Canton, North Carolina
Canton is a town of 4,419 people in Haywood County, North Carolina, founded in 1889.
Why visit Canton
Townapedia lists 5 museums and landmarks, 6 parks and trails, 31 places to eat, 2 places to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.
Highlights include Colonial Theater, Canton Main Street Historic District, Patton Farm and Champion Credit Union Aquatic Center.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 83°F; January lows average 25°F.
Weather in Canton
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Canton
Canton is the second largest town in Haywood County, North Carolina, United States. It is located about 17 miles (27 km) west of Asheville and is part of that city's metropolitan area. The town is named after the city of Canton, Ohio. The population was 4,422 at the 2020 census.
From the Wikipedia article Canton, North Carolina (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do1
Colonial Theater
Cinema and theater · National Register of Historic Places
Movie theater and theater in Canton, North Carolina
Museums and landmarks5
Canton Main Street Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Canton, North Carolina, NRHP-listed
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Patton Farm
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.1 mi
Phillipsville, NC, listed on the NRHP in North Carolina
Garden Creek site
Monument and historic site · 1.4 mi
Archaeological site in North Carolina, United States of America
Parks, trails and playgrounds6
Champion Credit Union Aquatic Center
Sports field and stadium · 0.8 mi
77 Penland Street
Mo-Sa 11:00-17:00; Su 13:00-17:00
Restaurants and cafes31
Canelos Mexican Family Restaurant
Restaurant · Mexican · 1.4 mi
15 Plaza Loop, Canton
Dickey's Barbecue Pit
Restaurant · Barbecue · 1.3 mi
66 New Clyde Highway, Canton
BearWaters Brewing Company: Riverside
Brewery and winery · 0.4 mi
101 Park Street, Canton
Community Kitchen
Restaurant · 0.7 mi
922 Champion Drive, Canton
Down South To Go Cafe & Catering
Restaurant · 1.4 mi
865 Beaverdam Road, Canton
19 more on the map.
History
This area was long settled by succeeding Indigenous cultures. What is known as the archeological Garden Creek site, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is located on the south side of the Pigeon River, approximately seven miles west of Canton. It was inhabited from 8000 BCE by successive cultures of Indigenous peoples. Villages were developed in the Middle Woodland (200-600 CE) and The Southeast Appalachian Mississippian culture (1000 to 1450/1500 CE) periods. The Cherokee people are the most recent Native Americans to occupy this area, which is part of their homelands in the western Carolinas, southeastern Tennessee, and northeastern Georgia. The Cherokee in Western North Carolina are known as the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, a federally recognized tribe.
The prehistoric peoples built a total of four earthwork mounds at the site. Three have been excavated, the last two platform mounds in the 1960s prior to residential development.
From the History section of Canton, North Carolina on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay2
Americas Best Value Inn Canton, NC
Motel and hotel · 1.6 mi
1963 Champion Drive, Canton
Quality Inn West Of Asheville
Motel and hotel · 1.4 mi
737 Champion Drive, Canton
Churches and places of worship6
Shopping7
Gas and EV charging4
Schools, colleges and libraries14
Map of Canton
76 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 48°F | 25°F | 3.6 in | 3.2 in |
| Feb | 52°F | 28°F | 3.0 in | 1.5 in |
| Mar | 59°F | 34°F | 4.0 in | 2.1 in |
| Apr | 68°F | 41°F | 4.0 in | 0.4 in |
| May | 75°F | 50°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 80°F | 58°F | 4.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 83°F | 62°F | 4.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 82°F | 61°F | 4.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 77°F | 55°F | 4.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 68°F | 43°F | 2.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 59°F | 33°F | 3.2 in | 0.2 in |
| Dec | 51°F | 28°F | 3.5 in | 2.9 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Candler 1 W (8 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Haywood County has had 14 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for hurricanes.
- 2026-01-24: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2024-09-28: Tropical Storm Helene (Tropical Storm)
- 2024-09-26: Hurricane Helene (Tropical Storm)
- 2022-10-01: Hurricane Ian (Hurricane)
- 2021-09-08: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Fred (Hurricane)
- 2020-08-02: Hurricane Isaias (Hurricane)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Barker Private STOL Airport (53NR) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 12 miles away.
- Waynesville 10 mi west, about 16 min by car
- Bent Creek 13 mi east, about 20 min by car
- Asheville 16 mi east, about 26 min by car
- Avery Creek 16 mi east, about 25 min by car
- Biltmore Forest 17 mi east, about 27 min by car
- Brevard 21 mi south, about 34 min by car
- Balfour 23 mi southeast, about 38 min by car
- Hendersonville 26 mi southeast, about 42 min by car
- Barker Heights 27 mi southeast, about 44 min by car
- Black Mountain 29 mi east, about 47 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Main Street, Canton, NC (46720202791), Warren LeMay from Cincinnati, OH, United States, CC0
- Colonial Theater - Canton NC, AbeEzekowitz, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Patton Farmhouse, West Canton, NC, Warren LeMay, CC BY-SA 4.0
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.