| Canton, Mississippi | |
| Settlement Type: | City |
| Nickname: | Movie Capitol of Mississippi |
| Motto: | One People/One Voice/One Goal |
| Image Blank Emblem: | Logo of Canton, Mississippi.png |
| Blank Emblem Type: | Logo |
| Mapsize: | 250px |
| Pushpin Map: | USA |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in the United States |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Dr. William Truly Jr |
| Leader Title1: | Assistant to the Mayor |
| Leader Name1: | Jamarcio Robinson, Anthony Denton |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Mississippi |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Madison |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 21.57 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 21.28 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.30 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Footnotes: | [2] |
| Population Total: | 10948 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 514.59 |
| Timezone: | Central (CST) |
| Utc Offset: | -6 |
| Timezone Dst: | CDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -5 |
| Elevation M: | 71 |
| Elevation Ft: | 233 |
| Coordinates: | 32.6119°N -90.0317°W |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP code |
| Postal Code: | 39046 |
| Area Code: | 601 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 28-11100 |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 0691133 |
The city of Canton is the county seat of Madison County, Mississippi, United States,[3] and is situated in the northern part of the metropolitan area surrounding the state capital, Jackson. The population of Canton was 10,948 at the 2020 census,[2] down from 13,189 in 2010.
The city is adjacent to a large auto manufacturing facility owned by Nissan.
Although not a major battle site during the Civil War, Canton was important as a rail and logistics center. Many wounded soldiers were treated in or transported through the city, and as a consequence it has a large Confederate cemetery.
Much of Canton is on the National Register of Historic Places. The courthouse square is a historic shopping district and host to the Canton Flea Market. The picturesque Georgian courthouse is particularly notable and often appears in photographic exhibits of the South. The east side of town is a large part of the historic district with many homes.
Canton is in central Madison County at 32.6119°N -90.0317°W (32.612015, -90.031638).[4] It is northeast of Jackson. Canton is bordered to the south by the city of Gluckstadt.
U.S. Route 51 passes through the center of the city as Liberty Street and Union Street, leading southwest to Jackson and north-northeast to Pickens. Mississippi Highway 16 passes through the city center on East Peace Street and North Liberty Street, leading east to Carthage and northwest to Yazoo City. MS 22 has its eastern terminus in the center of Canton and leads west to Flora. MS 43 passes through the east side of Canton, leading northeast to Kosciusko and southeast to Pelahatchie. Interstate 55 passes through the west side of the city, with access from Exits 118 (Nissan Parkway) and Exit 119 (MS 22). I-55 leads southwest to Jackson and north to Grenada.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city of Canton has a total area of 21.6sqmi, of which 21.3sqmi are land and 0.3sqmi, or 1.38%, are water.[1] Batchelor Creek flows westward through the city just north of downtown, and Bear Creek flows to the northwest through the southern part of the city. The city is in the watershed of the Big Black River.
According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Canton has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "" on climate maps. The hottest temperature recorded in Canton was 108F on September 7, 1925, while the coldest temperature recorded was -11F on January 27, 1940.
Mayor - Dr. William Truly Jr
Assistant to the Mayor - Jamarcio Robinson
Assistant to the Mayor - Anthony Denton
Building & Development Director - Will Burwell
City Attorney - Kimberly Banks
City Clerk - Chuconna Anderson
Court Clerk - Joycette Jackson-Nichols
Fire Chief - Kenna Pierce
Housing Authority Director - Stanford Beasley
Landfill Director - Melon Garrett
Parks & Recreation Director - Alvin Davis
Police Chief - Otha Brown
Public Works Director - Lawrence Morris
Zoning Director - Donald Lawrence
| White | 1,664 | 15.2% | |
| Black or African American | 7,988 | 72.96% | |
| Native American | 33 | 0.3% | |
| Asian | 47 | 0.43% | |
| Pacific Islander | 1 | 0.01% | |
| Other/Mixed | 234 | 2.14% | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 981 | 8.96% |
As of the census[6] of 2010, there were 13,189 people and 4,494 households in the city with an average household size of 2.99. The population density was 621.1sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 4,933 housing units. The racial makeup of the city was 19.5% White, 74.7% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, and 0.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.5% of the population.
The age distribution was 27.5% under the age of 18 and 10.8% 65 or older. 50.8% of the population were female.
The median household income was $33,350. The per capita income for the city was $15,192. About 31.4% of the population were below the poverty line.
At the 2000 census, there were 12,911 people in 4,093 households, including 2,991 families, in the city. The population density was 694.1sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 4,333 housing units at an average density of 232.9sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the city was 18.64% White, 80.30% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.14% from other races, and 0.57% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.43% of the population.
Of the 4,093 households 37.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.4% were married couples living together, 34.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.9% were non-families. 23.8% of households were one person and 10.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.99 and the average family size was 3.55.
The age distribution was 32.3% under the age of 18, 11.2% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 18.5% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% 65 or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.7 males.
The median household income was $24,237 and the median family income was $27,782. Males had a median income of $25,179 versus $20,815 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,643. About 27.7% of families and 34.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 49.8% of those under age 18 and 25.5% of those age 65 or over.
A Nissan plant is sited just outside the southwest city limits. In 2011 Canton officials considered annexing it.[7]
Canton is officially on the Mississippi Blues Trail. Elmore James, a blues singer and a familiar figure in Canton, learned electronics by working in a radio repair shop on Hickory Street. Canton is rich in blues history centered on the juke joints of Hickory Street, known to locals as "The Hollow", as well as other places in Canton. A Mississippi Blues Trail historic marker was placed in Canton on Hickory Street to honor the contribution of James to the development of the blues in Mississippi. Other noted blues performers associated with Canton include Grady Champion, Little Brother Montgomery, William "Do-Boy" Diamond, Boyd Rivers and Johnny Temple. Musicians include studio guitarist Bucky Barrett and the slide guitarist Sonny Landreth. Gospel singers include the Canton Spirituals and Reverend Cleophus Robinson.[11]
In his dedication of Hickory Street, Governor Haley Barbour said,
The city of Canton is served by the Canton Public School District and Canton High School. Canton Academy is a segregation academy in the area.
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Canton has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[12]
| January | February | March | April | May | June | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average High in °F: | 55 | 60 | 68 | 76 | 83 | 89 | |
| Average Low in °F: | 33 | 36 | 43 | 50 | 59 | 67 | |
| Average Precipitation in Inch: | 5.16 | 5 | 4.92 | 5.2 | 5.43 | 3.7 |
| July | August | September | October | November | December | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average High in °F: | 92 | 92 | 87 | 78 | 67 | 58 | |
| Average Low in °F: | 69 | 69 | 62 | 50 | 41 | 34 | |
| Average Precipitation in Inch: | 3.82 | 3.58 | 3.46 | 4.02 | 4.72 | 5.59 |