Movie fans might recognize Canton as the setting for films like Mississippi Burning, A Time to Kill and O Brother, Where Art Thou?. True film buffs will also recognize it from Biker Zombies from Detroit.
Located just 30 minutes north of Jackson, Mississippi, Canton is home to major industries and about 13,100 residents (at the time of the 2010 U
Movie fans might recognize Canton as the setting for films like Mississippi Burning, A Time to Kill and O Brother, Where Art Thou?. True film buffs will also recognize it from Biker Zombies from Detroit.
Located just 30 minutes north of Jackson, Mississippi, Canton is home to major industries and about 13,100 residents (at the time of the 2010 U.S. Census). If you drive a Nissan, chances are that all or part of it was assembled at the Nissan factory in Canton. A major economic driver in the area, Nissan provides a lot of jobs here and greatly improved the quality of life in Canton. Proximity to Jackson gives you all the major city amenities you could want, while life in Canton means you can get to know your neighbors and enjoy life in a slower lane. You'll enjoy checking out the antebellum architecture that still dots the landscape here. The nearby Madison County Courthouse is a notable example of American southern architecture. Canton escaped the worst aspects of the Civil War. No major battles were fought here, but it was a logistical hub for the Confederate army.
We're pretty sure that the weather here is why sweet tea was invented. Winters will be mild. Summers? They are the stuff of a thousand heat-related idioms. Heat. Humidity. A fine perma-veil of sweat on your brow. Maybe invest in fans and channel your best southern belle as you attempt to cool down on furnace-like summer days. Thank goodness for modern air conditioning!
Canton is relatively concentrated and the best suggestion we can make is to drive around and familiarize yourself with an area before committing to a place to live in Canton. Drive down the 51 since it runs north to south through the city.
When it comes to Canton, there are two major areas in which to find housing. Review what each neighborhood has to offer before making any hasty decisions.
Central Canton: This is where the action -- and the housing -- is. You'll be close to everything from the Historic Courthouse Square to the main dining and shopping corridors in central Canton. Smaller retail stores are available here including the essentials and boutiques. Housing options are smaller and more densely packed in the city center and grow in size and space as you fan out from there. You'll have a nice assortment of one and two-bedroom apartments from which to choose and from which you can wander to local restaurants. A bit farther out, enjoy a more suburban setting with three- and four-bedroom homes. You may luck out and find a historic Victorian on offer, but that won't be the norm.
Canton Commercial and Industrial Park: If you're a farmer or a business owner who wants to live about the shop, this area is for you. Basically, no one lives here -- at least not in traditional residences, though there are some farms nearby. If you did live here, it would give you a minutes-long commute to the Nissan plant. There is some housing on the other side of the highway from the Canton Commercial and Industrial Park on the backside of the plant. This area is, however, home to the Walmart Supercenter -- the largest retail box in the city. For more shopping options, head to nearby Jackson.
Like the blues? Canton is part of the Mississippi Blues Trail, a project of the Mississippi Blues Commission to mark historical sites related to the birth, growth, and influence of the blues in Mississippi. In Canton, you can check out the history related to Elmore James, a legendary blues singer and guitarist. Stroll down Hickory Street and explore the juke joints known to locals as "The Hollow."
Dining options range from your typical assortment of fast food joints to more local fare like southern barbecue. As appropriate for a town with this sort of history, it's a great place to go antiquing. The town center is dotted with treasure troves to help you furnish your new rental home or apartment.
One great option of getting to know your new hometown is by arranging a free tour with the Canton Convention and Visitors Bureau whose job it is to see you comfortably settled as a Canton insider as soon as possible. They'll help you see the highlights like the museums, the historic train depot and the famous courthouse. Speaking of museums, the town has movie museums dedicated to some of the famous productions based here. You never know when you'll need to bone up on Grisham trivia for your Jeopardy appearance.
Bargain hunters will appreciate the world-famous Canton Flea Market Arts & Crafts Show held each May and October. It's been held yearly since 1965 when some local artists first displayed their work on the fence around the Historic Courthouse. Expect up to 100,000 visitors in town for the event.
Christmas Time brings out Canton's alter ego as the "City of Lights." Enjoy a Victorian Festival. Don't miss the Canton Animation Museum, a collection of antique window decorations that now highlights the area's rich, diverse history. Nearly a quarter-million lights decorate the Historic Courthouse Square and draw visitors from all over the nation and the world.
In the summer months, invite your friends to check out the Mississippi Championship Hot Air Balloon Festival. Fabric rainbows dot the morning sky as fun-runners race a 5k below during this yearly event that coincides with the town's Independence Day festivities.
