ZIP Code 02021

Canton is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 24,370 at the 2020 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 a belief that Canton, China was antipodal to it. Paul Revere built the nation's first copper rolling mill in Canton in 1801. It is the headquarters of Dunkin' Donuts and is also home to the Massachusetts Division headquarters of the Salvation Army. The town has a total area of 19.6 square miles (51 km²), of which, 18.9 sq miles (49 km²) of it is land and 0.6sq miles (1.6km²) is water. The area that would become Canton was inhabited for tens of thousands of years prior to European colonization. The Paleo-Indian site Wamsutta, radiocarbon dated to 12,140 years before present, is located within the bounds of modern day Canton at Signal Hill. In 1726, Stoughton, Massachusetts split from the large original territory of Dorchester; then on February 23, 1797, Cantonwas officially incorporated from the territory of Stoughon. The small town of Canton lies at the foot of Great Blue Hill through the center of the town, linking a chain of lakes including Bolivar and Ponds. The Neponset River forms the boundary between Canton and its western neighbors: Norwood, Westwood, Dedham and Dedham.

History

Paleo-Indian site Wamsutta, radiocarbon dated to 12,140 years before present, is located within the bounds of modern day Canton at Signal Hill. At the time of the Puritan migration to New England in the early 1600s, Canton was seasonally inhabited by the Neponset band of Massachusett under the leadership of sachem Chickatawbut. The modern town was the site of Ponkapoag, the second Praying Town in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, which was set off from Dorchester in 1657. Paul Revere built the nation's first copper rolling mill in Canton in 1801. The name "Canton" was suggested by Elijah Dunbar and comes from a belief that Canton, China was antipodal to it. It was the location of the Rising Sun Stove Polish Company, founded by Elijah Morse, a wealthy merchant and creator of the pot-belly stove. In 1726, Stoughton, Massachusetts split from the large original territory of Dorchester; then on February 23, 1797, Cant on was officially incorporated from the territory of Stoughon. In addition to being a prominent Canton citizen, Elijah Dun bar was the first president of the Stoughtons Musical Society from 1786 to 1808. Now named the Old Stoughtons Music Society, it is the oldest choral society in the United States. The name Canton is used to refer to the town of Canton.

Commerce

Canton was the headquarters of Dunkin' Donuts. It is also home to the Massachusetts Division headquarters of the Salvation Army. According to the Town's 2011 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are: Computershare (North American HQ), Organogenesis, Inc., Boston Mutual Life Insurance Company, Interpolymer Corporation, Casual Male Retail Group, and formerly, Tweeter. The city is located on the Massachusetts Turnpike, which runs through Canton. The town is home to a number of businesses, including Dunkin Donuts, Computers share, and Organogenesis. The Town is also the home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Boston Red Sox, who play in Canton in the winter. The City is also known as the birthplace of the New England Patriots, who played in the World Series in the late 1800s and early 1900s, and the New York Yankees, who won the Super Bowl in the 1930s and '40s. It was also the site of the opening of the World Trade Center in New York City in the 1940s and 1950s, as well as several other major U.S. cities, including Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. It also is the home to Boston University and the University of Massachusetts, Boston, Cambridge, Boston College, and Boston University, among other colleges and universities. In the city's history, it has been home to many companies, including the Boston College School of Pharmacy, Boston University Medical School, Boston Medical Center, Boston Children's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School. It has also been the location of the National Football League's World Series.

Geography

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. The Neponset River forms the boundary between Canton and its western neighbors: Norwood, Westwood, and Dedham. 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. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 19.6 square miles (51 km²), of which, 18.9 sq miles (49 km²) of it is land and 0.6sq miles (1.6 km²") of it (3.27%) is water. It borders the towns of Dedham, Milton, Norwood, Randolph, Sharon, Stoughon, West Wood and the Hyde Park neighborhood in the city of Boston. The town is home to the Boston Marathon, which took place on September 11, 2013. The race was won by Boston Marathon runner D.J. Kinsman, who is also a former mayor of Canton. The Boston Marathon was held on September 10, 2013, and finished with a crowd of more than 100,000 people. It was the first time the town had been in the top 10 for the race since it was first held in 1897. The city's first marathon took place in 1897, when it was held in Boston's Hyde Park.

Demographics

As of the 2010 census, there were 21,561 people, 7,952 households, and 5,550 families residing in the town. 79.7% of the population was non-Hispanic white in 2010, down from 98.0% in 1980. The town's median income was $109,260, and the median income for a family was $132,904. The per capita income for the town was $43,510. 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%. For every 100 females age 18 and over,there were 85.2 males. There were 8,163 housing units at an average density of 431.1 per square mile (166.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town in 2010 was 81.6 percent White, 6.6 African American, 0.1% Native American, 7.5% Asian,0.02% Pacific Islander, and 2.1 percent from two or more races. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.12. About 5.2% of families and 7.2%. of the residents were below the poverty line, including 4.7 percent of those under age 18. The median age was 40 years. For every100 females, There were 89.4 males. The median income of a household was $52,216 versus $40,755 for females.

Education

The town of Canton has three public elementary schools: the John F. Kennedy School, Lt. Peter M. Hansen School, and Dean S. Luce School. Canton also has a public high school, Canton High School, that provides grades 912. There is one private school, St. John the Evangelist, which has been open since 1883 and serves students in grades Preschool8. The state's Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children, formerly known as the Massachusetts Hospital School, is in Canton. The Blue Hills Regional Technical School and the Canton campus of Massasoit Community College are located within the town as well. Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech, formerly Clarke School for the Deaf, operates a satellite school, "Clarke Boston", for children who are diagnosed with deafness at an early age and then are mainstreamed to a public school. The CHS Boys Varsity Hockey team won the Division II State Championships at TD Garden in Boston in 2010 and 2019. The Hockomock Davenport Champions in Field Hockey, Girls Soccer, Volleyball, Boys Soccer, and Boys Soccer are among the top teams in their league. The town's high school football team is one of the top in the state, winning the state championship in 2010. The school's baseball team is also a top team, winning two state titles in 2011 and 2012. The Canton School for Girls is a top-ranked school in the district.

Government

The five elected members of the Board of Selectmen oversee the day-to-day operations of the town. The Planning Board approves new town subdivisions, reviews site plans for commercial development, and drafts and approves a town wide master plan. The Finance Committee advises and makes recommendations to the Town Meeting on the budget and other areas with fiscal implications and serves as the fiscal watchdog for the voters. The open town meeting form of government allows the voters to discuss matters such as zoning, schools, public works, recreational facilities, the budget, taxes and bond issues. The Town Meeting meets annually to discuss issues such as taxes, schools and public works. The town is governed by a five-member board of selectmen, who are elected by the people of Canton. The board also has a finance committee, which advises on the town's financial affairs. The finance committee is responsible for making recommendations to Town Meeting about the town budget and taxes. The Board also reviews and approves the towns scenic ways, and draft and approve a town-wide master plan, which is used to plan development. The planning board also reviews the town wide plan and approves new subdivisions and other development projects. It is the finance committee's job to make sure the town is on the right track with its development plans. It also makes recommendations on how to develop the town, such as building new roads, parks and other facilities. It's the finance Committee that advises the town meeting on the towns budget and tax rates. The tax rate is set by the state government, which sets the tax rate for the town each year.

Transportation

I-93 goes east, then north into Boston, from which it continues north into New Hampshire. I-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 and ends in Maine. South of Canton, it leads to Providence, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York City, Washington, D.C. and ultimately to Miami, Florida. Route 138 has a cloverleaf interchange with Route 93 in Canton near Great Blue Hill. MBTA commuter rail trains on the Providence/Stoughton Line pass through Canton. On March 25, 2008 a runaway box car crashed into a MBTA train at Canton Junction station injuring 150 people on board. For scheduled air service, residents go to Boston's Logan International Airport or to T. F. Green Airport in Rhode Island. Canton once had an airfield, but it closed down in 1970. The Canton Viaduct crosses the Neponset River on the Canton viaduct, a prominent local landmark. Bus service is available to Mattapan Station in the MBTA system. Amtrak trains (including the Acela Express high-speed trains) also stop at Route 128, but pass through canton without stopping. Cantons residents can fly to Boston via Norwood Memorial Airport or T.F. Green airport in Rhode Rhode Island for scheduled air services. The city has a population of about 2,000 people.

Points of interest

The Canton Viaduct, built in 1835, is one of the two oldest surviving multiple arch stone railroad bridges still in active mainline use in the United States. The David Tilden House, a nearly 300-year-old house located within the Canton Corner Historic District. The Eleanor Cabot Bradley Estate, a non-profit museum, is a country house designed by Charles A. Platt with garden grounds located at 2468B Washington Street (Route 138) The Paul Revere Heritage Site is a nine-acre public site dedicated to protecting, preserving and interpreting the work of the American pioneer in the invention of the copper industry. The Friends of Prowse Farm, in collaboration with the present property owner, Meditech, Inc., preserve the 44 acres and mansion and make the property available for indoor and/or outdoor events including party and wedding rentals, corporate functions, recreational and educational programs and fund-raising events. The Massachusetts Audubon Society's Museum of American Bird Art, where the Mildred Morse Allen Wildlife Sanctuary is located, houses extensive collections of natural history art and photography. The land includes more than 60 acres (240,000 m2) of meadows and woods, with some 3 miles (4.8 km) of walking trails. In the many months after the September 11, 2001 attacks, Army National Guard units were stationed around the factory. The Canton Police has a regular patrol of the park. The smallpox vaccine producer Acambis makes its vaccine at the Shawmut Industrial Park in Canton.

Air Quality, Water Quality, Superfund Sites & UV Index

The Air Quality index is in Canton, Norfolk County, Massachusetts = 26.9. These Air Quality index is based on annual reports from the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The number of ozone alert days is used as an indicator of air quality, as are the amounts of seven pollutants including particulates, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, lead, and volatile organic chemicals. The Water Quality Index is 35. A measure of the quality of an area’s water supply as rated by the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The EPA has a complex method of measuring the watershed quality, using 15 indicators such as pollutants, turbidity, sediments, and toxic discharges. The Superfund Sites Index is 10. Higher is better (100=best). Based upon the number and impact of EPA Superfund pollution sites in the county, including spending on the cleanup efforts. The UV Index in Canton = 3.5 and is a measure of an area's exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays. This is most often a combination of sunny weather, altitude, and latitude. The UV Index has been defined by the WHO (www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/radiation-the-ultraviolet-(uv)-index) and is uniform worldwide.

Employed

The most recent city population of 4,486 individuals with a median age of 42.2 age the population grows by 6.64% in Canton, Norfolk County, Massachusetts population since 2000 and are distributed over a density of 497.3/km 2 (1,289.4 residents per square mile of area). There are average 2.51 people per household in the 8,659 households with an average household income of $85,204 a year. The unemployment rate in Alabama is 7.10% of the available work force and has dropped -4.08% over the most recent 12-month period and the projected change in job supply over the next decade based on migration patterns, economic growth, and other factors will increase by 24.74%. The number of physicians in Canton per 100,000 population = 414.4.

Weather

The annual rainfall in Canton = 50 inches and the annual snowfall = 63.5 inches. The annual number of days with measurable precipitation (over .01 inch) = 132. The average number of days per year that are predominantly sunny = 201. 81 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily high temperature for the month of July and 18.7 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily low temperature for the month of January. The Comfort Index (higher=better) is 50, where higher values mean a more pleasant climate. The Comfort Index measure recognizes that humidity by itself isn't the problem. (Have you noticed nobody ever complains about the weather being 'cold and humid?) It's in the summertime that we notice the humidity the most, when it's hot and muggy. Our Comfort Index uses a combination of afternoon summer temperature and humidity to closely predict the effect that the humidity will have on people.

Median Home Cost

The percentage of housing units in Canton, Norfolk County, Massachusetts which are owned by the occupant = 71.14%. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, or room occupied as separate living quarters. The average age of homes = 36 years with median home cost = $321,750 and home appreciation of -7.08%. This is the value of the years most recent home sales data. Its important to note that this is not the average (or arithmetic mean). The median home price is the middle value when you arrange all the sales prices of homes from lowest to highest. This is a better indicator than the average, because the median is not changed as much by a few unusually high or low values. The property tax rate of $11.91 shown here is the rate per $1,000 of home value. If for simplification for example the tax rate is $14.00 and the home value is $250,000, the property tax would be $14.00 x ($250,000/1000), or $3500. This is the 'effective' tax rate.

Study

The local school district spends $7,674 per student. There are 13.8 students for each teacher in the school, 1546 students for each Librarian and 736 students for each Counselor. 7.88% of the area’s population over the age of 25 with an Associate Degree or other 2-year college degree, 27.40% with a master’s degree, Ph.D. or other advanced college degree and 17.44% with high school diplomas or high school equivalency degrees (GEDs).