With a population of approximately 84,654, the township of Canton is one of the fastest growing communities in the state. This dynamic community offers historic architecture, lively entertainment and ample recreational facilities. It is also home to many successful businesses, events, and organizations and easily accessible to major urban areas. Canton is a great place to live, work and play.
Location
Canton is a charter township located on the far western edge of Wayne County in the Detroit metro area in the State of Michigan. It is in Southeastern Michigan between Detroit and Ann Arbor. Canton is located approximately 13 miles east of Ann Arbor, 20 miles west of Detroit and 44 miles north of Toledo, Ohio.
Geography/Terrain
Canton has a total area of 36 square miles, none of which is covered by water, and sits at an elevation of 686 feet above sea level. The southern part of the township is drained by the Lower River Rouge and its tributaries. Northwest Canton is drained by Pine Creek tributary, and the northeast region is drained by Tonquish Creek and Garden Creek, both tributaries of the Middle River Rouge.
Jobs
Canton is located in Wayne County, which is a recognized industrial center with numerous multinational corporations. Progress has been made in the region to diversify the economy, as shown by the growth in non-manufacturing sectors, such as high technology.
Canton will be opening a 311,000 square-foot IKEA store and restaurant with approximately 1,100 parking spaces in front of the store. This will be the first IKEA store and restaurant in Michigan, and 28th in the U.S. This development has created 500 construction jobs, and an additional 400 workers will be employed when the new store opens.
Other industries providing employment in Canton are: manufacturing (28.4%), education, health and social services (16.8%), and retail trade (11.1%).
The median household income in Canton is $79,083, and the average time to travel to work is 26.3 minutes. The unemployment level in the area is a low 2.5%.
Housing
Canton has some of the top builders in the area and offers a wide range of housing options, including residential homes and condos. Prices for single-family homes range from $130,000 to over $1,000,000. The average price for a single-family home in Canton is $320,000. Condos range in price from $90,000 to over $400,000, with the average sale price a little above $180,000.
Cherry Hill Village, one of Canton's newest and largest developments is also Michigan's first Traditional Neighborhood Development. Its architecture is reminiscent of what Canton was like a hundred years ago. Winning many awards for design and community development, Cherry Hill Village features tree lined streets, sidewalks, walkways and bike paths that connect with the surrounding area as well as the business and entertainment district.
Recreation
Canton Township boasts an excellent system of parks with a variety of activities and facilities.
Barchester Park offers walking paths, a playscape area, a picnic area, an inline skating court, and a nature trail.
Flodin Park’s 28.5 acres encompass Fellows Creek Wetland Nature Trail, a basketball court, a baseball field, three soccer fields, two tennis courts, a 40 mile walking path, and an in-line skate hockey court.
Griffin Park provides soccer fields, softball/baseball fields, picnic areas, a tot lot, play equipment, four tennis courts, a basketball court, and walking paths.
Heritage Park covers 105 acres, and includes an amphitheater, splash playground, soccer fields, softball fields, pavilions, play equipment, picnic areas, gazebo, ponds, sand volleyball courts, a football field, a fishing pier, and walking paths. This is also the location of the Summit on the Park and Pheasant Run Golf Club.
Freedom Park offers soccer fields, an inline skating court, a picnic area, a playscape area, walking paths, tennis courts, a basketball court, horseshoe pits, volleyball courts, and a disc golf course.
Independence Park covers 80 acres which include 12 soccer fields, 8 practice soccer fields, and a playscape area.
Canton is home to two top-notch golf courses. Pheasant Run Golf Club is a beautiful 27-hole course with wide fairways lined by young trees. The challenging layout covers more than 300 acres of rolling terrain, and features three nines, which can be played either as eighteen holes or as nine holes.
Fellows Creek Golf Club boasts 27 holes over three unique nine-hole courses, which are played in three eighteen-hole combinations. The East Course has water hazards and the West Course is known for its dense tree-lined fairways.
The Summit on the Park community center is Canton’s 95,000 square foot cultural and recreational center, located in Heritage Park. This beautiful facility boasts a banquet and conference center, an aquatic center, a fitness center, a gymnasium, and a track.
Canton is also home to High Velocity Sports, a 10,000 square foot indoor sports facility that provides three soccer fields, a roller hockey rink, and two mini soccer fields, as well as party rooms, a conference room, an arcade, and a full-service café.
Special Attractions/Events
Canton hosts sports championship events each year, drawing millions of visitors to the area. Canton has a state of the art public library, which has received top ratings in the state. It also has recently opened its own community theatre. Shoppers can browse at a number of area malls, such as Westland, Westchester Square, and Laurel Park Place.
In the third week of June each year, Canton hosts the Liberty Fest held at Heritage Park. This event draws over 40,000 visitors each year. There are fireworks and entertainment as well as a juried craft show, plenty of great food, beverages, an antique car show and a kid’s zone. Every fall there is a special wine and food tasting event.
The Canton Chamber of Commerce and Canton Township host the Home Improvement Expo every year. It is held at the Summit on the Park in early March, and features over 100 vendors from the Home Improvement industry.
The Chamber of Commerce also hosts, "Fishing for a Cure", a fundraiser recruiting the help of local businesses and families. It features music, karaoke, "fun" laps, the Luminary Lighting Ceremony, a Survivor Lap, and the launch of the Floating Hope.
Canton hosts the Relay for Life every year. This is a 24-hour walk-a-thon event held at Heritage Park to raise money for cancer research.
Special attractions in nearby areas include horse racing at Northville Downs, the University of Michigan Campus in Ann Arbor and Historic Greenfield Village in Dearborn.
Canton residents can enjoy Detroit’s Motown Museum, the Museum of African American History and Comerica Park, as well as the MGM, Motor City and Greektown Casinos.
Interesting Facts/Historic Buildings and Places
Canton was founded in 1834 and is the birthplace of David Hoskins, a college basketball player for the Kansas State Wildcats.
The community of Canton was named for city in China. One of its former names was Sheldon, and it was once known as the "Sweet Corn Capital of Michigan".
Out of 400, Canton was rated the 20th safest community in America of those with populations of 75,000 to 100,000.
Sheldon or Sheldon's Corners is an historic locale in the south of Canton township named after Timothy F. Sheldon who purchased lands there in 1842.
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