This town in St. Lawrence County contains two villages: one also named Canton, the other named Rensselaer Falls. Predominantly rural in character, Canton encompasses farms, open meadows, woodlands and beautiful open spaces. The Canton Public Square, situated in the heart of the town, is the historic business district and the center of the community life. Factory workers in the 1800s produced agricultural implements here and at one point had up to 17 cigar factories in operation here. Canton is named after the great Chinese port (now named Guangzhou) due to its then-interest in the China trade. The first settler arrived in 1800 and by 1845, the community of Canton incorporated as a village.
You can see some of the history of this period in The Brick Chapel Church and Cemetery, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005. This place of worship was built in 1858 for the local Methodist congregation who merged with the Presbyterians in the 1910s. It is a 40 feet by 56 feet brick structure resting on a raised ashlar limestone foundation. Also on the property is a cemetery with burials dating to 1809. Canton is home to two excellent universities, St. Lawrence University, a private four-year liberal arts college and SUNY Canton, which offers two and four year degrees. Preserving the folk traditions and local culture of upstate New York is Traditional Arts in Upstate New York (TAUNY), a non-profit organization. This "museum" has been newly renovated with displays of both Amish and "English" wares. You can stock up on local items such as maple syrup, wool products, furniture and pottery made by local craftspeople. There are several parks including Big Creek Park, Wallace Park, Lakeland Park, South Park, Hulit Park and Athletic Park, which has lights and facilities for rated ball games. Whatever brings you to this historic state, you’ll have a partner in making your vacation a fun-filled and relaxing one when you stay at our Choice Hotels in Canton, NY. Book a room online now!