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Canton
Neighborhood of Baltimore
Country United States
State Maryland
City Baltimore
Population
 (2010)
 • Total 10,826
 • Density 13,802/sq mi (5,329/km2)
Demonym(s) Cantonite
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) EDT
ZIP code
21224
Area code 410, 443, and 667
Canton Historic District
O'Donnell Square Canton Baltimore.jpg
O'Donnell Square
Canton, Baltimore is located in Baltimore
Canton, Baltimore
Location in Baltimore
Canton, Baltimore is located in Maryland
Canton, Baltimore
Location in Maryland
Canton, Baltimore is located in the United States
Canton, Baltimore
Location in the United States
Location Eastern Ave. and Waterfront, Conkling, and Chester Sts., Baltimore, Maryland
Area 350 acres (140 ha)
Built 1828 (1828)
Architect Multiple
Architectural style Late 19th And 20th Century Revivals, Late Victorian
NRHP reference No. 80001784
Added to NRHP January 29, 1980

Canton is a historic waterfront neighborhood in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. The neighborhood is along Baltimore's outer harbor in the southeastern section of the city, roughly two miles east of Baltimore's downtown district and next to or near the neighborhoods of Patterson Park, Fell's Point, Highlandtown, and Brewers Hill.

Canton is considered one of Baltimore's trendiest and vibrant neighborhoods, known for its family-friendly community, urban lifestyle and hot spot for the social scene. The inclusive neighborhood continues to see rapid growth as more development opportunities come into the area. Since the late 1990s, the neighborhood has undergone significant gentrification and has been ranked the 16th most-gentrified zip code in the nation from 2000 to 2016.

History

In 1785, Irish merchant John O'Donnell settled in Baltimore and began trading with merchants in the Chinese port of Guangzhou, then called Canton by English speakers. When O'Donnell purchased land, he named his plantation Canton. In the Late 18th century, O'Donnell's land was sold off by his son Columbus O’Donnell, William Patterson and Peter Cooper, and was developed for waterfront industry and blue-collar housing.

During the early 19th century, European immigrants settled in the area. Welsh immigrants, primarily workers from South Wales, began settling in Baltimore in large numbers beginning in the 1820s. Welsh and Irish migrant workers composed a large portion of Baltimore's working class during the early and mid-1800s. In 1850, a large community of copper workers from Wales settled in the neighborhood. These workers established a Presbyterian church in 1865, located on Toone Street in Canton. Other groups included German and Poles.

In the 2000s, as industry moved out, new housing and marinas have been developed along the waterfront and gentrification of the existing housing has occurred further inland.

Canton Pratt Library Baltimore
Enoch Pratt Free Library branch

The first branch of the Enoch Pratt Free Library, in operation since 1866, is in Canton on O’Donnell Square.

Demographics

Based on data derived from the census of 2010 and 2014 ACS 5-year estimate, there were 11,398 people living in the neighborhood. The racial makeup of Canton was 90.8% White, 3.9% African American, 0.1% Native American, 2.3% Asian, 1.0% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. The median household income in 2016 was $103,282, the 2nd highest of all Baltimore neighborhoods, behind Roland Park. 88.1% of the working-age population is employed, 3.0% is unemployed, both rates highest and lowest, respectively, among all Baltimore neighborhoods.

Transportation

Canton is conveniently situated with easy access to Interstate 95, Interstate 895 and Boston Street and Eastern Avenues, which provide major surface routes to downtown Baltimore. Two high-frequency MTA bus lines (Gold and Navy) service Canton for direct access to the central business district and Penn Station. The south waterfront area provides a water taxi link to Locust Point.

Bus transportation to New York City and Washington, D.C. is available with frequent service at a nearby Eastern Bus stop on Ponca Street.

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