Canton, Massachusetts
Encyclopedia
Canton is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts
, United States. The population was 21,561 at the 2010 census. Canton is part of Greater Boston
, about 15 miles (24 kilometers) southwest of downtown Boston
.
. The name "Canton" was suggested by Elijah Dunbar and comes from the early belief that Canton, China
was on the complete opposite side of the earth (antipodal). In addition to being a prominent Canton citizen, Elijah Dunbar was the first President of the Stoughton Musical Society
from 1786 to 1808. This is now the oldest choral society in the United States http://www.americanmusicpreservation.com/stoughton.htm.
Paul Revere
built the nation's first Copper Rolling Mill in Canton in 1801. His poem entitled "Canton Dale" expresses his affection for the town. Canton is the birthplace of the Rising Sun Stove Polish Company, founded by Elijah Morse, a wealthy merchant and creator of the pot-belly stove.
, Dunkin' Donuts
, Computershare
(North American HQ), Organogenesis, Inc., Interpolymer Corporation, OneBeacon
Insurance, Casual Male Retail Group
, and formerly, Tweeter
.
, the town has a total area of 19.6 square miles (50.8 km²), of which, 18.9 square miles (49 km²) of it is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²) of it (3.27%) is water.
Canton lies at the foot of Great Blue Hill
. The Canton River
flows through the center of the town, linking a chain of small lakes including Bolivar and Forge Ponds and flowing into the Neponset River
. The Neponset River
forms the boundary between Canton and its western neighbors: Norwood
, Westwood
, and Dedham
. In addition to wooded land, the area includes wetlands, particularly in the eastern part along Route 138 near the Randolph and Stoughton borders, and in the western part along I-95.
Canton borders the towns of Dedham
, Milton
, Norwood
, Randolph
, Sharon
, Stoughton
, Westwood
and the Hyde Park
neighborhood of the city of Boston.
was 1,097.3 people per square mile (423.7/km²). There were 8,163 housing units at an average density of 431.1 per square mile (166.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 84.5% White, 7.9% African American, 0.1% Native American, 3.01% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.51% from other races
, and 0.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.42% of the population.
There were 7,952 households out of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.4% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.2% were non-families. 25.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.6% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 89.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $69,260, and the median income for a family was $82,904. Males had a median income of $52,216 versus $40,755 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $33,510. About 5.2% of families and 7.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.7% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over.
The Blue Hills Regional Technical School
and the Canton campus of Massasoit Community College
are located within the town.
Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech, formerly Clarke School for the Deaf, operates a satellite school, "Clarke Boston", in Canton for children who are diagnosed with deafness at an early age and then are mainstreamed to a public school. Clarke is the oldest school for the deaf in the country that teaches children to lip-read and speak orally, rather than the use of sign-language and its main campus is located 80 miles to the west in Northampton, Massachusetts
.
Canton High School is the only school in the country that has a liquor license on its own property.
form of government. Annually each spring, and as necessary, the voters gather to discuss matters such as construction, schools, public works, recreational facilities, the budget, taxes and bond issues.
Property taxes on residential and other land, buildings and improvements, and transfers from the state government, are two important sources of revenue for the town.
The five elected members of the Board of Selectmen oversee the day-to-day operations of the town government.
Various organizations such as the Finance Committee and the Planning Board advise the voters at the town meeting and carry out administrative functions throughout the year.
and 95
(Route 128
) diverge in Canton. Route 93 goes east, then north into Boston, from which it continues north into New Hampshire. Route 95 is locally a beltway that skirts Boston to the west, continues circling Boston until it is north of the city, then goes north through New Hampshire into Maine. South of Canton, it leads to Rhode Island, New York, Washington, D.C. and ultimately to Florida.
Route 138
has a cloverleaf interchange
with Route 93 in Canton near Great Blue Hill
. From Canton, it goes north into Milton, then enters Boston in the Mattapan section. South of Canton, it travels to Stoughton, continuing into Rhode Island
, ending in Newport
.
Route 24
is a divided, limited-access highway that originates at Route 93 in Randolph, just east of Canton. From there, it goes south through the easternmost corner of Canton, running roughly parallel to Route 138 as far as Portsmouth, Rhode Island
.
MBTA commuter rail trains on the Providence/Stoughton Line
pass through Canton. Some stop at Canton Junction
. This line crosses the Neponset River on the Canton Viaduct
, a prominent local landmark. Route 128 Station in neighboring Westwood also carries many Canton commuters into Boston. Amtrak
trains (including the Acela Express
high-speed trains) also stop at Route 128, but pass through Canton without stopping. Of note, on March 25, 2008 a runaway box car crashed into a MBTA train at Canton Junction station injuring 150 people onboard.
Another line branches into Stoughton
, stopping at Canton Center
.
Bus service is available to Mattapan Station
in the MBTA system.
Although Canton once had an airfield, it no longer does. Norwood Memorial Airport
is the closest airport to Canton. For scheduled air service, residents go to Boston's Logan International Airport
or to T. F. Green Airport
in Rhode Island.
Norfolk County, Massachusetts
-National protected areas:* Adams National Historical Park* Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area * Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site* John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site-Demographics:...
, United States. The population was 21,561 at the 2010 census. Canton is part of Greater Boston
Greater Boston
Greater Boston is the area of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts surrounding the city of Boston. Due to ambiguity in usage, the size of the area referred to can be anywhere between that of the metropolitan statistical area of Boston and that of the city's combined statistical area which includes...
, about 15 miles (24 kilometers) southwest of downtown Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
.
History
Canton was officially incorporated on February, 23 1797 from the town of Stoughton, MassachusettsStoughton, Massachusetts
Stoughton is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 26,962 at the 2010 census. The town is located approximately from Boston, from Providence, and from Cape Cod.-History:...
. The name "Canton" was suggested by Elijah Dunbar and comes from the early belief that Canton, China
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...
was on the complete opposite side of the earth (antipodal). In addition to being a prominent Canton citizen, Elijah Dunbar was the first President of the Stoughton Musical Society
Stoughton Musical Society
Organized in 1786, this is currently America's oldest choral society. Over the past two centuries it has had many distinguished accomplishments. In 1908, when incorporated under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the name was changed to Old Stoughton Musical Society...
from 1786 to 1808. This is now the oldest choral society in the United States http://www.americanmusicpreservation.com/stoughton.htm.
Paul Revere
Paul Revere
Paul Revere was an American silversmith and a patriot in the American Revolution. He is most famous for alerting Colonial militia of approaching British forces before the battles of Lexington and Concord, as dramatized in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem, Paul Revere's Ride...
built the nation's first Copper Rolling Mill in Canton in 1801. His poem entitled "Canton Dale" expresses his affection for the town. Canton is the birthplace of the Rising Sun Stove Polish Company, founded by Elijah Morse, a wealthy merchant and creator of the pot-belly stove.
Commerce
Canton is the headquarters of ReebokReebok
Reebok International Limited, a subsidiary of the German sportswear company Adidas since 2005, is a producer of Athletic shoes, apparel, and accessories. The name comes from the Afrikaans spelling of rhebok, a type of African antelope or gazelle...
, Dunkin' Donuts
Dunkin' Donuts
Dunkin' Donuts is an international doughnut and coffee retailer founded in 1950 by William Rosenberg in Quincy, Massachusetts; it is now headquartered in Canton...
, Computershare
Computershare
Founded in Melbourne, Australia in 1978, Computershare Limited has grown to become the world's largest share registry business. It is a leading financial market services and technology provider, employing over 10,000 people, providing services in 20 countries and to more than 30,000 clients and...
(North American HQ), Organogenesis, Inc., Interpolymer Corporation, OneBeacon
OneBeacon
OneBeacon Insurance Group, Ltd. is a Bermuda-domiciled holding company that is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "OB". OneBeacon Insurance Group's underwriting companies offer a range of specialty insurance products sold through select independent agents, regional and...
Insurance, Casual Male Retail Group
Casual Male Retail Group
Casual Male Retail Group, Inc. is a group of specialty clothing retail stores based in Canton, Massachusetts that operates six chains under the trade names Destination XL, Rochester Big & Tall, Casual Male XL, BT Factory Direct, Shoes XL, and Living XL...
, and formerly, Tweeter
Tweeter (store)
Tweeter Opco, LLC formerly Tweeter Etc. and Tweeter Home Entertainment, was a specialty consumer electronics retailer providing mid and high end electronic equipment, including flat panel TVs, plasma TVs, car radios, home theater systems, GPSs and more...
.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited 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 town has a total area of 19.6 square miles (50.8 km²), of which, 18.9 square miles (49 km²) of it is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²) of it (3.27%) is water.
Canton lies at the foot of Great Blue Hill
Great Blue Hill
Great Blue Hill is a hill of 635 feet located within the Blue Hills Reservation in the eastern part of the U.S. state of Massachusetts, 10 miles southwest of Boston. It is the highest point in Norfolk County...
. The Canton River
Canton River
The Canton River cuts through downtown Canton, Massachusetts tracing down Washington and Neponset Streets , and continues down Walpole Street, and is a tributary of the Neponset River, with a few tributaries on the side. It is also called the East Branch [of the] Neponset River....
flows through the center of the town, linking a chain of small lakes including Bolivar and Forge Ponds and flowing into the Neponset River
Neponset River
The Neponset River is a river in eastern Massachusetts in the United States. The headwaters of the Neponset are at the Neponset Reservoir in Foxborough, near the Gillette Stadium...
. The Neponset River
Neponset River
The Neponset River is a river in eastern Massachusetts in the United States. The headwaters of the Neponset are at the Neponset Reservoir in Foxborough, near the Gillette Stadium...
forms the boundary between Canton and its western neighbors: Norwood
Norwood, Massachusetts
Norwood is a town and census-designated place in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 28,602. The community was named after Norwood, England...
, Westwood
Westwood, Massachusetts
Westwood is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 14,618 at the 2010 census. In July 2005, CNN/Money and Money magazine ranked Westwood 13th on its list of the 100 Best Places to Live in the United States. Boston Magazine listed Gay Street in Westwood on its...
, and Dedham
Dedham, Massachusetts
Dedham is a town in and the county seat of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 24,729 at the 2010 census. It is located on Boston's southwest border. On the northwest it is bordered by Needham, on the southwest by Westwood and on the southeast by...
. In addition to wooded land, the area includes wetlands, particularly in the eastern part along Route 138 near the Randolph and Stoughton borders, and in the western part along I-95.
Canton borders the towns of Dedham
Dedham, Massachusetts
Dedham is a town in and the county seat of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 24,729 at the 2010 census. It is located on Boston's southwest border. On the northwest it is bordered by Needham, on the southwest by Westwood and on the southeast by...
, Milton
Milton, Massachusetts
Milton is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States and part of the Greater Boston area. The population was 27,003 at the 2010 census. Milton is the birthplace of former U.S. President George H. W. Bush and architect Buckminster Fuller. Milton also has the highest percentage of...
, Norwood
Norwood, Massachusetts
Norwood is a town and census-designated place in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 28,602. The community was named after Norwood, England...
, Randolph
Randolph, Massachusetts
The Town of Randolph is a city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town population was 32,112. Randolph adopted a new charter effective January 2010 providing for a council-manager form of government instead of the traditional town meeting...
, Sharon
Sharon, Massachusetts
Sharon is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 17,612 at the 2010 census. Sharon is part of Greater Boston, about 17 miles southwest of downtown Boston....
, Stoughton
Stoughton, Massachusetts
Stoughton is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 26,962 at the 2010 census. The town is located approximately from Boston, from Providence, and from Cape Cod.-History:...
, Westwood
Westwood, Massachusetts
Westwood is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 14,618 at the 2010 census. In July 2005, CNN/Money and Money magazine ranked Westwood 13th on its list of the 100 Best Places to Live in the United States. Boston Magazine listed Gay Street in Westwood on its...
and the Hyde Park
Hyde Park, Massachusetts
Hyde Park is a dissolved municipality and currently the southernmost neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, United States. Hyde Park is home to a diverse range of people, housing types and social groups. It is an urban location with suburban characteristics...
neighborhood of the city of Boston.
Demographics
As of the census of 2008, there were 20,775 people, 7,952 households, and 5,550 families residing in the town. The population densityPopulation 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 1,097.3 people per square mile (423.7/km²). There were 8,163 housing units at an average density of 431.1 per square mile (166.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 84.5% White, 7.9% African American, 0.1% Native American, 3.01% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.51% 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 0.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.42% of the population.
There were 7,952 households out of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.4% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.2% were non-families. 25.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.6% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 89.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $69,260, and the median income for a family was $82,904. Males had a median income of $52,216 versus $40,755 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 town was $33,510. About 5.2% of families and 7.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.7% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over.
Education
The Town of Canton operates three public elementary schools, one public middle school and a public high school, Canton High School. Canton also has one private school, St. John's, serving grades K-8. In addition, the state's Massachusetts Hospital School is in Canton.The Blue Hills Regional Technical School
Blue Hills Regional Technical School
Blue Hills Regional Technical High School, an American high school, is located in Canton, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston and the geographical center of member towns of the Blue Hills Regional School District: Avon, Braintree, Milton, Canton, Norwood, Randolph, Dedham, Westwood, and Holbrook...
and the Canton campus of Massasoit Community College
Massasoit Community College
Massasoit Community College was founded in 1966, and named for Massasoit, the Great Sachem of the Wampanoag. Massasoit Community College offers associate degree programs in arts, sciences, and applied sciences, and one-year and short-term certificates for a range of occupations and interests...
are located within the town.
Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech, formerly Clarke School for the Deaf, operates a satellite school, "Clarke Boston", in Canton for children who are diagnosed with deafness at an early age and then are mainstreamed to a public school. Clarke is the oldest school for the deaf in the country that teaches children to lip-read and speak orally, rather than the use of sign-language and its main campus is located 80 miles to the west in Northampton, Massachusetts
Northampton, Massachusetts
The city of Northampton is the county seat of Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population of Northampton's central neighborhoods, was 28,549...
.
Canton High School is the only school in the country that has a liquor license on its own property.
Government
Canton has the open town meetingTown meeting
A town meeting is a form of direct democratic rule, used primarily in portions of the United States since the 17th century, in which most or all the members of a community come together to legislate policy and budgets for local government....
form of government. Annually each spring, and as necessary, the voters gather to discuss matters such as construction, schools, public works, recreational facilities, the budget, taxes and bond issues.
Property taxes on residential and other land, buildings and improvements, and transfers from the state government, are two important sources of revenue for the town.
The five elected members of the Board of Selectmen oversee the day-to-day operations of the town government.
Various organizations such as the Finance Committee and the Planning Board advise the voters at the town meeting and carry out administrative functions throughout the year.
Top employers
According to the City's 2009 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:| # | Employer | # of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reebok Reebok Reebok International Limited, a subsidiary of the German sportswear company Adidas since 2005, is a producer of Athletic shoes, apparel, and accessories. The name comes from the Afrikaans spelling of rhebok, a type of African antelope or gazelle... |
1,040 |
| 2 | OneBeacon OneBeacon OneBeacon Insurance Group, Ltd. is a Bermuda-domiciled holding company that is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "OB". OneBeacon Insurance Group's underwriting companies offer a range of specialty insurance products sold through select independent agents, regional and... |
970 |
| 3 | Computershare Computershare Founded in Melbourne, Australia in 1978, Computershare Limited has grown to become the world's largest share registry business. It is a leading financial market services and technology provider, employing over 10,000 people, providing services in 20 countries and to more than 30,000 clients and... |
880 |
| 4 | MEDITECH Meditech Medical Information Technology, Inc., commonly known as MEDITECH, is a Massachusetts-based software and service company selling information systems, which are installed in health care organizations throughout the world. The company was founded in 1969 by Chairman A. Neil Pappalardo.-Company... |
600 |
| 5 | Dunkin' Brands Dunkin' Brands Dunkin' Brands Group, Inc. runs several chains of fast-food restaurants. It is headquartered in Canton, Massachusetts.-History:On December 12, 2005, Pernod Ricard, who had just taken control of Allied Domecq, announced plans to sell the Dunkin' Brands group... |
586 |
| 6 | Casual Male Retail Group Casual Male Retail Group Casual Male Retail Group, Inc. is a group of specialty clothing retail stores based in Canton, Massachusetts that operates six chains under the trade names Destination XL, Rochester Big & Tall, Casual Male XL, BT Factory Direct, Shoes XL, and Living XL... |
475 |
| 7 | Pollak Engineering Products | 320 |
| 8 | Boston Mutual Life Insurance Company | 264 |
| 9 | Organogenesis | 230 |
| 10 | Massachusetts Hospital School Massachusetts Department of Public Health The Massachusetts Department of Public Health is a governmental agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts with various responsibilities related to public health within that state... |
224 |
Transportation
Interstate Routes 93Interstate 93
Interstate 93 is an Interstate Highway in the New England section of the United States. Its southern terminus is in Canton, Massachusetts, in the Boston metropolitan area, at Interstate 95; its northern terminus is near St. Johnsbury, Vermont, at Interstate 91...
and 95
Interstate 95 in Massachusetts
Interstate 95 is the main highway on the East Coast of the United States, paralleling the Atlantic Ocean from Florida to Maine. The Massachusetts portion of the highway enters from the state of Rhode Island in Attleboro and travels in a northeasterly direction to the junction with Route 128 in...
(Route 128
Route 128 (Massachusetts)
Route 128, also known as the Yankee Division Highway , and originally the Circumferential Highway, is a partial beltway around Boston, Massachusetts, United States. The majority of the highway is built to freeway standards, and about 3/5 of it is part of the Interstate Highway System...
) diverge in Canton. Route 93 goes east, then north into Boston, from which it continues north into New Hampshire. Route 95 is locally a beltway that skirts Boston to the west, continues circling Boston until it is north of the city, then goes north through New Hampshire into Maine. South of Canton, it leads to Rhode Island, New York, Washington, D.C. and ultimately to Florida.
Route 138
Route 138 (Massachusetts)
Route 138 is a north–south state highway in Massachusetts. From Milton, Route 138 runs south through the following towns/cities:* Canton * Stoughton...
has a cloverleaf interchange
Cloverleaf interchange
A cloverleaf interchange is a two-level interchange in which left turns, reverse direction in left-driving regions, are handled by ramp roads...
with Route 93 in Canton near Great Blue Hill
Great Blue Hill
Great Blue Hill is a hill of 635 feet located within the Blue Hills Reservation in the eastern part of the U.S. state of Massachusetts, 10 miles southwest of Boston. It is the highest point in Norfolk County...
. From Canton, it goes north into Milton, then enters Boston in the Mattapan section. South of Canton, it travels to Stoughton, continuing into Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
, ending in Newport
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
.
Route 24
Route 24 (Massachusetts)
Route 24 is a freeway south of I-93 in southeastern Massachusetts, linking Fall River with the Boston metropolitan area. It begins in the south in Fall River at the border with Tiverton, Rhode Island where it connects with Rhode Island Route 24, and runs north to an interchange with Interstate...
is a divided, limited-access highway that originates at Route 93 in Randolph, just east of Canton. From there, it goes south through the easternmost corner of Canton, running roughly parallel to Route 138 as far as Portsmouth, Rhode Island
Portsmouth, Rhode Island
Portsmouth is a town in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 17,389 at the 2010 U.S. Census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water. Most of its land area lies on Aquidneck...
.
MBTA commuter rail trains on the Providence/Stoughton Line
Providence/Stoughton Line
The Providence/Stoughton Line is a line of the MBTA Commuter Rail system running southwest from Boston, Massachusetts, USA. The main line was originally built by the Boston and Providence Rail Road, and now carries service between Boston and T. F. Green Airport, Rhode Island...
pass through Canton. Some stop at Canton Junction
Canton Junction (MBTA station)
Canton Junction is a railway station on the MBTA Commuter Rail's Providence/Stoughton line, located a few hundred yards north of the Canton Viaduct. At Canton Junction the two branches of the Providence/Stoughton Line split, one going to T. F...
. This line crosses the Neponset River on the Canton Viaduct
Canton Viaduct
Canton Viaduct is the oldest blind arcade cavity wall bridge in the world and it was the longest and tallest railroad bridge ever built when it was completed in 1835. It is the last surviving bridge of its kind and has been in continuous service for years; it now carries high-speed passenger and...
, a prominent local landmark. Route 128 Station in neighboring Westwood also carries many Canton commuters into Boston. Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
trains (including the Acela Express
Acela Express
The Acela Express is Amtrak's high-speed rail service along the Northeast Corridor in the Northeast United States between Washington, D.C., and Boston via Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York...
high-speed trains) also stop at Route 128, but pass through Canton without stopping. Of note, on March 25, 2008 a runaway box car crashed into a MBTA train at Canton Junction station injuring 150 people onboard.
Another line branches into Stoughton
Stoughton, Massachusetts
Stoughton is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 26,962 at the 2010 census. The town is located approximately from Boston, from Providence, and from Cape Cod.-History:...
, stopping at Canton Center
Canton Center (MBTA station)
Canton Center is a commuter rail station on the MBTA's Providence/Stoughton Line located in Canton, Massachusetts. It has 1 side platform on the south side of the track west of Washington Street.-External links:**...
.
Bus service is available to Mattapan Station
Mattapan (MBTA station)
Mattapan or Mattapan Sq. is the southern terminus of the Ashmont-Mattapan High Speed Line in Boston, Massachusetts. It is in the Mattapan neighborhood of Boston. The station is a major transfer facility, served by several bus lines.- Reconstruction :...
in the MBTA system.
Although Canton once had an airfield, it no longer does. Norwood Memorial Airport
Norwood Memorial Airport
Norwood Memorial Airport is a public-use airport located two miles east of the central business district of Norwood, a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. This airport is owned by the Town of Norwood...
is the closest airport to Canton. For scheduled air service, residents go to Boston's Logan International Airport
Logan International Airport
General Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport is located in the East Boston neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts . It covers , has six runways, and employs an estimated 16,000 people. It is the 19th busiest airport in the United States.Boston serves as a focus city for JetBlue Airways...
or to T. F. Green Airport
T. F. Green Airport
T. F. Green Airport , also known as Theodore Francis Green State Airport, is a public airport located in Warwick, six miles south of Providence, in Kent County, Rhode Island, USA. Dedicated in 1931, the airport was named for former Rhode Island governor and longtime senator Theodore F. Green...
in Rhode Island.
Points of interest
- The Canton ViaductCanton ViaductCanton Viaduct is the oldest blind arcade cavity wall bridge in the world and it was the longest and tallest railroad bridge ever built when it was completed in 1835. It is the last surviving bridge of its kind and has been in continuous service for years; it now carries high-speed passenger and...
built in 1835 is one of the two oldest surviving multiple arch stone railroad bridges still in active mainline use in the United States. Tsar Nicholas INicholas I of RussiaNicholas I , was the Emperor of Russia from 1825 until 1855, known as one of the most reactionary of the Russian monarchs. On the eve of his death, the Russian Empire reached its historical zenith spanning over 20 million square kilometers...
of Russia sent workmen to draw extensive diagrams of it in order to duplicate its design for the construction of two bridges on the Moscow–Saint Petersburg Railway. - Canton Corner Historic DistrictCanton Corner Historic DistrictCanton Corner Historic District covers the first area settled in Canton, MassachusettsThe district was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 9, 2009, reference number 09000697....
- The Massachusetts Audubon SocietyMassachusetts Audubon SocietyThe Massachusetts Audubon Society, founded in 1896 by Harriet Hemenway and headquartered in Lincoln, Massachusetts, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to "Protecting the nature of Massachusetts." Mass Audubon is independent of the National Audubon Society, and in fact was founded...
's Visual Arts Center, where the Mildred Morse Allen Wildlife Sanctuary is located, houses extensive collections of natural history art and photography. Public programs integrating art and nature, and changing exhibitions in the gallery, provide opportunities for visitors to view featured works from the collections. Explore Mildred Morse Allen Wildlife Sanctuary’s scenic trail system through a meadow, forest, and red maple swamp. Be sure to visit in the spring when many wildflowers are in bloom and vernal pools are filled with frogs and salamanders. In the spring and summer, look for red-tailed hawks nesting in the sanctuary. Be on the lookout for deer, fox, and coyote tracks throughout the property in the winter. - The Eleanor Cabot Bradley EstateEleanor Cabot Bradley EstateThe Eleanor Cabot Bradley Estate is a nonprofit country house and garden ground museum in Canton, Massachusetts. It is operated by The Trustees of Reservations. The grounds are open every day, sunrise to sunset, without charge.-History:...
, a non-profit museum, is a country house designed by Charles A. PlattCharles A. PlattCharles Adams Platt was a prominent artist, landscape gardener, landscape designer, and architect of the "American Renaissance" movement. His garden designs complemented his domestic architecture.-Early career:...
with garden grounds located at 2468B Washington Street (Route 138). In 1902 Dr. Arthur Tracey Cabot hired Platt to design a country house with landscaping and outlying farm buildings, with formal grounds include lawns, a walled garden, and a parterre. In 1945, Cabot's niece, Eleanor Cabot Bradley, added ponds, a camelliaCamelliaCamellia, the camellias, is a genus of flowering plants in the family Theaceae. They are found in eastern and southern Asia, from the Himalaya east to Korea and Indonesia. There are 100–250 described species, with some controversy over the exact number...
house and greenhouseGreenhouseA greenhouse is a building in which plants are grown. These structures range in size from small sheds to very large buildings...
, and planted specimen trees. The land includes more than 60 acres (242,811.6 m²) of meadows and woods, with some 3 miles (4.8 km) of walking trails. - Acambis, one of the few smallpox vaccine producers contracted by the United States Government, makes its vaccine at the Shawmut Industrial Park in Canton. In the many months after September 11, 2001 attacksSeptember 11, 2001 attacksThe September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
, Army National GuardArmy National GuardEstablished under Title 10 and Title 32 of the U.S. Code, the Army National Guard is part of the National Guard and is divided up into subordinate units stationed in each of the 50 states, three territories and the District of Columbia operating under their respective governors...
units were stationed around the factory and now the Canton Police has a regular patrol of the park.
Notable residents
- NBANational Basketball AssociationThe National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
basketball player Dana BarrosDana BarrosDana Bruce Barros is a retired American professional basketball player from the NBA. Before the NBA he played at Boston College, finishing as one of the school's all-time leading scorers.... - Bill BurrBill BurrWilliam "Bill" Burr is an American stand-up comedian, radio host and actor.-Life and career:Burr was born in Canton, Massachusetts. His father was a dentist, and Bill worked as a hygienist for a short time. He began stand-up at age 23 after attending Emerson College. In 1995, he moved to New...
, comedian - NBANational Basketball AssociationThe National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
basketball great Dave CowensDave CowensDavid William Cowens is a retired American professional basketball player and NBA head coach. At 6'9", he played the center and occasionally the power forward position. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991... - Commodore John DownesJohn Downes (naval officer)Commodore John Downes was an officer in the United States Navy, whose service covered the first half of the 19th century.-Early life and career:...
, U.S. Navy officer who fought in the War with TripoliFirst Barbary WarThe First Barbary War , also known as the Barbary Coast War or the Tripolitan War, was the first of two wars fought between the United States and the North African Berber Muslim states known collectively as the Barbary States...
and the War of 1812War of 1812The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
and commanded a punitive expeditionPunitive expeditionA punitive expedition is a military journey undertaken to punish a state or any group of persons outside the borders of the punishing state. It is usually undertaken in response to perceived disobedient or morally wrong behavior, but may be also be a covered revenge...
to Sumatra in the 1830s - Paul GuilfoylePaul GuilfoylePaul Guilfoyle is an American television and film actor. He is currently a regular cast member of the forensic television drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation where he plays Captain Jim Brass.-Early life:...
, actor, CSI:Crime Scene Investigation - Rob MarianoRob MarianoRobert Carlo "Boston Rob" Mariano is an American television personality, widely known for appearing in several reality shows, including Survivor, and The Amazing Race with his wife, Amber Brkich Mariano. Mariano won Survivor: Redemption Island and the $1,000,000 prize after competing on the show...
, a.k.a. "Boston Rob", reality TV personality - NFLNational Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
football player Randy MossRandy MossRandy Gene Moss is a former American football wide receiver. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the 1998 NFL Draft... - Paul ReverePaul ReverePaul Revere was an American silversmith and a patriot in the American Revolution. He is most famous for alerting Colonial militia of approaching British forces before the battles of Lexington and Concord, as dramatized in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem, Paul Revere's Ride...
, Revolutionary - NHL 1986 Stanley CupStanley CupThe Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
Champion Steve RooneySteve RooneySteven Paul Rooney is a retired American ice hockey forward. Rooney played his HS hockey at Canton HS graduating in 1981. Rooney started his National Hockey League career with the Montreal Canadiens in 1985. He played with the Winnipeg Jets and New Jersey Devils. He retired after the 1989 season...
of the Montreal CanadiensMontreal CanadiensThe Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ... - Stephen SchnetzerStephen SchnetzerStephen Schnetzer is an American actor.After playing the role of Julie Olson Williams' brother, Steven Olson on the California-based serial Days of our Lives, he joined the cast of ABC soap opera One Life to Live as fitness expert Marcello Salta. He later played attorney Cass Winthrop on Another...
, actor - MLB first baseman and American League MVP Mo VaughnMo VaughnMaurice Samuel 'Mo' Vaughn , nicknamed "The Hit Dog", is a former Major League Baseball first baseman. He played from 1991 to 2003...