Canton, South Dakota
Encyclopedia
Canton is a city in and the county seat
of Lincoln County
, South Dakota
, United States
. The city was named by Norwegian settler and former legislator James M. Wahl
. The population was 3,057 at the 2010 census.
across from Beloit, Iowa
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 3 square miles (7.8 km²), of which, 3 square miles (7.8 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (1.01%) is water.
Canton has been assigned the ZIP code
57013 and the FIPS place code 09500.
of 2000, there were 3,110 people, 1,209 households, and 824 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,053.4 people per square mile (407.0/km²). There were 1,286 housing units at an average density of 435.6 per square mile (168.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.43% White, 0.32% African American, 0.80% Native American, 0.58% Asian, 0.03% from other races
, and 0.84% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.48% of the population.
There were 1,209 households out of which 35.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.9% were married couples
living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.8% were non-families. 28.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.9% 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 3.07.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.1% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 93.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $38,654, and the median income for a family was $46,058. Males had a median income of $31,121 versus $20,902 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $17,891. About 2.0% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.1% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.
Land was set aside for a cemetery, but the Indian Office decided that stone markers for graves would be an unwarranted expense. Today, the cemetery (121 names) is located in the middle of a golf course in Canton. No one knows the cause of death of the incarcerated or why they were even at the asylum. The National Park Service added the cemetery to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1998.
made a comment on The Colbert Report about John McCain making a campaign stop in Canton, Ohio
, and "not the crappy Canton in Georgia
." 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 resulting in another uproar from local residents and Kansas governor Kathleen Sebelius
. On August 5, 2008, Colbert apologized to citizens of Canton, Kansas, then directed his derision at Canton, South Dakota by calling it "North Dakota's dirty ashtray" and satirizing the town in song. Though local reaction was relatively mild, Colbert apologized to the people of Canton, South Dakota on August 12, 2008, then continued this running gag
by calling Canton, Texas
, an "incorporated outhouse." This jab at the Texas town had been predicted by Governor Sebelius at the end of her July 31, 2008 remarks. 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".
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Lincoln County
Lincoln County, South Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 24,131 people, 8,782 households, and 6,665 families residing in the county. The population density was 42 people per square mile . There were 9,131 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile...
, South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The city was named by Norwegian settler and former legislator James M. Wahl
James M. Wahl
James M. Wahl was a Norwegian American settler and the first legislator of Lincoln County, South Dakota. He named the city of Canton, South Dakota....
. The population was 3,057 at the 2010 census.
Geography
Canton is located at 43°18′8"N 96°35′27"W (43.302254, -96.590810), along the Big Sioux RiverBig Sioux River
The Big Sioux River is a tributary of the Missouri River, long, in eastern South Dakota and northwestern Iowa in the United States. The United States Board on Geographic Names settled on "Big Sioux River" as the stream's name in 1961....
across from Beloit, Iowa
Beloit, Iowa
Beloit is an unincorporated community in Lyon County, Iowa, United States.-Geography:Beloit is located on the banks of the Big Sioux River in northwestern Iowa just across the river from Canton, South Dakota. U.S. Route 18 is just one mile to the north in Canton.-History:Originally served by the...
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 3 square miles (7.8 km²), of which, 3 square miles (7.8 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (1.01%) is water.
Canton has been assigned the ZIP code
ZIP Code
ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
57013 and the FIPS place code 09500.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 3,110 people, 1,209 households, and 824 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,053.4 people per square mile (407.0/km²). There were 1,286 housing units at an average density of 435.6 per square mile (168.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.43% White, 0.32% African American, 0.80% Native American, 0.58% Asian, 0.03% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.84% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.48% of the population.
There were 1,209 households out of which 35.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.9% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.8% were non-families. 28.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.9% 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 3.07.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.1% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 93.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $38,654, and the median income for a family was $46,058. Males had a median income of $31,121 versus $20,902 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $17,891. About 2.0% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.1% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.
Canton Indian Insane Asylum
In 1898, Congress passed a bill creating the only 'Institution for Insane Indians' in the United States. The Canton Indian Insane Asylum opened for the reception of patients in January 1903. The asylum was closed in 1934. While open, more than 350 patients were detained there, in terrible conditions. At least 121 died.Land was set aside for a cemetery, but the Indian Office decided that stone markers for graves would be an unwarranted expense. Today, the cemetery (121 names) is located in the middle of a golf course in Canton. No one knows the cause of death of the incarcerated or why they were even at the asylum. The National Park Service added the cemetery to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1998.
Notable people
- Mike BroderickMike BroderickMike B. Broderick, Jr. was a member of the South Dakota State Senate, representing district 16.Broderick is from Canton, South Dakota. He was appointed to the South Dakota State House of Representatives in 1993 fill the vacancy left by Michael O'Connor. Broderick remained in the state House of...
- Former member of the South Dakota State Senate - Joel DykstraJoel DykstraJoel D. Dykstra is a Republican member of the South Dakota House of Representatives, representing the 16th District since 2003. His district includes Lincoln and Union counties....
- Former member of the South Dakota State House of Representatives - Oscar S. GiffordOscar S. GiffordOscar Sherman Gifford was an American lawyer of Canton, South Dakota. He served six years in the United States House of Representatives, first as the non-voting delegate from the Dakota Territory, then as a full member of the House from South Dakota.Oscar was born in Watertown, Jefferson County,...
, Mayor of Canton, South Dakota]] - Tim Johnson - South Dakota U.S Senator
- Ernest LawrenceErnest LawrenceErnest Orlando Lawrence was an American physicist and Nobel Laureate, known for his invention, utilization, and improvement of the cyclotron atom-smasher beginning in 1929, based on his studies of the works of Rolf Widerøe, and his later work in uranium-isotope separation for the Manhattan Project...
- Nobel Laureate who invented the CyclotronCyclotronIn technology, a cyclotron is a type of particle accelerator. In physics, the cyclotron frequency or gyrofrequency is the frequency of a charged particle moving perpendicularly to the direction of a uniform magnetic field, i.e. a magnetic field of constant magnitude and direction... - John LawrenceJohn H. LawrenceJohn Hundale Lawrence was an American physicist and physician best known for pioneering the field of nuclear medicine. -Background:John Hundale Lawrence was born in Canton, South Dakota...
- The Father of Nuclear MedicineNuclear medicineIn nuclear medicine procedures, elemental radionuclides are combined with other elements to form chemical compounds, or else combined with existing pharmaceutical compounds, to form radiopharmaceuticals. These radiopharmaceuticals, once administered to the patient, can localize to specific organs... - Theda MarshallTheda MarshallTheda Marshall was a first basewoman who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 7", 133 lb., she batted and threw right handed....
- All-American Girls Professional Baseball LeagueAll-American Girls Professional Baseball LeagueThe All-American Girls Professional Baseball League was a women's professional baseball league founded by Philip K. Wrigley which existed from 1943 to 1954. During the league's history, over 600 women played ball.-History:...
player - Ole Edvart RølvaagOle Edvart RølvaagOle Edvart Rølvaag was an American novelist and professor who became well known for his writings regarding the Norwegian American immigrant experience...
- Graduate of Augustana Academy; author of "Giants in the Earth" - Merle TuveMerle TuveMerle Anthony Tuve, PhD was an American scientist and geophysicist who was the founding director of the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. He was a pioneer in the use of pulsed radio waves whose discoveries opened the way to the development of radar and nuclear...
- Geophysicist - Rosemond TuveRosemond TuveRosemond Teresa Marie Tuve was an American scholar of English literature, specializing in Renaissance literature—in particular, Edmund Spenser.-Biography:...
- literary scholar - James M. WahlJames M. WahlJames M. Wahl was a Norwegian American settler and the first legislator of Lincoln County, South Dakota. He named the city of Canton, South Dakota....
- South Dakota Legislator
Popular culture
On July 21, 2008, Stephen ColbertStephen Colbert
Stephen Tyrone Colbert is an American political satirist, writer, comedian, television host, and actor. He is the host of Comedy Central's The Colbert Report, a satirical news show in which Colbert portrays a caricatured version of conservative political pundits.Colbert originally studied to be an...
made a comment on The Colbert Report about John McCain making a campaign stop in Canton, Ohio
Canton, Ohio
Canton is the county seat of Stark County in northeastern Ohio, approximately south of Akron and south of Cleveland.The City of Caton is the largest incorporated area within the Canton-Massillon Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, and "not the crappy Canton in Georgia
Canton, Georgia
Canton is a city in and the county seat of Cherokee County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 22,958.-Geography:Canton is located at ....
." 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
Canton, Kansas
Canton is a city in McPherson County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 748.-19th century: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...
, after which he made several jokes at the town's expense resulting in another uproar from local residents and Kansas governor Kathleen Sebelius
Kathleen Sebelius
Kathleen Sebelius is an American politician currently serving as the 21st Secretary of Health and Human Services. She was the second female Governor of Kansas from 2003 to 2009, the Democratic respondent to the 2008 State of the Union address, and chair-emerita of the Democratic Governors...
. On August 5, 2008, Colbert apologized to citizens of Canton, Kansas, then directed his derision at Canton, South Dakota by calling it "North Dakota's dirty ashtray" and satirizing the town in song. Though local reaction was relatively mild, Colbert apologized to the people of Canton, South Dakota on August 12, 2008, then continued this running gag
Running gag
A running gag, or running joke, is a literary device that takes the form of an amusing joke or a comical reference and appears repeatedly throughout a work of literature or other form of storytelling....
by calling Canton, Texas
Canton, Texas
Canton is a city in Van Zandt County, Texas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 5,142. It is the county seat of Van Zandt County.- History :...
, an "incorporated outhouse." This jab at the Texas town had been predicted by Governor Sebelius at the end of her July 31, 2008 remarks. 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".