton is a hub for major highways. I-93, I-95, and US Route 1 all meet or pass through Canton. I-93 goes north towards Boston and New Hampshire. I-95 circles Boston and goes north to Maine or south to Rhode Island and beyond.

Route 138 connects Canton to Milton and Boston to the north. South of Canton, it goes to Stoughton and into Rhode Island.

Route 24 is a highway that starts near Canton. It goes south through the eastern part of Canton.

Commuter trains from the MBTA's Providence/Stoughton Line pass through Canton. Some trains stop at Canton Junction. This train line crosses the Neponset River on the Canton Viaduct, a famous local landmark. Many Canton commuters also use Route 128 Station in nearby Westwood to get to Boston. Amtrak trains, including the fast Acela Express, also stop at Route 128. In 2008, there was a train incident at Canton Junction station.

Another train line goes to Stoughton, stopping at Canton Center.

Bus service is available to Mattapan Station in the MBTA system.

Canton used to have an airfield, but it closed in 1970. The closest airport for local flights is Norwood Memorial Airport. For bigger flights, people go to Boston's Logan International Airport or T. F. Green Airport in Rhode Island.

Places to Visit in Canton

A west side view of the Canton Viaduct looking south with the former Revere Copper Mill in the background, April 1977.

• The Canton Viaduct was built in 1835. It is one of the oldest stone railroad bridges still used today in the United States. Even Tsar Nicholas I of Russia sent people to study its design for bridges in Russia.
• The Canton Corner Historic District is a special area with old buildings.
• The David Tilden House is a very old house, almost 300 years old, located in the Historic District. It is being preserved.
• The Massachusetts Audubon Society's Museum of American Bird Art is a great place to visit. It has many collections of nature art and photos. You can learn about art and nature here.
• The Eleanor Cabot Bradley Estate is a beautiful country house with gardens. It was designed by Charles A. Platt in 1902. The estate has over 60 acres of meadows and woods, with about 3 miles of walking trails.
• Acambis is a company in Canton that makes smallpox vaccines.
• The Friends of Prowse Farm is a group that helps protect the historic Prowse Farm property. The 44-acre farm and mansion are used for events like parties, weddings, and educational programs.
• The Paul Revere Heritage Site is a 9-acre public area. It is dedicated to showing the work of Paul Revere and his role in the copper industry.

Famous People from Canton

Many notable people have connections to Canton:

• Emily Morison Beck, an editor known for Bartlett's Familiar Quotations
• Bill Burr, an actor and comedian
• Commodore John Downes, a U.S. Navy officer
• Paul Guilfoyle, an actor from CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
• Joseph Henry Hatfield, a painter
• Augustus Hemenway, a generous person who served the public
• Harriett Lawrence Hemenway, who helped start the Massachusetts Audubon Society
• William Augustus Hinton, an American doctor and scientist
• Chuck Hogan, a novelist
• Maurice Hurst Jr., a football player for the Oakland Raiders
• Rob Mariano, also known as "Boston Rob," a reality TV star from Survivor and The Amazing Race
• Paul Revere, a famous American Patriot and businessman
• Kevin Rooney, a professional ice hockey player
• Steve Rooney, a professional ice hockey player
• Stephen Schnetzer, an actor
• James B. Sumner, who won the 1946 Nobel Prize in Chemistry
• William F. Weld, a former Governor of Massachusetts
• Bobby Witt, a former baseball player for the Texas Rangers
• Donald Zilversmit (1919–2010), a scientist who studied nutrition

International Connections

Canton has a special exchange program with a high school in Bocholt, Germany. This program, called the German American Partnership, has been going on since 1977.

See also

In Spanish: Canton (Massachusetts) para niños