Editing Canton, Illinois

{{short description|Largest city in Fulton County, Illinois}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                     = Canton, Illinois
| settlement_type          = [[List of cities in Illinois|City]]
| image_skyline            = File:Parlin Library, Canton, Illinois.JPG
| image_alt                = 
| image_caption            = [[Parlin Library]]
| motto                    = "We do that here"<ref>[http://www.cantonillinois.org Canton, Illinois website]</ref>
| pushpin_map              = USA Illinois Fulton County#USA Illinois
| pushpin_map_caption      = Location within Fulton County
| coordinates              = {{coord|40|33|28|N|90|2|3|W|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes    = 
| subdivision_type         = Country
| subdivision_name         = [[United States]]
| subdivision_type1        = State
| subdivision_type2        = County
| subdivision_type3        = Townships
| subdivision_name1        = [[Illinois]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Fulton County, Illinois|Fulton]]
| subdivision_name3        = [[Canton Township, Fulton County, Illinois|Canton]], [[Buckheart Township, Fulton County, Illinois|Buckheart]]
| established_title        = Founded
| established_date         = 1825<ref name="outfitters" />
| established_title1       = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date1        = 1837<ref name="outfitters" />
| founder                  = 
| government_type          = [[Mayor–council government|Mayor–council]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Form of Government|url=http://www.cantonillinois.org/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={B71BE726-1E7B-498E-90D7-B0AD84BA450D}|publisher=City of Canton|access-date=15 June 2011|year=2011}}</ref>
| leader_party             = 
| leader_title             = Mayor
| leader_name              = Kent McDowell
| area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_17.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=March 15, 2022}}</ref>
| area_total_sq_mi         = 8.01
| area_land_sq_mi          = 7.86
| area_water_sq_mi         = 0.16
| area_water_percent       = 
| elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft             = 640
| population_total         = 13242
| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes     = 
| population_density_sq_mi = 1685.16
| population_demonym       = 
| timezone1                = [[Central Time Zone (North America)|CST]]
| utc_offset1 = &minus;6
| timezone1_DST            = [[Central Time Zone (North America)|CDT]]
| utc_offset1_DST = &minus;5
|postal_code_type                = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 61520<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.zipdatamaps.com/61520|title=Canton IL ZIP Code|publisher=zipdatamaps.com|year=2023|access-date=February 17, 2023}}</ref>
| area_code                = [[Area code 309|309]]
| area_code_type           = 
| website                  = {{URL|www.cantonillinois.org}}
|pop_est_as_of = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
|population_est = 
|unit_pref = Imperial
|area_total_km2 = 20.76
|area_land_km2 = 20.35
|area_water_km2 = 0.41
|population_density_km2 = 650.62
|blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
|blank_info = 17-11007
|blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS ID]]
|blank1_info = 2393732<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2393732}}</ref>
|image_map = File:Fulton County Illinois Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Canton Highlighted.svg
|map_caption = Location of Canton in Fulton County, Illinois.
}}
'''Canton''' is the largest city in [[Fulton County, Illinois]], United States. The population was 13,242 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], down from 14,704 at the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US1711007 |access-date=2022-06-28 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> The Canton [[Micropolitan Statistical Area]] covers all of Fulton County; it is in turn, part of the wider [[Peoria metropolitan area|Peoria–Canton, Illinois Combined Statistical Area (CSA)]].

==Geography==
Canton is located in northeastern Fulton County at {{coord|40.557737|-90.034264|type:city_region:US-IL|format=dms|display=inline}}.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> Illinois Routes [[Illinois Route 9|9]] and [[Illinois Route 78|78]] pass through the downtown together. IL 9 leads east {{convert|8|mi|0}} to [[Banner, Illinois|Banner]] near the [[Illinois River]] and west {{convert|27|mi}} to [[Bushnell, Illinois|Bushnell]], while IL 78 leads north {{convert|10|mi}} to [[Farmington, Illinois|Farmington]] and south {{convert|11|mi}} to [[Little America, Illinois|Little America]] in the Illinois River valley.

According to the 2010 census, Canton has a total area of {{convert|8.063|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|7.9|sqmi|sqkm|2}} (or 97.98%) is land and {{convert|0.163|sqmi|sqkm|2}} (or 2.02%) is water.<ref name="census-g001">{{cite web |title=G001 – Geographic Identifiers – 2010 Census Summary File 1 |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US1711007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213055207/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US1711007 |archive-date=2020-02-13 |access-date=2015-12-25 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |language=en-us}}</ref>

==History==
Canton was founded in 1825 by settler [[Isaac Swan]], who believed his new town and [[Guangzhou|Canton, China]], were [[antipodes]].<ref name="outfitters">{{cite web |author=Canton Area Chamber of Commerce |date=January 1996 |title=The History of Canton, Illinois |url=http://www.outfitters.com/illinois/fulton/history_canton.html |access-date=2008-12-14 |publisher=Infobahn Outfitters, Incorporated |location=[[Macomb, Illinois]]}}</ref>

Swan, his infant child, and three other people died in a devastating [[tornado]] in June 1835. "Isaac Swan and his child were found in the wreckage of their cabin, the baby dying in its mother's arms,"<ref>{{cite web |author=Chapman |first=Charles C. |date=17 Sep 2012 |orig-date=1879 |title=History of Fulton County Illinois |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=udfVAAAAMAAJ&q=526%2F |access-date=17 Sep 2012 |work=History of Fulton County Illinois |publisher=J.W. Franks & Sons |page=526 |publication-place=Peoria, Illinois}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.illinoisancestors.org/fulton/|title=Illinois Ancestors: Fulton County|website=www.illinoisancestors.org}}</ref> leading some to conclude that the tornado represented divine retribution for the city allowing a [[circus]] performance the previous week. The city was hit by [[1975 Canton, Illinois tornado|a F-3 tornado]] on July 23, 1975. Two people were killed, and the storm, deemed the [[1975 Canton Tornado]], caused major damage to the downtown area.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20180128074706/http://www.gendisasters.com/illinois/13203/canton-il-tornado-july-1975 Canton, Illinois Tornado, July 1975] (archived from [https://www.gendisasters.com/illinois/13203/canton-il-tornado-july-1975 the original] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810191518/http://www3.gendisasters.com/illinois/13203/canton-il-tornado-july-1975|date=2014-08-10}} on 2018-01-28).</ref>

Much of the city, particularly the northern portion, has been undermined by [[room and pillar]] extraction of [[coal]] that took place in the 1800s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.isgs.illinois.edu/viewers/coal-mines.shtml|title=IL MINES Redirect|website=www.isgs.illinois.edu}}</ref>

Central Illinois Energy, a locally financed cooperative, began planning for a corn-fermentation [[ethanol]] plant in 2002. Construction and finance delays resulted in its opening in 2007, approximately {{convert|4|mi|0}} south of the city. Beset by financial problems and construction delays on the plant, the cooperative declared [[bankruptcy]]. Central Illinois Energy's assets were bought by a private company. Construction was completed, and the plant began production in the summer of 2008. It was renamed Riverland Biofuels.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.ethanolproducer.com/articles/6897/fate-of-riverland-biofuels-plant-still-unclear | title = Fate of Riverland Biofuels plant still unclear}}</ref>

In December 2008, [[Cook Medical]] announced that it would open a new medical device factory at the old [[International Harvester]] site. Company owner [[William Cook (entrepreneur)|William "Bill" Cook]] had grown up in Canton and wanted to do something to help revitalize his home town community. Some of the costs related to Cook Medical were planned to be paid for with state funds: a $750,000 Community Development Assistance Program grant from the [[Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity]] and a $1.1 million grant from the [[Illinois Department of Transportation]] for infrastructure improvements near the plant.<ref>{{cite press release | url = http://www.cookmedical.com/newsDetail.do?id=3915 | title = Cook Medical Brings New Beginning to Canton | publisher = [[Cook Medical]] | location = [[Bloomington, Indiana]] | date = 2008-12-11 | access-date = 2009-10-19 }}</ref> Scott Eells, the [[chief operating officer]] for Cook Group, has said that the factory will eventually be {{convert|45000|sqft}}, with more than 300 employees. Bill Cook had previously announced he was buying and renovating several old Canton buildings, including the 1883 Randolph Building on the town square.<ref>{{cite news |last=Froehling |first=John |date=2009-12-11 |title=Welcome Home, Bill Cook |url=http://www.cantondailyledger.com/news/business/x415875194/WELCOME-HOME-BILL-COOK |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708114622/http://www.cantondailyledger.com/news/business/x415875194/WELCOME-HOME-BILL-COOK |archive-date=2011-07-08 |access-date=2009-10-19 |work=Canton Daily Ledger |publisher=[[GateHouse Media]], Incorporated |location=Canton, Illinois}}</ref> Cook purchased four buildings in downtown Canton, a shopping center, the site where the International Harvester plant was located as well as constructing the new Canton Harvester Inn boutique hotel and another factory—COOK Polymer. The Lewis Pharmacy Building was purchased and restored. The Randolph Building is another Canton purchase made by Cook. The main floor offers store fronts and there are apartments for rent on the second level. Also purchased is the Fulton Square Shopping Center.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cantonharvesterinn.com/history|title=History {{!}} Canton Harvester Inn|website=www.cantonharvesterinn.com|access-date=2019-02-16}}</ref>

On November 16, 2016, A gas explosion killed an [[Ameren]] worker who was fixing a gas leak,<ref name="pjstar-condemned"/> sent 12 to the local hospital,<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.cantondailyledger.com/news/20161116/explosion-rocks-downtown-canton | title = Explosion rocks downtown Canton | first1 = Nick | last1 = Vlahos | first2 = Larry | last2 = Eskridge | work = [[Canton Daily Ledger]] | edition = online | date = November 16, 2016 | publisher = [[GateHouse Media]] | location = Canton, Illinois | access-date = November 17, 2016 }}</ref> and demolished an adjacent building on 1st Avenue that was attached to the Opera House. The next day the Opera House and two other buildings were declared beyond repair and condemned, an additional building declared uninhabitable until repaired, and 48 other buildings noted as damaged but repairable.<ref name="pjstar-condemned">{{cite news | url = http://www.pjstar.com/news/20161117/three-properties-condemned-48-others-damaged-in-deadly-canton-blast | title = Three properties condemned, 48 others damaged in deadly Canton blast | first = Andy | last = Kravetz | date = November 17, 2016 | work = [[Peoria Journal Star|PJStar.com]] | publisher = [[GateHouse Media]] | location = Peoria, Illinois | access-date = November 17, 2016 }}</ref>

==Media==
Canton has a [[daily newspaper]], ''[[The Daily Ledger]]'', and three radio stations: [[WBYS (AM)|WBYS]] and [[WPZA]], and WILP, known as Q98.1. There is also a weekly newspaper, "The Fulton Democrat", and a weekly shopping publication, "The Independent Shopper".

==Popular culture==
On September 13, 1967, Los Angeles rock band [[The Doors]] played a concert at Canton High School.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://mildequator.com/performancehistory/concertinfo/1967/670913.html|title=The Doors {{!}} Canton High School Auditorium 1967|website=mildequator.com|access-date=2017-05-07}}</ref> The Canton audience reportedly reacted with mostly shocked silence at Jim Morrison's stage antics.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1840= 762
|1850= 1568
|1860= 2373
|1870= 3308
|1880= 3762
|1890= 5604
|1900= 6564
|1910= 10453
|1920= 10928
|1930= 11718
|1940= 11577
|1950= 11927
|1960= 13588
|1970= 14217
|1980= 14626
|1990= 13922
|2000= 15288
|2010= 14704
|2020= 13242
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]]<ref name=":0" /> there were 13,242 people, 5,154 households, and 2,871 families residing in the city. The population density was {{Convert|1,652.15|PD/sqmi|PD/km2}}. There were 5,863 housing units at an average density of {{Convert|731.50|/sqmi|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the city was 84.93% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 8.11% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.20% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.35% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.02% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 2.88% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 3.52% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 3.69% of the population.

There were 5,154 households, out of which 23.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.94% were married couples living together, 7.55% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.30% were non-families. 37.23% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.52% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 2.21.

The city's age distribution consisted of 16.4% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 27.3% from 45 to 64, and 21.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 115.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 126.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $46,362, and the median income for a family was $61,528. Males had a median income of $44,583 versus $24,403 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $30,144. About 14.5% of families and 19.3% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 27.6% of those under age 18 and 8.4% of those age 65 or over.

== Notable people ==
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{{div col}}
* [[Granville Barrere]] (1829&ndash;1889), U.S. Representative from Illinois
* [[Ethan Blackaby]] (1940&ndash;), Major League Baseball outfielder for the Milwaukee Braves
* [[Tony Blazine]] (1912&ndash;1963), [[National Football League|NFL]] football player (1935&ndash;1941)
* [[Burnett M. Chiperfield]] (1870&ndash;1940), U.S. Representative from Illinois
* [[Silas B. Cobb]], industrialist (born in Vermont)
* [[William Cook (entrepreneur)|William "Bill" Cook]] (1931&ndash;2011), medical device entrepreneur and historic preservationist, founder of the [[Cook Group]]
* [[Dave Downey]] (born 1941), basketball player for [[Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball|University of Illinois]]
* [[Tim Drummond]] (1941&ndash;2015), bass guitarist
* [[Ralph Dunn]] (1900&ndash;1968), film, television, and stage actor
* [[Charles Duryea]] (1861&ndash;1938), automobile manufacturer
* [[Bill Edley]] (born 1948), Illinois state legislator and businessman
* [[Lee Eyerly]] (1892&ndash;1963), civil aviation pioneer and amusement ride manufacturer
* [[Jack Fisk]] (1945&ndash;), Academy Award-nominated production designer and art director
* [[R. Thomas Flynn]] (1938&ndash;), retired president of [[Monroe Community College]]
* [[Boomer Grigsby|James "Boomer" Grigsby]] (1981&ndash;), fullback with the [[Kansas City Chiefs]] (2005–2007) and Miami Dolphins (2008)
* [[Mike Grzanich]], pitcher for the [[Houston Astros]]
* [[Harry Jacobs (American football)|Harry Jacobs]] (1937&ndash;), linebacker at [[Bradley University]] and for the [[New England Patriots]] and [[Buffalo Bills]]
* [[Elizabeth A. Kovachevich]], United States District Court judge
* [[Elizabeth Magie]] (1866&ndash;1948), inventor of The Landlord's Game, the precursor to Monopoly
* [[Louisa McCall]] (1824&ndash;1907), pioneer bank director
* [[Barbara Mertz]] (1927&ndash;2013), mystery novelist
* [[Steven R. Nagel]] (1946&ndash;2014), astronaut
* [[Raymond Phineas Stearns]] (1904&ndash;1970), historian
* [[Ian Wolfe]] (1896&ndash;1992), television and movie actor, poet
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
{{EB1911 poster|Canton (Illinois)}}
* [http://www.cantonillinois.org/ City of Canton official website]
* [http://www.illinoisancestors.org/fulton/Twp_Histories/Canton.html History of Canton Township]
{{Fulton County, Illinois}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Canton, Illinois| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Illinois]]
[[Category:Cities in Fulton County, Illinois]]
[[Category:Micropolitan areas of Illinois]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1825]]
[[Category:Peoria metropolitan area, Illinois]]
[[Category:1825 establishments in Illinois]]