Canton, South Dakota facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Canton, South Dakota
City
Motto(s):  "Can Live. Can Dream. Can Do!"
Location in Lincoln County and the state of South Dakota
Country	United States
State	South Dakota
County	Lincoln
Incorporated	1881
Government
• Type	Council-Manager
Area
• Total	3.29 sq mi (8.51 km2)
• Land	3.27 sq mi (8.47 km2)
• Water	0.02 sq mi (0.04 km2)
Elevation	1,286 ft (392 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	3,066
• Density	937.61/sq mi (362.05/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP code	57013
Area code(s)	605
FIPS code	46-09500
GNIS feature ID	1267310

Canton is a city in Lincoln County, South Dakota, United States. It is the main city of the county, meaning it's where the county government is located. Canton is about 20 minutes south of Sioux Falls.

This city is in southeastern South Dakota, surrounded by beautiful rolling hills. You can find many fun things to do outdoors here. The Big Sioux River runs along its eastern side. Newton Hills State Park is to the south, and Lake Alvin is to the north.

A Norwegian settler and former politician named James M. Wahl gave the city its name. In 2020, about 3,066 people lived in Canton. The city was even named the South Dakota Community of the Year in 2004 and 2011! It also has South Dakota's first "Certified Ready Site" for businesses.

History of Canton

Canton Lutheran Church

The first known visitor to the Canton area arrived in 1866. His name was Lewis P. Hyde. The first person to actually settle there was August Linderman. By 1868, about 35 people lived in Lincoln County.

The residents decided to name their new community Canton. They thought its location was exactly opposite to Canton, China on the other side of the world. In the summer of 1868, a large group of 180 Norwegian settlers came to Canton. They crossed the Big Sioux River to make their homes there.

In 1880, the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad built tracks to reach Canton. The city still uses this railway for freight today. Canton has many old homes and buildings that date back to the late 1800s. Some famous spots include The Kennedy Mansion and the Historical Society House, built in 1886. The Lincoln County Courthouse was built in 1889, and the Canton Lutheran Church was built in 1908.

Geography and Climate

Canton is located along the Big Sioux River. It sits across the river from Beloit, Iowa.

The city covers a total area of 3.22 square miles (8.34 km²). Most of this area, 3.19 square miles (8.26 km²), is land. Only a small part, 0.03 square miles (0.08 km²), is water. Canton uses the ZIP code 57013.

Canton's Weather

Canton has a humid continental climate. This means it has hot, somewhat humid summers. Its winters are cold and dry. The average temperature in January is about 15.5 °F (−9.2 °C). In July, it's around 72.5 °F (22.5 °C).

Each year, there are about 15 days where the temperature reaches 90 °F (32 °C) or higher. There are also about 25 days where the temperature drops below 0 °F (−18 °C). Snow usually falls in small to medium amounts during winter. The total snowfall is about 36.1 inches (92 cm) per year. Most of the rain, about 27.81 inches (706 mm) annually, falls during the warmer months.

Sioux Falls Metropolitan Area

Canton is part of the larger Sioux Falls metropolitan area. This area includes four counties in South Dakota: Lincoln, McCook, Minnehaha, and Turner. In 2008, about 232,930 people lived in this metropolitan area. This was a big increase from the year 2000.

Lincoln County, where Canton is located, is one of the fastest-growing counties in the United States! Besides Canton, other cities and towns in this area include Sioux Falls, Brandon, Dell Rapids, Tea, and Harrisburg.

Parks and Fun Activities

Newton Hills State Park is just six miles south of Canton. It's a great place for camping and picnics. You can also go horseback riding, explore nature trails, and even cross-country ski in the winter.

Canton hosts many fun festivals and events throughout the year:

• The summer kicks off with the Optimist Youth Days Carnival in June.
• An annual Car Show happens in late July, along with other weekend fun in the park.
• The Big Sioux River Folk Festival in August brings in about 5,000 people each year.
• The summer ends with the 4-H Achievement Days.
• In December, the Canton Chamber of Commerce hosts a Christmas Parade and a visit with Santa.

Canton also has a 9-hole golf course with a clubhouse, a community swimming pool, and seven local parks. Many active community groups are in Canton, like the Lions Club, Rotary Club, and the Sons of Norway. There are also youth sports like softball, football, and baseball.

Population of Canton

Canton's Population in 2010

In 2010, the city of Canton had 3,057 people living there. There were 1,248 households and 789 families. The city had about 958.3 inhabitants per square mile (370.0/km²) people per square mile.

Most of the people in Canton (95.8%) were White. About 1.3% were Native American, and 0.8% were Asian. About 1.7% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

About 31.9% of households had children under 18. Many households (50.2%) were married couples living together. The average household had 2.37 people. The average family had 3.01 people.

The average age in Canton was 38.6 years old. About 26.2% of residents were under 18. And 16.8% were 65 years or older. The city had slightly more females (51.5%) than males (48.5%).

Augustana College in Canton

In 1884, Augustana College moved to Canton from Beloit, Iowa. An elementary and high school were also built as part of the college. Famous scientists like Merle Tuve and brothers John Lawrence and Ernest Lawrence went to school there.

Old Main

Augustana College faced challenges in Canton until Anthony G. Tuve became president in 1890. The number of students doubled. However, the school faced money problems because of bad harvests. President Tuve took on the financial responsibility himself to keep the school open.

After this tough time, Augustana grew. It soon needed more space. In 1902, a new four-and-a-half-story brick building was added to the campus. It had classrooms, a gym, and a chapel. By 1918, enrollment grew to 330 students. The school became known for its excellent academics.

In 1917, something big happened that changed the college. Several Norwegian Lutheran church groups merged. The new church group decided it wasn't a good idea to have Augustana College and another school, Lutheran Normal School, so close together in Sioux Falls. Canton fought hard to keep the college. But, the idea of having the school in a bigger city won out. Canton lost its college.

However, the local pastors worked out a plan. Canton would raise $200,000 for Augustana College. In return, the Normal School division would move to Canton. This plan worked! The Canton Lutheran Normal School opened in the fall of 1920. By 1932, it became known as Augustana Academy. It was no longer part of the college. New buildings, like a gym and a dorm, were added.

Augustana Academy closed in 1971. The campus was sold to Keystone Treatment Center. The old "Old Main" building is now used as apartments.

National Ski Tournament Site

In 1911, a student from Norway named Ludwig Hoiby gave a ski exhibition in Canton. This sparked an interest in skiing. Soon, a hill at the Thorson farm, east of Canton, was cleared for skiing.

In 1923, the Sioux Valley Ski Club held its first ski meet at a new location. A tall 250-foot scaffold and a better jump were built. The Central U.S. Tournament was held there the next year.

On February 11 and 12, 1925, Canton hosted the National Tournament. Over 10,000 fans came to watch! A famous singer, Eric Bye, gave out awards to the winners. The winner of the "A" Division received a special silver trophy. Many important skiers were there, including an Olympic team member and world champions.

Tournaments were held every year. In 1930, the Club hosted the U.S. National Tournament again. In 1932, the U.S. Olympic Ski Jumping trials were held at the hill. Casper Oimoen won the "A" Division. Three of the four skiers who qualified for the Olympics were from the Sioux Valley Ski Club! Later that winter, Oimoen placed 4th in the Olympics in Lake Placid, NY.

In 1933, there wasn't enough snow. Snow had to be trucked in from 90 miles away! But it turned to slush and then ice, so the tournament was canceled. The biggest crowd ever at the hill was in 1935. The club hosted its third and final National Tournament. Between 15,000 and 20,000 people attended! Many visitors stayed in hotels in Canton or Sioux Falls.

The Sioux Valley Ski Club held its last Central U.S. Tournament in 1936. Because of low attendance, rising costs, and bad weather, the club closed the next year. The wind blew down the ski jump in the 1940s. In the 1960s, the hill was used for motorcycle climbing. Today, you can still see the site. It's south of a historic marker on U.S. Highway 18, two miles east of Canton.

Hiawatha Asylum

The Hiawatha Asylum for Insane Indians was the first and only place in the United States for Native Americans with mental health issues. It was built in Canton because of its central location among Western states with many Native American people. Also, South Dakota's Representative O.S. Gifford and Senator R. F. Pettigrew helped make it happen.

In 1898, Congress passed a bill to create the institution. In 1900, money was set aside to buy land and build the asylum. One hundred acres were bought a mile east of Canton, overlooking the Sioux River. The asylum closed in 1934.

For a short time, the asylum buildings were used by South Dakota as a prison for first-time offenders. In 1946, the city of Canton bought the 337 acres and buildings for just $1.00! The only rule was that the land had to be used for the good of the community.

The asylum hospital was used as the Canton-Inwood Hospital for a while. Today, the old asylum buildings are gone. The land is now home to Sanford Hospital Canton-Inwood, Three Rivers Gun Club, the 4-H fairground, and Hiawatha Country Club and Golf Course.

There is a cemetery on the original asylum grounds. It is the burial place for 121 patients of the asylum. In 1998, the National Park Service added this cemetery to the National Register of Historic Places.

Famous People from Canton

See also

In Spanish: Canton (Dakota del Sur) para niños