Canton, Georgia

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Canton, Georgia
postal_code_type = ZIP codes
postal_code = 30114, 30115, 30169
area_code = 770
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 13-12988GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0331320GR|3
footnotes =
website = [http://www.canton-georgia.com City Website]
settlement_type = City


imagesize =
image_caption =


mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location in Cherokee County in the state of Georgia


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_name1 = Georgia
subdivision_name2 = Cherokee
government_type =
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Gene Hobgood (R)
established_date =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 36.9
area_land_km2 = 36.9
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_total_sq_mi = 14.3
population_as_of = 2005
population_total = 17685
timezone = EST
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_ft = 968
latd = 34 |latm = 13 |lats = 38 |latNS = N
longd = 84 |longm = 29 |longs = 41 |longEW = W
area_land_sq_mi = 14.3
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0
elevation_m = 291

Canton is a city in and the county seat of Cherokee CountyGR|6, Georgia, United States. The population was 7,709 at the 2000 census. In 2005, Canton was the fastest growing city in Georgia and the 5th fastest growing city (10,000 or more population) in the United States.Fact|date=August 2008 The city had an estimated population of 21,464 in 2007. [cite web |publisher=US Census Bureau |title=Annual Estimates of the Population for Incorporated Places in Georgia, Listed Alphabetically: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2007 |url=http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/tables/SUB-EST2007-04-13.csv |date=2008-07-10]

Geography

Canton is located at coor dms|34|13|38|N|84|29|41|W|city (34.227307, -84.494727)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 14.3 square miles (36.9 km²).The city lies just north of Lebanon and south of Ball Ground.

Demographics

Households

As of the 2000 censusGR|2, there were 7,709 people, 2,702 households, and 1,750 families residing in the city. The population density was 540.5 people per square mile (208.7/km²). There were 2,879 housing units at an average density of 201.8/sq mi (78.0/km²).

There were 2,702 households out of which 33.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.9% were married couples living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.2% were non-families. 27.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.23.

Ethnicity, age, and sex

The racial makeup of the city was 77.97% White, 5.56% African American, 0.91% Native American, 0.61% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 12.87% from other races, and 1.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race comprised 23.73% of the population.

In the city, the population was spread out with 24.9% under the age of 18, 12.6% from 18 to 24, 33.6% from 25 to 44, 16.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years.

For every 100 females there were 101.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.1 males.

Income

The median income for a household in the city was $40,361, and the median income for a family was $48,906. Males had a median income of $26,579 versus $25,431 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,324. About 6.6% of families and 11.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.6% of those under age 18 and 17.4% of those age 65 or over.

History

Name and economic history

Canton was originally named Etowah and, upon the completion of its courthouse, renamed Cherokee Courthouse. Soon afterward, local businessmen launched an entrepreneurial adventure into silk production and were allowed to rename the town as Canton in recognition of Canton, China, a world-renowned producer of silk. Although silk production eventually failed, the town name remained. The county seat of Cherokee County was established in 1833 and renamed Canton in 1834.

Once famous for its "Canton Denim," known worldwide for the high-quality denim produced by Canton Cotton Mills, Canton is now enjoying the greatest economic boom in its history.

Renovation

Many projects are underway in the city including new construction, renovation, and revitalization. Canton has received millions of dollars in grants for park and sidewalk improvements in the city. The city's public buses have established routes and carry thousands of passengers throughout the city from residential areas to downtown, shopping areas, the medical district, and job sites.

The Historic Canton Theatre on Main Street features plays and other special entertainment events throughout the year, injecting new life into the downtown business district. Streets in the downtown area were recently improved as part of the "Streetscapes" program, bringing brick pavers to sidewalks, lamp posts, lush landscaping and intersection upgrades.

In May 2004, the city held a ribbon cutting ceremony for Heritage Park. Heritage Park is the first phase of the Etowah River Greenway. Heritage Park consists of approximately 30 acres of passive use pedestrian and bike trails and a natural amphitheater. The city holds concerts and movies in Heritage Park throughout the summer free of charge to its residents.

The city, in partnership with the Metro Atlanta YMCA, constructed an $8 million community center on Waleska Street contiguous to Heritage Park. Now completed, the community center includes an indoor swimming pool, a gymnasium, wellness center, aerobics studio, childcare facilities and the Cherokee Sports Hall of Fame.

Phase two of the Etowah River Greenway north of Heritage Park consists of active recreation fields for softball, baseball, tennis, and soccer. This phase involves approximately 60 acres of property.

In June 2004, the Bluffs Parkway opened off Riverstone Boulevard. This parkway, funded by an $8 million grant from the Georgia Department of Transportation, bisects the Bluffs at Technology Park. The Park which is owned by Technology Park/Atlanta, Inc. will be home to 15,000 high-tech jobs when built out in 10 years. The Park will also include a satellite campus of Appalachian Tech to train employees of the companies locating there.

The Hickory Log Creek dam project was approved by the US Army Corps of Engineers. The construction and ownership of the Hickory Log Creek Raw Water Reservoir will be shared by the Cobb County / Marietta Water Authority and the City of Canton on a 75% and 25% respective basis and should be completed by December 2007. This water source will provide 44 million gallons of water per day and will be bordered by 15-25 acres of park land with picnic and other public areas.

Communities

*Buffington
*Clayton
*Gold Ridge
*Keithsburg
*Macedonia
*Univeter

Subdivisions

*Bradshaw Estates
*Bridgemill
*Brooke Park
*Brookwood
*Carrington Farms
*Copper Creek
*Cottonwood Creek
*Creekside At Prominence
*Deerfield Farms
*Dogwood Farms
*Diamond Ridge
*Eagle Ridge
*Falls at Mill Creek
*Fieldstone
*Forest Creek
*Governors Preserve
*Governors Walk
*Great Sky
*Hillcrest
*Lakeside at Allatoona
*Manor at Mill Creek
*Middlebrooke
*Mountain View
*Orange Shoals
*River Brooke
*River Green
*Shoals At Arbor Hill
*Village At Holly Mill
*View At Holly Mill
*Waverly Park
*Whispering Hills
*Woodmont

Notable residents

Canton was the hometown of Joseph E. Brown. In 1844, Brown served as headmaster at the academy in Canton, which began his lifelong devotion to public education. He was elected governor of Georgia in 1857 and later served as a United States Senator. Brown is the only person ever to have been elected governor of Georgia four times. [cite web| url= http://ngeorgia.com/ang/Joseph_E._Brown |title = Joseph E. Brown | publisher = About North Georgia | accessdate =2008-08-01]

Popular culture

On July 21, 2008, Stephen Colbert on "The Colbert Report" made a comment about John McCain making a campaign stop in Canton, Ohio, and "not the crappy Canton in Georgia."cite news |first=Jamie |last=Gumbrecht |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |url=http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/cherokee/stories/2008/07/23/colbert_canton_comment.html |title=Colbert's 'crappy Canton' comment puzzles mayor |date=2008-07-23] The comment resulted in a local uproar, with the Canton, Georgia, mayor insisting Colbert had never visited the town along with an invitation for him to do so. Colbert apologized for the story during his July 30, 2008, show. [cite news |publisher=WXIA-TV |title=Colbert Apologizes To Canton... Sort Of |url=http://www.11alive.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=119248&catid=3 |first=Paul |last=Crawley |date=2008-07-31] However, this began a running gag on the show in which he would apologize to one town and make several jokes at the expense of another town named Canton then repeat the cycle a week later. He went on to insult Canton, Kansas, that night [cite news |first=Megan |last=Stader |publisher=KWCH-TV |location=Wichita, Kansas |title=Canton Reacts to Colbert Comments |url=http://www.kwch.com/Global/story.asp?S=8771050&nav=menu486_2 |date=2008-07-31] (drawing the ire of Kansas governor Kathleen Sebelius [cite news |publisher=KWCH-TV |work=Associated Press |url=http://www.kwch.com/Global/story.asp?S=8769618&nav=menu486_2_7 |title=Colbert's remarks draws Kan. governor's response |date=2008-07-31] ) followed by Canton, South Dakota, on August 5, 2008, [cite news |date=2008-08-06 |work=Argus Leader |url=http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080806/FRONTPAGECAROUSEL/80806022&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL |title=The Colbert Report pokes fun at Canton, S.D.] and Canton, Texas, on August 12, 2008. [cite news |publisher=KTIV News Channel 4 |title=Stephen Colbert apologizes to Canton, S.D. |url=http://www.ktiv.com/Global/story.asp?S=8836138 |date=2008-08-13]

Footnotes

External links

* [http://www.canton-georgia.com City of Canton website]
* [http://www.cherokeedems.com Cherokee County Democratic Party]
* [http://www.cherokeegop.com Cherokee County Republican Party]
* [http://www.lpgeorgia.com/cherokee Libertarian Party of Cherokee & Pickens Counties]
* [http://www.cherokeetoday.com "Cherokee Today"]