Canton, North Carolina

European Americans did not begin to settle here until the late 1780s, following the [[American Revolutionary War]], United States independence, and gaining cessions of land to the US by the Cherokee. By 1790, Jonathan McPeters was farming the banks of the [[Pigeon River (Tennessee–North Carolina)|Pigeon River]] at the site where Canton developed.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Blackmun |first= Ora|year=1977|title=Western North Carolina: Its Mountains and Its People to 1880|location=Boone, North Carolina|publisher=Appalachian Consortium Press|page=161|oclc=2646301}}</ref> Around 1815 the first church was built in what was to become Canton; it was called the Locust Old Field Baptist Church. "Old Field" often referred to areas cultivated or occupied by the [[Cherokee people]], as this was known to be part of their traditional homelands.<ref>{{harvnb|Blackmun|1977|page=181}}</ref>

European Americans did not begin to settle here until the late 1780s, following the [[American Revolutionary War]], United States independence, and gaining cessions of land to the US by the Cherokee. By 1790, Jonathan McPeters was farming the banks of the [[Pigeon River (Tennessee–North Carolina)|Pigeon River]] at the site where Canton developed.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Blackmun |first= Ora|year=1977|title=Western North Carolina: Its Mountains and Its People to 1880|location=Boone, North Carolina|publisher=Appalachian Consortium Press|page=161|oclc=2646301}}</ref> Around 1815 the first church was built in what was to become Canton; it was called the Locust Old Field Baptist Church. "Old Field" often referred to areas cultivated or occupied by the [[Cherokee people]], as this was known to be part of their traditional homelands.<ref>{{harvnb|Blackmun|1977|page=181}}</ref>

Canton was founded in 1889 as "Buford". Later that same year, the name was changed to "Vinson". The name was changed to "Pigeon Ford" in 1891, and to "Canton" in 1893. The town was named for Canton, Ohio, the source of the steel for the bridge that was built across the Pigeon River.

Canton was founded in 1889 as "Buford" after Algernon Sidney Buford, the president of the Richmond and Danville Railroad.

The railroad's arrival was seen as beneficial to the town, leading residents to choose his name in recognition of the anticipated prosperity. Later that same year, the name was changed to "Vinson". The name was changed to "Pigeon Ford" in 1891, this name was chosen because of the town's location at a ford (shallow crossing) of the Pigeon River. The area was already known as "Ford of Pigeon" and "Pigeon Valley" due to the significant presence of passenger pigeons and the river itself. The name was change finally to "Canton" in 1893. The town was named for Canton, Ohio, the source of the steel for the bridge that was built across the Pigeon River.

Canton's river location enabled the development of industry that used water power.

Canton's river location enabled the development of industry that used water power.