Canton, Texas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Canton, Texas
City
The Blackwell House Museum in Canton was built in 1886, but occupied as a residence until 1975.
Location of Canton, Texas
Country	United States
State	Texas
County	Van Zandt
Area
• Total	6.51 sq mi (16.87 km2)
• Land	6.04 sq mi (15.66 km2)
• Water	0.47 sq mi (1.21 km2)
Elevation	502 ft (153 m)
Population  (2024)
• Total	4,872
• Density	638.71/sq mi (246.59/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	75103
Area code(s)	903, 430
FIPS code	48-12496
GNIS feature ID	2409977

Canton Civic Center at 800 Flea Market Road hosts the First Monday Trade Days.

Historic Canton Main Street banner

Canton is the location of the Van Zandt County courthouse.

A glimpse of Canton across the street from the courthouse

Canton is a city in East Texas, United States. It is the main town of Van Zandt County. Canton is located about 40 miles west of Tyler. In 2020, about 4,229 people lived there.

Canton is famous for its huge flea market called First Monday Trade Days. This event brings thousands of visitors to the city every month. The city has faced severe damage from tornadoes in recent years. One hit in April 2017 and another in May 2019. Luckily, the 2019 tornado caused no deaths or injuries.

Canton's Early Days

Canton was first explored around 1840. The town was officially started in 1850. Settlers from another town called Old Canton in Smith County, Texas gave it its name. The first courthouse opened in Canton in 1850. A post office was also set up that same year.

A County Seat Dispute

In 1872, a railroad was built across the county. But it missed Canton by about 10 miles. People in a town called Wills Point wanted the county seat moved there. This caused a big argument in 1877. Armed residents from Canton went to Wills Point to get their county records back! The Texas Supreme Court finally decided that Canton should remain the county seat.

Because they didn't want to use the railroad at Wills Point, Canton business owners helped create a new town called Edgewood, Texas. It was about 10 miles northwest of Canton. They built a special railroad line to connect to it.

Growth and Changes Over Time

Canton's first school, the Canton Academy, opened in 1853. The county's first newspaper, the Canton Weekly Times, started in 1860. By 1890, Canton had 421 people. It had flour mills, sawmills, and a bank. A new brick courthouse was finished in 1894.

The town grew to 800 people by 1896. It had several churches, stores, and hotels. Canton became an official city in 1919. It then elected a mayor and city leaders. Even during the Great Depression, Canton grew because oil was found nearby. A new courthouse was built in the 1930s.

The city's population has changed a lot over the years. It grew from about 1,000 people in 1960 to nearly 3,000 by 1990. In 2000, the population was 3,292. However, a later count showed about 5,100 residents.

What is First Monday Trade Days?

Canton is most famous for its First Monday Trade Days. This tradition might have started with court meetings held on the first Monday of each month. Or it could have come from neighbors visiting each other during the time of the Confederate States of America.

The event began with people trading extra goods. Over time, it grew to include trading dogs, antiques, and all sorts of items. It takes place on a 30-acre area. It is so popular that Canton's population of about 5,100 grows to over 30,000 during each First Monday weekend! This makes it the largest flea market in the world.

Other Fun Events in Canton

Canton also hosts other exciting events. These include the Van Zandt County Fair and Rodeo. There is also an Annual Bluegrass Festival in August. From 2003 to 2007, Canton hosted the United States Equestrian Drill Championship. This event showed off amazing horse riding teams from across the country.

Tornadoes in Canton

Canton has experienced powerful tornadoes. On April 29, 2017, four tornadoes hit the city and county. One of these was very strong. It caused damage and injuries. The governor of Texas sent help to the area.

On May 29, 2019, another tornado struck downtown Canton. This was near the First Monday Trade Days area. Many houses and businesses were damaged or destroyed. Luckily, no one was killed or injured in this tornado.

Where is Canton Located?

Canton is located in Van Zandt County, Texas. The United States Census Bureau says the city covers about 5.6 square miles (14.6 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.

How Many People Live in Canton?

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 4,229 people living in Canton. There were 1,682 households and 922 families. Most of the people living in Canton are White (82.5%). About 9.41% of the population is Hispanic or Latino.

Education in Canton

The Canton Independent School District serves the city of Canton. It is a 4A school district. This means it's a medium-sized district for sports and other activities.

Canton High School Sports and Music

Canton High School is home to the Eagles! Their sports teams include football, volleyball, basketball, and baseball. They also have cross country, power lifting, track and field, golf, tennis, and softball. The school is also known for its band program, called the "Mighty Band from Eagle Land."

Famous People from Canton

• Colten Brewer is a professional baseball player.
• Calvin Graham was the youngest U.S. serviceman in World War II. He joined the military at just 12 years old!
• James S. Hogg was a lawyer in Van Zandt County. He later became the governor of Texas in 1890.
• Jerry Hunt was a composer who started a record company in Canton in 1979.
• G. J. Kinne is a professional football coach and used to be a player.
• Keavon Milton is a former professional football player.

See also

In Spanish: Canton (Texas) para niños