Welcoming you to
The heart of Papertown
Canton's History
How we got our name & nickname
Founded in 1889, the town had several names in just a few years: Buford, Vinson and Pigeon Ford. In 1893, the town settled on the name Canton after the town in Ohio that supplied the steel for the first bridge across the Pigeon River.
Back in the 1970’s & 80’s, truckers and locals on CB radios began referring to Canton as “Papertown”. A former local business association then called itself the Papertown Association. The hit song by local band Balsam Range in 2012 cemented the nickname.
Canton is a unique town with a strong community spirit and Green Eagle aims high to usher in a lasting Canton comeback.