Canton (village), New York
Encyclopedia
Canton is a village in St. Lawrence County
, New York
, United States
. The village is centrally located in both the town of Canton
and the county of St. Lawrence. 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 provides 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.
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.
, 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
. The site is owned by the St. Lawrence County Historical Association
.
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.
Canton Central School District is centered in the village of Canton at Hugh Williams Senior High School, home of the Golden Bears.
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.
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 per square mile (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.
St. Lawrence County, New York
St. Lawrence County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 111,944. The county seat is Canton. The county is named for the Saint Lawrence River, which in turn was named for the Catholic saint on whose Feast day the river was discovered by...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The village is centrally located in both the town of Canton
Canton (town), New York
Canton is a town in St. Lawrence County, New York, USA. The population was 10,334 at the 2000 census. The town contains two villages: one also named Canton, the other named Rensselaer Falls. Canton is located near the center of the county. The town is named after Canton in China. Canton is the...
and the county of St. Lawrence. The population was 5,882 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
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 St. Lawrence County. The name comes from the Chinese city, Canton
Guangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
.
The village of Canton provides 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.
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
St. Lawrence University
St. Lawrence University is a four-year liberal arts college located in the village of Canton in Saint Lawrence County, New York, United States. It has roughly 2300 undergraduate and 100 graduate students, about equally split between male and female....
was founded here in 1856, and the State University of New York at Canton
State University of New York at Canton
The State University of New York at Canton , is a public, coeducational, residential college located on a spacious campus along the banks of the Grasse River in St. Lawrence County, New York within the Town of Canton. Its northern location places SUNY Canton close to the Adirondack Mountains, the St...
(northwest of the village) was begun in 1906.
Notable people of Canton
Frederic RemingtonFrederic Remington
Frederic Sackrider Remington was an American painter, illustrator, sculptor, and writer who specialized in depictions of the Old American West, specifically concentrating on the last quarter of the 19th century American West and images of cowboys, American Indians, and the U. S...
, the noted Western artist, was born in Canton; and Silas Wright
Silas Wright
Silas Wright, Jr. was an American Democratic politician. Wright was born in Amherst, Massachusetts and moved with his father to Weybridge, Vermont in 1796. He graduated from Middlebury College in 1815 and moved to Sandy Hill, New York, the next year, where he studied law, being admitted to the bar...
, 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
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...
. The site is owned by the St. Lawrence County Historical Association
St. Lawrence County Historical Association
The St. Lawrence County Historical Association is a non-profit organization, notable for owning and operating the Silas Wright Museum. It preserves the history of St. Lawrence County.-History:...
.
Education
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 academyPolice academy
A police academy is a training school for new police recruits, also known as a law enforcement academy.-Australia:Larger police departments usually run their own academies. States often run a centralised academy for training of personnel of law enforcement agencies within the state.Police...
every spring.
St. Lawrence University
St. Lawrence University
St. Lawrence University is a four-year liberal arts college located in the village of Canton in Saint Lawrence County, New York, United States. It has roughly 2300 undergraduate and 100 graduate students, about equally split between male and female....
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
St. Lawrence University
St. Lawrence University is a four-year liberal arts college located in the village of Canton in Saint Lawrence County, New York, United States. It has roughly 2300 undergraduate and 100 graduate students, about equally split between male and female....
is home to several sports, including its famous NCAA Division I hockey team and several notable alumni.
Canton Central School District is centered in the village of Canton at Hugh Williams Senior High School, home of the Golden Bears.
Police department
The village's police department is located in the municipal building on Main Street. It is composed of a Chief of Police, three sergeants and five patrolmen. The department has two full-time and one part-time dispatchers. The department is manned 24 hours a day/7 days a week and whenFire department
The Canton Fire Department, which is at its new location at 77 Riverside Drive, is an all volunteer fire department with one chief, three assistant chiefs and nearly 80 members. The department also operates a Paramedic Ambulance service and serves the people of the village and town of Canton as well as providing mutual aid services to surrounding towns. In 2008 the fire department answered over 1500 fire and EMS calls. Link to department website http://www.cantonfirerescue.comGeography
Canton is located at 44°35′51"N 75°10′16"W (44.5976, -75.17118).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 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
Grasse River
The Grasse River or Grass River is a river in northern New York, in the United States...
, a tributary of the St. Lawrence River.
The village is served by US Route 11, New York State Route 68
New York State Route 68
New York State Route 68 is an east–west state highway located entirely within St. Lawrence County in the North Country of New York in the United States. The western terminus is at an intersection with NY 37 in Oswegatchie, just west of the Ogdensburg city limits...
, New York State Route 310
New York State Route 310
New York State Route 310 is a north–south state highway located entirely within St. Lawrence County in the North Country of the U.S. state of New York. The southern terminus is at NY 68 and U.S. Route 11 in the town of Canton, just east of the village of Canton...
, and County Roads 27 and 24.
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 5,882 people, 1,531 households, and 797 families residing in the village. 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 1,817.9 people per square mile (700.9/km²). There were 1,680 housing units at an average density of 519.2 per square mile (200.2/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 91.81% White, 4.49% Black or African American
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...
, 0.54% Native American, 0.99% Asian, 1.02% 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 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
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, 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
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 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.