Canton, Georgia

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Canton, Georgia
Location in Cherokee County in the state of Georgia
Location in Cherokee County in the state of Georgia
Coordinates: 34°13′38″N, 84°29′41″W
Country United States
State Georgia
Counties Cherokee
Government
 - Mayor Cecil Pruett (R)
Area
 - City  14.3 sq mi (36.9 km²)
Elevation 954.7 ft (291 m)
Population (2005)
 - City 17,685
Time zone EST (UTC-5)
 - Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
Website: City Website

Canton is the county seat of Cherokee CountyGR6, Georgia, United States. The population was 7,709 at the 2000 census. Canton is the fastest growing city in Georgia and the 5th fastest growing city in the United States over 10,000 people with an estimated population of 17,685 in 2005.

Contents

[edit] Geography

Canton is located at 34°13′38″N, 84°29′41″W (34.227307, -84.494727)GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 36.9 km² (14.3 mi²).

[edit] Demographics

As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 7,709 people, 2,702 households, and 1,750 families residing in the city. The population density was 208.7/km² (540.5/mi²). There were 2,879 housing units at an average density of 78.0/km² (201.8/mi²). 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 were 23.73% of the population.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Canton was the hometown of Joseph E. Brown, who was elected governor of Georgia in 1857 and later served as U.S. Senator from Georgia. In 1844, Brown served as head-master at the academy in Canton, which began his lifelong devotion to public education.

[edit] History - Past and Current

The county seat of Cherokee County was established in 1833 and re-named Canton in 1834. Once famous for its "Canton Denim," known world-wide for the high-quality denim produced by Canton Cotton Mills, the City of Canton is now enjoying the greatest economic boom in its history.

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 and have been able to use that money to improve the quality of life for all of our residents. 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. When complete the community center will include an indoor swimming pool, a gymnasium, wellness center, aerobics studio, childcare facilities and the Cherokee Sports Hall of Fame.

Plans are currently underway for the construction of phase two of the Etowah River Greenway north of Heritage Park. Phase two will consist of active recreation fields for softball, baseball, tennis and soccer. This phase will consist of approximately 60 acres of property and should be completed by 2006.

In June 2004, the Bluffs Parkway opened off of 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.

Hickory log creek dam project was recently approved by the US Army Corps of Engineers. The construction and ownership of the Hickory Log Creek Raw Water Reservoir will be borne by the Cobb County Marietta Water Authority and the City of Canton on a 75% and 25% respective basis and should be completed by October 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.

[edit] Controversy

[edit] Confederate Flag Debate

In September 2002, students were banned from wearing t-shirts depicting the Confederate flag at Cherokee High School[1]. The next day, around 150 students protested by arriving at school wearing their Rebel flag t-shirts in a gesture of defiance.[2] The Sons of Confederate Veterans and others waved Confederate flags and protested outside the school for several days afterward. This spawned a debate over whether the Rebel flag represented racism and intolerance or is a symbol of Southern heritage.

[edit] Day Laborer Beatings

Canton, like many suburbs of Atlanta, has seen a sharp increase in the Hispanic population within the past decade. In February 2004, several local high school students were charged with the severe beating and robbery of Hispanic day laborers in the area. One of the students charged was the son of the prominent local family that founded the Cherokee County Republican Party. These incidents, coupled with similar occurrences throughout Georgia, led the Southern Poverty Law Center to release a profile on Georgia in its intelligence report, labelling Canton a "hotbed of anti-immigrant hate".[3]

[edit] Communities

[edit] Subdivisions

  • Bradshaw Estates
  • Bridgemill
  • Carrington Farms
  • Creekside at Prominence
  • Dogwood Farms
  • Diamond Ridge
  • Forest Creek
  • Governors Preserve
  • Great Sky
  • Hillcrest
  • 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

[edit] External links

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