Canton, Kansas

Canton, Kansas
City
Location of Canton, Kansas
Detailed map of Canton, Kansas
Coordinates: 38°23′14″N 97°25′40″W / 38.38722°N 97.42778°W / 38.38722; -97.42778Coordinates: 38°23′14″N 97°25′40″W / 38.38722°N 97.42778°W / 38.38722; -97.42778
Country	United States
State	Kansas
County	McPherson
Platted	1879
Incorporated	1880
Government
• Type	Mayor-Council
Area[1]
• Total	0.50 sq mi (1.29 km2)
• Land	0.50 sq mi (1.29 km2)
• Water	0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation	1,591 ft (485 m)
Population (2010)[2]
• Total	748
• Estimate (2012[3])	748
• Density	1,496.0/sq mi (577.6/km2)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
• Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code	67428
Area code(s)	620
FIPS code	20-10475[4]
GNIS feature ID	0485453[5]
Website	www.CantonKS.org

Canton is a city in McPherson County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 748.^[6] It is named after Canton, Ohio.^[7]

History

19th century

1915 Railroad Map of McPherson County

For millennia, the land now known as Kansas was inhabited by Native Americans. In 1803, most of modern Kansas was secured by the United States as part of the Louisiana Purchase. In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. In 1867, McPherson County was founded.

From the 1820s to the 1870s, one of the most significant land routes in the United States was the Santa Fe Trail. It was located southeast of Canton. Two DAR markers were located on the trail near Canton, one at the Jones Cemetery east of Canton, and another south of Canton.^[8] The trail was active across McPherson County from 1821 to 1866.^[9]

As early as 1875, city leaders of Marion held a meeting to consider a branch railroad from Florence. In 1878, Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway and parties from Marion County and McPherson County chartered the Marion and McPherson Railway Company.^[10] In 1879, a branch line was built from Florence to McPherson, in 1880 it was extended to Lyons, in 1881 it was extended to Ellinwood.^[11] The line was leased and operated by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. The line from Florence to Marion, was abandoned in 1968.^[12] In 1992, the line from Marion to McPherson was sold to Central Kansas Railway. In 1993, after heavy flood damage, the line from Marion through Canton to McPherson was abandoned and removed. The original branch line connected Florence, Marion, Canada, Hillsboro, Lehigh, Canton, Galva, McPherson, Conway, Windom, Little River, Mitchell, Lyons, Chase, Ellinwood.

After the railroad was built through the Canton area in 1879, the village grew to over 300 inhabitants, then it was incorporated as a city in 1880 and named after Canton, Ohio because an early settler came from Ohio.^[7]

In 1887, the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway built a main line from Herington through Canton to Pratt.^[13] In 1888, this line was extended to Liberal. Later, it was extended to Tucumcari, New Mexico and El Paso, Texas. It foreclosed in 1891 and taken over by Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway, which shut down in 1980 and reorganized as Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas Railroad, merged in 1988 with Missouri Pacific Railroad, merged in 1997 with Union Pacific Railroad. Most locals still refer to this railroad as the "Rock Island".

Geography

Canton is located at 38°23′14″N 97°25′40″W / 38.38722°N 97.42778°W / 38.38722; -97.42778 (38.387129, -97.427853)^[14].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.50 square miles (1.29 km²), all of it land.^[1]

Area attractions

• Canton is the site of the McPherson County Fairgrounds. The McPherson County Fair has been held in Canton since 1948.^[15]

• Six miles north of Canton on 27th Avenue and one half-mile west on Pueblo Rd is the Maxwell Wildlife Refuge. In fact, Canton has been identified as the "Gateway to Maxwell Wildlife Refuge."^[16] This section of land is preserved natural prairie, comprising rolling hills, creeks, springs, and beautiful prairie grasses and wildflowers. Here 200 head of bison and 50 elk roam free. It was established in 1859 by John Gault Maxwell to allow future generations to experience Kansas as it was in the 1800s, prior to settlement.^[17] This 2,254 acres (9.12 km²) refuge is owned and managed by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.^[18]

• Canton has two water towers, labeled "HOT" (in red) and "COLD" (in blue).^[19] The words were painted on as a tourist attraction in 1956 at the suggestion of local real estate agent Mrs. M.D. Fisher.^[20] In fact, both tanks hold water at an ambient temperature.^[20]

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census^[2] of 2010, there were 748 people, 301 households, and 205 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,496.0 inhabitants per square mile (577.6 /km²). There were 336 housing units at an average density of 672.0 per square mile (259.5 /km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.9% White, 0.4% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 0.3% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.9% of the population.

There were 301 households of which 33.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.8% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 31.9% were non-families. 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.96.

The median age in the city was 37.9 years. 25.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.3% were from 25 to 44; 25.8% were from 45 to 64; and 16.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.8% male and 53.2% female.

2000 census

As of the census^[4] of 2000, there were 829 people, 315 households, and 230 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,669.0 people per square mile (640.2/km²). There were 342 housing units at an average density of 688.5 per square mile (264.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.71% White, 0.24% African American (two people), 0.12% Native American, 0.36% Asian (three people), 0.12% Pacific Islander (1 Native Hawaiian), and 1.45% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.72% of the population.

There were 315 households out of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.9% were married couples living together, 5.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.7% were non-families. 24.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the city the population was spread out with 24.8% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 20.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 90.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $34,808, and the median income for a family was $45,357. Males had a median income of $30,556 versus $20,588 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,428. About 4.2% of families and 4.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.2% of those under age 18 and 3.3% of those age 65 or over.

Government

The Canton consists of a mayor and five council members. The council meets the 1st Monday of each month at 7PM.^[21]

• City Hall, 100 South Main St.

Education

Primary and secondary education

Canton is part of Unified School District 419.^[22][23] This school district includes:

• Canton-Galva Elementary School, located in Canton
• Canton-Galva Middle School, located in Galva
• Canton-Galva High School, located in Canton

Infrastructure

Map of McPherson County, Kansas showing Canton. Santa Fe Trail is orange.

Utilities

• Internet
  • Wireless is provided by Pixius Communications.
  • Satellite is provided by HughesNet, StarBand, WildBlue.
• TV
  • Satellite is provided by DirecTV, Dish Network.
  • Terrestrial is provided by regional digital TV stations.
• Electricity
  • City is provided by Westar Energy.
• Gas is provided by Kansas Gas Service.
• Water
  • City is provided by City of Canton.
  • Rural is provided by Marion County RWD #4.
• Sewer is provided by City of Canton.
• Trash is provided by McPherson Area Solid Waste Utility.

Popular culture

On July 21, 2008, Stephen Colbert made a comment on The Colbert Report about John McCain making a campaign stop in Canton, Ohio, and "not the crappy Canton in Georgia."^[24] The comment resulted in a local uproar, which prompted Stephen to apologize for the story during his July 30, 2008, show, insisting that he was incorrect and that the "real" crappy Canton was Canton, Kansas, after which he made several jokes at the town's expense.^[25][26] Reaction from Mayor Brad Smiley^[27] and local residents was negative^[28] and Kansas governor Kathleen Sebelius invited Colbert to "spend a night" in Canton's historic jail.^[29] On August 5, 2008, Colbert apologized to citizens of Canton, Kansas,^[30] then continued the running gag by directing his mock derision in successive weeks towards Canton, South Dakota^[31] and Canton, Texas.^[32] On October 28, Colbert turned his attention back to Canton, Ohio after Barack Obama made a campaign stop there, forcing Colbert to find it "crappy".^[33]

See also

• List of people from McPherson County, Kansas
• Santa Fe Trail
• National Register of Historic Places listings in McPherson County, Kansas
  • Canton Township Carnegie Library
  • Heinrich H. Schroeder Barn

References

Further reading

• Canton, Kansas: History of the Canton Community, 1864-1988; Canton History Book Committee; 1988.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Canton, Kansas.

City

• City of Canton
• Canton - Directory of Public Officials
• Canton - Information, skyways.org

Schools

• USD 419, local school district

Historical

• Historic Images of Canton, Special Photo Collections at Wichita State University Library.

Maps

• Canton City Map, KDOT
• McPherson County Map, KDOT
• Topo Map of Canton / Galva / Roxbury area, USGS

v t e Municipalities and communities of McPherson County, Kansas, United States County seat: McPherson Cities Canton Galva Inman Lindsborg Marquette McPherson Moundridge Windom CDP Roxbury Other unincorporated communities Conway Elyria Ghost towns Christian Elivon Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

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