Located beside Lake Anasagunticook, Canton is a summer recreational area. Canton is the birthplace of Herbert L. Osgood, historian.
- CountyOxford County
- Population1,125 (2020 U.S. Census)
Located beside Lake Anasagunticook, Canton is a summer recreational area. Canton is the birthplace of Herbert L. Osgood, historian.
Canton, Maine gifts and souvenirs: 19 designs made from Canton's own map, landmarks and history, from $16 to $95. Printed to order and shipped free in the USA.
| Popular | Price |
|---|---|
| Canton Hometown Ornament | $23 |
| Canton Varsity Crewneck | from $57 |
| Canton Est. Tee | from $33 |
| Canton Town Line Mug | from $26 |
| Canton Market Tote | $37 |
Ceramic keepsake, gold ribbon, in 3 styles
The town's story in dates, from its own records, for home or classroom
Map of local landmarks, washable fabric
Heavy-blend fleece, street map printed on the back
Red heavy-blend crewneck, knit-stitch town print
Soft Bella+Canvas jersey
Kids' Bella+Canvas jersey, youth sizes
Bella+Canvas toddler jersey
Bella+Canvas baby bodysuit
Glossy ceramic, dishwasher safe
Weatherproof, for the front walk
24″×16″, printed coir-look fibers, rubber back
12″×12″ printed wood, ready to hang
Soft-touch, zip cover
Sturdy all-over-print tote
Glossy top, cork back
Soft fleece, 50″×60″
20 oz, double-wall stainless
The town's earliest Sanborn fire-insurance map, drawn building by building and hand-coloured, from the Library of Congress
Population 2010: 990 → 2020: 1,125
From Wikidata (CC0).
Canton Point was the site of Rockemeka, village of the Anasagunticook (or Androscoggin) Abenaki Indians. It is said the tribe had 500 acres (2.0 km2) cleared to raise corn. In 1698 a French Jesuit mission was established, which they called Naurakamig. By 1757 the tribe population was devastated by smallpox.
The land became part of a grant the Massachusetts General Court awarded to Captain Joseph Phipps and 63 other soldiers for their services during the French and Indian War. Called Phipps-Canada, it was incorporated in 1795 as Jay in honor of John Jay, the first chief justice of the U. S. Supreme Court. On February 5, 1821, Canton was set off from Jay and incorporated, named after Canton, Massachusetts.
Settlement began in the early 1790s when William Livermore, William French, Joseph Coolidge, and Alexander Shepherd arrived. Others followed, principally from Massachusetts. The surface of the town is uneven in the outskirts, but smooth and level at Canton Point, where the soil was considered unsurpassed in the state for agriculture. The outlet of Lake Anasagunticook provided water power for industry. Gustavus Hayford settled here in 1814. In addition to a log cabin, he built a sawmill and gristmill. First called Hayford Mills, it was renamed Canton Mills, and then Canton. In the 19th century, it had a machine shop to manufacture farm implements, a tinware factory, and an iron foundry. It remains the business center. The Rumford Branch of the Maine Central Railroad passed through the town in the late 1850s, carrying freight and also tourists. The community developed as a resort area for camping.
In December 2005 the town began a project to relocate the town center and about 60 homes on the floodplains surrounding the Androscoggin River due to frequent spring flooding. Proposals have been floated to replace the vacated lots with parkland or nature trails.
Adapted (trimmed) from the Wikipedia article Canton, Maine, revision 1378522883 by its contributors, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
We share a part of every Canton sale with local partners, and we'd love to print from your collection. Old photographs, maps and postcards make the best keepsakes.
Partner with usA favorite landmark, your street, a school or team, an anniversary gift, a different product. Tell us and we'll get back to you by email.
Canton's population was 1,125 in the 2020 U.S. Census, up from 990 in 2010.