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About Canton, MS

About Canton, MS

Canton embraces its heritage as an incubator for the blues

Canton is laid-back southern living at its finest. Think small-town charm, a rich and varied history and a few unique festivals that draw big crowds. Twenty-five miles north of Jackson, Canton has a full menu of historic showpieces and compelling links to the past, all anchored by an impressive Greek-Revival Courthouse downtown in the downtown square. The city was a logistics center during the Civil War and played a role in the Civil Rights movement. Murals and historic markers tell the story of musicians and places that played a role in the state’s blues history. Architectural treasures abound, and much of the area is on the National Register of Historic Places. Thanks to its cinematic facade, Canton has also been the backdrop in numerous movies, from A Time to Kill to My Dog Skip to The Help.

Play 18 holes at the Country Club of Canton

A paved path rolls through Red Bud Park, where kids can play basketball and, in summer, swim in the pool. Canton is home to several golf courses, including the Country Club of Canton, a semi-private 18-hole course surrounded by a lake and towering pines and oaks. Members enjoy meals at the grill. At The Links of Madison County Golf and Country Club, golfers play a challenging 9-hole course surrounded by greenery. The Canton Multipurpose & Equine Center has stalls and an arena for riding and training. The center also hosts a variety of cultural events.

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Red Bud Park in Canton has a 1-mile paved walking path.
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Country Club of Canton is an 18-hole private golf course in Canton, MS.
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The Canton Multipurpose Sportsplex & Equine Center is located at 501 Soldiers Colony Rd.
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Home to the historic Canton Courthouse Square District

The heart of the community is the Canton Courthouse Square District, added to the National Historic Register of Historic Places in 1982. The 1855 Greek Revival Courthouse sits at the center of the district, surrounded by 19th-century buildings and colorful, quaint shops. These include the Love Story 1979, a clothing boutique, and Small Town Music, which sells vintage instruments. Smoked classics are on the menu at Marlo’s Backyard Barbeque, while seafood dishes are served at Two Rivers Restaurant. Canton Donuts or The Daily Scoop are top stops for sweet treats. Groceries are sold at Piggly Wiggly Canton.

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Most of the buildings in Canton Town Square date back to the mid-1800s.
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Enjoy a quick bite at Penn's Fish House in Canton.
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Piggly Wiggly in Canton has a nice selection of fresh fruits and veggies.
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Soar above town during the balloon festival

One of the town’s biggest events is the twice-yearly Canton Flea Market. “The Canton Flea Market is huge. Everybody goes up the second Thursday of May and October every year,” says Selena Lovejoy, a real estate agent with the Lovejoy Group and a longtime Jackson-area resident. “The entire square is full of vendors. Could be clothes, crafts, honestly anything.” The town also hosts an annual Christmas Festival, regular nights out on the square and the Mississippi Championship Hot Air Balloon Fest.

Captivating and historic homes in Canton

A blend of modern and historical homes, and some of Central Mississippi's most fascinating, diverse homes, are scattered across Canton. Many homes — ranch-style, bungalows, contemporary Craftsman houses, brick colonials, farmhouses and Cape Cods — were built in the 1960s. Prices range from $120,000 for a three-bedroom ranch-style home built in 1981 to $368,000 for a four-bedroom Acadian house in the Glenwild Subdivision. Many of the Victorian, Queen Anne and Edwardian homes in the Canton Historic District were built in the 1920s, with some dating to the 1850s. An iconic historic Greek Revival property is The Priestley House, built by Canton's first doctor, James Priestley, in 1852. Vanity Castle, an 1866 Victoria beauty, is a town favorite during the holidays while The Wohlden House is a former hospital built in 1828 with stunning grounds. Canton homes often have multi-car garages and well-manicured lawns on up to 3 acres, and some have private lakes with pristine views.

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Ranch style homes are common in Canton.
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Modern Craftsman homes are sprinkled throughout Canton.
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The Historical Priestley House was built by Canton's first doctor, James Priestley, in 1852.
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Cruising around Canton

Residents are within walking distance of a shopping and dining district. U.S. Route 51, State Route 43 and Interstate 55 conveniently provide access to the greater region. I-55 gets residents to the Nissan manufacturing plant, Canton’s largest employer, and to Jackson 25 miles south.

A parade celebrates the holiday season at C. Canton Elementary

Served by the Canton Public School District, local students attend Canton Elementary, Huey L. Porter Middle School and Canton High School. The elementary school earned a C- from Niche, and the middle school earned a B-. Canton Elementary has cheerleading and drumline teams, math fluency competitions and an annual holiday parade. Earning a C-minus from Niche, Canton High has football and tennis teams, beta and yearbook clubs and essay contests.

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Canton Elementary School serves students in grades PK-5.
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Huey L Porter Middle maintains a student-teacher ratio of 14:1.
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Cheer on the team at Canton High School.
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Tina Davis
Written By
Tina Davis

Neighborhood Map

Canton by the Numbers

12,629
Population
$148K
Average Housing Value
44
Average Days on Market

Average Home Value



Source: Public Records

Top Schools in Canton, MS

Source:

Best Public Elementary Schools

Luther Branson Elementary School
#1 Luther Branson Elementary School
A
Niche
Madison Crossing Elementary School
#2 Madison Crossing Elementary School
A
Niche
Mannsdale Elementary School
#3 Mannsdale Elementary School
A-
Niche
McNeal Elementary School
#4 McNeal Elementary School
C+
Niche
Canton Elementary School
#5 Canton Elementary School
C
Niche
Jimmie M. Goodloe Elementary School
#6 Jimmie M. Goodloe Elementary School
C
Niche
Reuben B. Myers Canton School of Arts & Sciences
#7 Reuben B. Myers Canton School of Arts & Sciences
C
Niche

Best Public Middle Schools

Germantown Middle School
#1 Germantown Middle School
A
Niche
8
GreatSchools
Shirley D. Simmons Middle School
#2 Shirley D. Simmons Middle School
B
Niche
Huey L Porter Middle
#3 Huey L Porter Middle
C+
Niche
Nichols Middle School
#4 Nichols Middle School
C+
Niche

Best Public High Schools

Germantown High School
#1 Germantown High School
A
Niche
9
GreatSchools
Canton High School
#2 Canton High School
C-
Niche
7
GreatSchools

Best Private School

Canton Academy
#1 Canton Academy
C-
Niche

Agents Specializing in this Area

Agent Spotlight

Steve Houck
(769) 210-8692
I have been licensed for 25 years and I love my job! I have acquired the Accredited Buyer Representative, Graduate of the Realtor Institute, and Certified Real Estate Negotiator designations. I have served on the boards of the local Board of Realtors and the local MLS. I am a member of the local Home Builders' Association, the Better Business Bureau, and the Chamber of Commerce My specialty is new construction, which accounts for about 50% of my business. Other specialties include luxury homes and first-time home buyers.

My pledge is to provide service above and beyond client expectations. I have established myself as the "go to" Broker due to my extensive market knowledge, my construction knowledge my expertise, and my commitment to exceptional client service. I firmly believe in communication and I actually answer my phone and emails.
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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.