Canton (village), New York facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Canton
Village
Canton Location in New York Show map of New York Canton Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	New York
County	St. Lawrence
Area
• Total	4.27 sq mi (11.07 km2)
• Land	4.14 sq mi (10.74 km2)
• Water	0.13 sq mi (0.33 km2)
Elevation	377 ft (115 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	7,155
• Density	1,726.18/sq mi (666.49/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP Code	13617
FIPS code	36-12331
GNIS feature ID	0976078
Website	http://www.cantonnewyork.us/

United Methodist Church of Canton

The United States Post Office (Canton, New York) is on the National Register of Historic Places

First Presbyterian Church of Canton

Canton is a small village in New York, United States. It is the main town, or county seat, of St. Lawrence County, New York. This means that many of the county's important government offices are located here. The village is right in the middle of both the larger Town of Canton and St. Lawrence County. In 2020, about 7,155 people lived here. The village got its name from the famous Chinese city of Canton, which is now called Guangzhou.

The village of Canton offers many important services to its residents. These include a highway department to take care of roads, a water and sewer department, and a volunteer fire department. There is also a local court system and a police department to keep everyone safe.

A Look Back: Canton's History

The Harrington Hotel in Canton, New York overlooked the Grasse River until it was demolished in 1959.

People first tried to settle in Canton in 1800. But the first group of people who stayed for good arrived in 1801. The village's first post office was called "New Cairo." However, its name was changed to Canton by 1807. In the early days, the main ways people made a living were through farming and cutting down trees for wood.

Canton officially became an incorporated village in 1845. This meant it could set up its own local government. Between 1887 and 1889, the village became more modern. It added a sewage system, water pipes, and electric lights.

Two important colleges were also started here. St. Lawrence University opened its doors in 1856. Later, the State University of New York at Canton (SUNY Canton) began in 1906.

Several buildings in Canton are very old and important. They are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This list includes Herring-Cole Hall and Richardson Hall at St. Lawrence University. The Old Campus Historic District and the Village Park Historic District are also on the list. The United States Post Office building is another historic spot.

Famous People from Canton

Canton has been home to some well-known individuals:

• George R. Malby: He was a US Congressman who helped make laws for the country.
• Frederic Remington: This famous artist was born in Canton. He is known for his amazing paintings and sculptures of the American West.
• Silas Wright: He was a very important political leader. He even served as the Governor of New York State. His home was turned into the Silas Wright Museum in 1978. It is also on the National Register of Historic Places. The St. Lawrence County Historical Association takes care of the museum.

Education in Canton

The Village of Canton is a great place for learning. It has two colleges and a school district.

Colleges in Canton

• SUNY Canton: This college offers both two-year and four-year degrees. It is located on the western side of the village. You can find its entrance on NY Route 68 (West Main Street). SUNY Canton also has a special academy. It trains new police officers and provides ongoing training for police from different agencies.
• St. Lawrence University: This is a four-year college that focuses on liberal arts. It is located on the eastern side of the village. You can get there using US Route 11 (East Main Street). St. Lawrence University is known for its sports teams. Its NCAA Division I hockey team is especially famous. Many successful people have graduated from this university.

Canton Central School District

The Canton Central School District serves all the students in the village. The main school is Hugh Williams Senior High School. Its sports teams are known as the Golden Bears.

Keeping Canton Safe

Canton Police Department

The village has its own police department. It is located in the main municipal building on Main Street. The department has a Chief of Police, three sergeants, and five patrol officers. They also have full-time and part-time dispatchers who answer calls and send help.

Canton Fire Department

The Canton Fire Department is located at 77 Riverside Drive. It is made up entirely of volunteers! There is one chief, three assistant chiefs, and almost 80 members. These dedicated volunteers also run a Paramedic Ambulance service. They help people in the village and the wider Town of Canton. They also provide help to nearby towns when needed. In 2008, the fire department responded to over 1,500 fire and medical emergency calls.

Canton's Location and Surroundings

Canton is located at 44°35′51″N 75°10′16″W / 44.59750°N 75.17111°W / 44.59750; -75.17111.

The village covers about 3.3 square miles (8.7 square kilometers) in total. Most of this area, about 3.2 square miles (8.4 square kilometers), is land. A small part, about 0.1 square mile (0.3 square kilometers), is water.

The Grasse River flows through the village. This river eventually flows into the larger St. Lawrence River.

Several important roads connect Canton to other places. These include U.S. Route 11, New York State Route 68, New York State Route 310, and County Roads 27 and 24.

Population Changes Over Time

In 2000, there were 5,882 people living in Canton. About 12.3% of the population was under 18 years old. A large part, 45.8%, were between 18 and 24 years old. This is likely because of the colleges in the village. The median age was 22 years old.

Radio Stations

Canton is home to several radio stations:

• WVLF-FM Mix 96.1
• WRCD-FM 101.5 The Fox
• WSLU, which is the main station for North Country Public Radio

See also

In Spanish: Canton (villa) para niños