Canton (village), New York

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Canton, New York
Canton, New York (New York Adirondack Park)
Canton, New York
Canton, New York
Location within the state of New York
Coordinates: 44°35′51″N 75°10′16″W / 44.5975, -75.17111
Country United States
State New York
County St. Lawrence
Area
 - Total 3.3 sq mi (8.6 km²)
 - Land 3.2 sq mi (8.4 km²)
 - Water 0.1 sq mi (0.3 km²)
Elevation 377 ft (115 m)
Population (2000)
 - Total 5,882
 - Density 1,817.9/sq mi (701.9/km²)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 - Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
FIPS code 36-12331
GNIS feature ID 0976078

Canton is a village in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The population was 5,882 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of St. Lawrence County. The name comes from the Chinese city, Canton.

The Village of Canton is centrally located in both the Town of Canton and St. Lawrence County.

The Village of Canton contains many municipal services such as a fully functional village highway department, water and sewer department, volunteer fire department, court system and a police department along with other municipal agencies.

Canton Village Police Department is located in the municipal building on Main Street. It comprises a Chief of Police, three sergeants and five patrolman. The department has two full time dispatchers and a part time dispatcher. The department is manned 24 hours a day/7 days a week and when they do not have a dispatcher, the calls are forwarded to the St. Lawrence County Sheriffs Department which is housed with the State Police and Emergency services in the 911 building on Court Street. The Canton Village Police Department works closely with the Sheriffs Department, State Police, SUNY Canton Police and St. Lawrence University Security and Safety. Being a college town with two - four year colleges within the village (SUNY Canton and St. Lawrence University), the Canton Police Department has a high volume of calls year long. The village police are frequently requested to assist both SUNY Canton and SLU in criminal matters and investigations. The department is one of the few agencies in the state to be an accredited agency since 1993.

Canton Fire Department , which is at its new location on Riverside Drive, is a fully functional department with one chief, three assistant chiefs and several members. The department also had an EMS squad and serves the people of the Village and Town of Canton and provides mutual aid services to surrounding towns.

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[edit] History

The first attempt at settlement was made in 1800, but the first permanent settlement occurred in 1801. The first post office used the name "New Cairo," but changed to Canton by 1807. The early economy was based on farming and lumbering.

The village was incorporated in 1845. Between 1887 and 1889, the village was modernized with a sewage system, water works, and electrical lighting.

St. Lawrence University was founded here in 1856, and the State University of New York at Canton (northwest of the village) was begun in 1906.

[edit] Notable people of Canton

Frederic Remington, the noted Western artist, was born in Canton; and Silas Wright, a New York State Governor and political leader, made the area his home. Wright's home was made into the Silas Wright Museum in 1978, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[1] Ron Jeremy, actor, has said to have spent the summers of his childhood at an uncle's farm in the area.

[edit] Colleges

The Village of Canton is home to two colleges. SUNY Canton is a two/four year college located in the western part of the village. Its entrance is accessible via NY RT 68 (West Main Street). SUNY Canton is also home to the David Sullivan/St. Lawrence County Law Enforcement Academy that provides police training to local, county, state and federal agencies as well as new police officers in its 5-month police academy every spring. St. Lawrence University is a four year liberal arts college located in the eastern part of the village. Access to the college is via US RT 11 (East Main Street). St. Lawrence University is home to several sports, including its famous NCAA Division I hockey team and several notable alumni.

[edit] Geography

Canton is located at 44°35′51″N, 75°10′16″W (44.5976, -75.17118)[1].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 3.3 square miles (8.7 km²), of which, 3.2 square miles (8.4 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (2.99%) is water.

The village is located on the Grasse River, a tributary of the St. Lawrence River.

The village is served by US Route 11, New York State Route 68, New York State Route 310, and County Roads 27 and 24.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 5,882 people, 1,531 households, and 797 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,817.9 people per square mile (700.9/km²). There were 1,680 housing units at an average density of 519.2/sq mi (200.2/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 91.81% White, 4.49% Black or African American, 0.54% Native American, 0.99% Asian, 1.02% from other races, and 1.16% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.92% of the population.

There were 1,531 households out of which 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.9% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.9% were non-families. 38.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.86.

In the village the population was spread out with 12.3% under the age of 18, 45.8% from 18 to 24, 16.7% from 25 to 44, 13.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 22 years. For every 100 females there were 101.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.2 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $38,627, and the median income for a family was $59,211. Males had a median income of $38,818 versus $28,750 for females. The per capita income for the village was $14,745. About 8.5% of families and 15.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.6% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] References

  1. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  2. ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.

[edit] External links


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