Why visit Canton
Townapedia lists 3 museums and landmarks, 7 parks and trails, 4 places to eat, 1 place to stay and 2 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Canton Carnegie Library, Hiawatha Asylum Cemetery and Hiawatha Golf Club.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 83°F; January lows average 6°F, and about 36 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Canton
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Canton
Canton is a city in South Dakota and the county seat of Lincoln County, South Dakota, United States. Canton is located 18 miles south of Sioux Falls in southeastern South Dakota. The city was named by Norwegian settler and former legislator James M. Wahl.
From the Wikipedia article Canton, South Dakota (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do2
Museums and landmarks3
Canton Carnegie Library
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Carnegie library in Canton, South Dakota
Hiawatha Asylum Cemetery
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.7 mi
Cemetery in Canton, Lincoln County, South Dakota, United States
Parks, trails and playgrounds7
Restaurants and cafes4
History
The earliest known visitor to the area was Lewis P. Hyde, who first came to the area in 1866. The first actual settler was August Linderman. By 1868, there were 35 people living in Lincoln County. The residents named the community Canton, believing the location to be the exact opposite of Canton, China. By the summer of that year, a caravan of 180 Norwegian settlers crossed the Big Sioux River to make their home in Canton. In 1880, the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad crossed the Big Sioux River to reach Canton. The city still has an active rail freight service. The city has many historical homes and buildings dating back to the late 1800s. Some notable sites include The Kennedy Mansion on Dakota Street, as well as the Historical Society House built in 1886. Lincoln County Courthouse was built in 1889, and Canton Lutheran Church was built in 1908.
From the History section of Canton, South Dakota on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay1
Churches and places of worship5
Canton Lutheran Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places
Shopping1
Gas and EV charging2
Schools, colleges and libraries7
Healthcare1
Map of Canton
33 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 25°F | 6°F | 0.6 in | 7.0 in |
| Feb | 31°F | 10°F | 0.8 in | 8.5 in |
| Mar | 44°F | 22°F | 1.3 in | 4.7 in |
| Apr | 58°F | 34°F | 2.9 in | 2.8 in |
| May | 70°F | 47°F | 4.1 in | 0.1 in |
| Jun | 80°F | 58°F | 4.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 83°F | 62°F | 3.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 80°F | 59°F | 3.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 74°F | 50°F | 2.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 60°F | 36°F | 2.2 in | 0.8 in |
| Nov | 44°F | 23°F | 1.1 in | 4.8 in |
| Dec | 29°F | 11°F | 0.8 in | 7.4 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Canton Hcn (1 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
Lincoln County has had 10 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2024-08-15: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding (Flood)
- 2020-04-05: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2019-11-18: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2019-06-07: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding (Flood)
- 2014-07-28: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Flood)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Canton Municipal Airport (CTK) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 1 miles away.
- Larchwood 13 mi northeast, about 21 min by car
- Rock Valley 16 mi southeast, about 26 min by car
- Sioux Falls 18 mi northwest, about 29 min by car
- Brandon 20 mi north, about 32 min by car
- Hawarden 21 mi south, about 35 min by car
- Rock Rapids 23 mi east, about 37 min by car
- Sioux Center 26 mi southeast, about 42 min by car
- Luverne 31 mi northeast, about 49 min by car
- Baltic 32 mi north, about 52 min by car
- Orange City 34 mi southeast, about 55 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
- Lincoln County Courthouse South Dakota 5, Jon Platek, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Old Canton Library, AmericanAssociationKnowItAll, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Canton Lutheran Church, Sdgjake, CC BY-SA 3.0
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.