Canton is a charter township of Wayne County known as the “Sweet Corn Capital of Michigan.” This township has a population of 93,018, and in it, residents can feel safe as it has one of the lowest ranking crime rates in the nation’s state. It is the second most populated township in Michigan and the 11th most populated municipality. Read more in this article, presented to you by RoofAdvisor, #1 roofing company in Canton, MI.
The Beginnings of Canton
Lake Whittelsey is an ancient lake that extended westward from the present Lake Erie to the beach on the Ridge in Canton’s western sections during the Ice Age. Traces of minerals and organic matter were present in this lake, making Canton a rich and fertile agricultural area. Today the ridge is known as Ridge Road and is made up of layers of sand and gravel.
The Potawatomi Indians once lived in the Southeastern Michigan area where Canton is situated today. These Native Americans used to hunt for game in the abundant woods and streams and gathered natural foods such as berries present in the area. The natives traveled by trails of which some like Ridge Road, Ann Arbor Trail, Geddes Road, Joy Road, and Michigan Avenue are still used today.
Early Settlers
As early settlers invaded the area of Canton, conflicts arose between the Potawatomi and the newcomers. No settlers were injured during the incursion of the natives, but it made the settlers uneasy and, therefore, they staged an attack on the Potawatomi. Chief Tonquish and his men were captured and the chief’s son was shot and killed the same day of the capture in 1819. The American Natives gave up on resisting the land due to the incident. Today one can see a Michigan State historical marker on Wayne Road, the site where the event occurred.
More settlers came to the area despite the mosquito-infested swampland and dense timber. Around 1825 the Erie Canal opened, which attracted settlers from New England and upstate New York. Samuel and Philander Burd were the first men to be granted land in Canton. Timothy and Rachel Sheldon built the Inn on Michigan Avenue, which became part of a thriving village later on. Historic homes that have been restored, such as the Philander’s home, can still be seen today on Joy Road’s original site.
Canton mainly consisted of thick forests that contained plenty of wildlife at the time. However, all of this was cleared to make space for homes, farms, schools, and churches. The beginning of a community was well on its way by the 1830s as the settlers were eager to make Canton their home.
The Founding of the Township
Canton became a Township on March 7, 1834. It consisted of a six-square-mile area surrounded by Joy Road, Van Born Road, Hannan Road, and Napier Road. The township was named after a city in China because of the enhanced trade relations the United States had with China. Unlike Nankin and Peking’s township, Canton is the only one that uses its original name up until today.
A Board of Trustees governed Canton and in 1874 the first town hall was built at the cost of $700, which seated 400 people.
The population of Canton had increased to 5 300 in 1961. The township proposed to the voters that Canton would be better off if incorporated into a charter township. There was an increased need for service at the time, which made this proposal worthwhile. From here on, the Township of Canton could establish the police force, make traffic rules, and broaden its healthcare services.
Development of Canton
The primary source of income for the early settlers in Canton was self-sustaining farming. Farms provided all the necessary food and products for a family’s basic needs and excess produce was sold or traded for goods, services, or money.
Canton was promoted as the “Sweet Corn Capital of Michigan” from the 1950s to the 1970s. Farmers raised sweet corn during these years to sell them at the Farmers Market in Detroit, which was a day’s horse-and-wagon drive away.
The central location of Canton gave the township the advantage to prosper in dairy farming as well. Farmers would take the milk to local creameries located in the villages of Sheldon Corners and Cherry Hill. From the creameries, Canton’s milk was distributed to larger communities such as Detroit.
A strong emphasis was placed on education in Canton, as many settlers came from New England. In 1827 the Territorial Council ruled that a schoolmaster must be employed in any township that consists of 50 or more families. As the population grew, so did the schools. Schools were built at the crossroads and were made to be accessible to children walking to school. The community worked together to develop and support the nine schools that were built in Canton.
Canton Today
Today Canton is a prosperous township that ranks as the 96th highest-income place in the United States. Residents can take advantage of its full-service police and fire department, professionally managed departments in the township hall, a full-service library, a multifaceted recreational department, many volunteer and civic organizations, and much more. An accredited school system also serves the residents of Canton and the original nine schools are a part of that system.