Canton is a city in McPherson County, Kansas, United States. The population was 829 at the 2000 census; the estimated population as of July 1, 2007, was 797.[3]
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)[4].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the census[1] 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/sq mi (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.
Education
The city of Canton is served by the Canton-Galva Unified School District USD 419.[5] 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
Landmarks
Canton is the site of the McPherson County Fairgrounds. The McPherson County Fair has been held in Canton since 1948.[6]
Six miles north of Canton on Kansas Highway 86 is the Maxwell Wildlife Refuge. In fact, Canton has been identified as the "Gateway to Maxwell Wildlife Refuge."[7] 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.[8] This 2,254 acres (9.12 km2) refuge is owned and managed by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.[9]
Canton has two water towers, labeled "HOT" (in red) and "COLD" (in blue).[10] The words were painted on as a tourist attraction in 1956 at the suggestion of local real estate agent Mrs. M.D. Fisher.[11] In fact, both tanks hold water at an average temperature, neither chilled nor heated.[11]
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."[12] 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.[13][14] Reaction from Mayor Brad Smiley[15] and local residents was negative[16] and Kansas governor Kathleen Sebelius invited Colbert to "spend a night" in Canton's historic jail.[17] On August 5, 2008, Colbert apologized to citizens of Canton, Kansas[18], then continued the running gag by directing his mock derision in successive weeks towards Canton, South Dakota[19] and Canton, Texas.[20] 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".[21]
References
- ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ "Annual Estimates of the Population for Incorporated Places in Kansas, Listed Alphabetically: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2007". US Census Bureau. 2008-07-10. http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/tables/SUB-EST2007-04-20.csv.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2005-05-03. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ "Home". Canton-Galva United School District #419. http://cantongalva.ks.schoolwebpages.com. Retrieved on 2008-08-01.
- ^ "Our History". McPherson County Fair Association. http://mcphersoncofair.com/.
- ^ "Canton, Kansas". Kansas State Library. http://skyways.lib.ks.us/towns/Canton/index.html. Retrieved on 2008-07-31.
- ^ "The Maxwell Legacy". Maxwell Wildlife Refuge. http://www.cyberkraft.com/maxwell/history.htm.
- ^ "Maxwell Wildlife Refuge and McPherson State Fishing Lake" (PDF). Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. http://www.kdwp.state.ks.us/news/content/download/1019/4943/file/Brochure%20Maxwell%20&%20McPherson.pdf. Retrieved on 2008-07-31.
- ^ "Water tower pics at Flickr". http://www.flickr.com/photos/7225206@N06/2672298883/.
- ^ a b "Tank Labels Lure Visitors". Western Kansas Press: p. 1. 1963-09-27.
- ^ Gumbrecht, Jamie (2008-07-23). "Colbert's 'crappy Canton' comment puzzles mayor". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/cherokee/stories/2008/07/23/colbert_canton_comment.html.
- ^ Crawley, Paul (2008-07-31). "Colbert Apologizes To Canton... Sort Of". WXIA-TV. http://www.11alive.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=119248&catid=3.
- ^ "Stephen Colbert slams Canton, Kansas". Kansas City Star. 2008-07-31. http://www.kansascity.com/238/story/728196.html. "In "apologizing" to Canton, Ga., on Wednesday's "The Colbert Report," Stephen Colbert slammed Canton, Kan."
- ^ Clouston, David (2008-08-06). "Colbert stuck on Cantons". The Salina Journal. http://www.salina.com/rdnews/Story/Colbert-appologizes-to-Canton-080608.
- ^ Stader, Megan (2008-07-31). "Canton Reacts to Colbert Comments". Wichita, Kansas: KWCH-TV. http://www.kwch.com/Global/story.asp?S=8771050&nav=menu486_2.
- ^ "Colbert's remarks draws Kan. governor's response". Associated Press (KWCH-TV). 2008-07-31. http://www.kwch.com/Global/story.asp?S=8769618&nav=menu486_2_7.
- ^ Colbert, Stephen (2008-08-05). "Canton, Kansas Apology". The Colbert Report. http://www.comedycentral.com/colbertreport/videos.jhtml?videoId=178714.
- ^ "The Colbert Report pokes fun at Canton, S.D.". Argus Leader. 2008-08-06. http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080806/FRONTPAGECAROUSEL/80806022&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL.
- ^ "Stephen Colbert apologizes to Canton, S.D.". KTIV News Channel 4. 2008-08-13. http://www.ktiv.com/Global/story.asp?S=8836138.
- ^ "Canton, Ohio". 2008-10-28. http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/189689/october-28-2008/canton--ohio.
External links
