A small college and Mississippi River recreation define life in Canton
Canton offers a scenic setting on the western banks of the Mississippi River and serves as the home of Culver-Stockton College, one of Lewis County’s largest employers. Locals often walk around campus and go to football games, but with only around 1,000 students and roughly 2,700 full-time residents, Canton is still quiet when the Christian liberal arts school is in session. “It’s a small college in a small town,” says Teree Haynes, a Realtor with Hannibal Realty who has sold several homes in town. “Besides move-in day and homecoming weekend, the school doesn’t really make Canton much busier.” The town also offers recreation along the Mississippi River, with several walking paths, boat launches and shoreline fishing spots. “A lot of new teachers and faculty members move to Canton, but a good chunk of young people also buy houses in the area because it’s outdoorsy,” Haynes says.
Most college students live on campus, but Canton has some rentals
Housing includes early 1900s bungalows and mid-20th-century cottages and ranch styles. Oak trees often shade gridded streets near the center of town, while soybean and corn crops surround roads on the outskirts. College students may live in rental properties scattered around town, though most of them live on campus. Culver-Stockton also isn’t much of a party school. “I know people who have lived next to students, and they never complained about too much noise,” Haynes says. Prices can range from about $72,000 to $375,000, depending on a house’s age, size and condition. The median single-family home price is around $162,000, significantly lower than the national median. Homes near the Mississippi River may be at risk of flooding. Tornadoes can also impact the area, with sirens tested on the first Monday of each month.
It's popular to attend Culver-Stockton football games
Culver-Stockton College was established in 1853, the first coeducational institution west of the Mississippi River. Today, the school offers over 80 majors and minors in fields like business, sports management and health. Red brick buildings cover the 140-acre campus, which sits atop a hill overlooking the river. The athletic program, known as the Wildcats, has 21 NAIA athletic teams, including football. “I’m not from Canton, and I didn’t go to Culver-Stockton, but even I’ve been to a football game,” Haynes says. Students, locals and out-of-towners wearing blue, white and grey fill the stands at Ellison A. Poulton Memorial Stadium, especially for October's homecoming game. The weekend-long event also includes a parade, alum events and a golf tournament at the nearby River Valley Community Course.
Canton High has an agricultural education program
Canton R-V School District serves the community. Kids can attend Canton Elementary from prekindergarten through sixth grade and continue to Canton High for seventh through 12th grade. Both schools earn C-pluses from Niche. The high school has an agricultural education program with food science and construction classes.
Spots for hiking, fishing and boating are on the Mississippi River
Canton has several RV campgrounds and walking paths along the Mississippi River, including the short Levee Trail at Mississippi Park. As people trek the path, they’ll see grain elevators in the distance, anglers fishing on the shoreline and boats and barges cruising along the river. There’s a boat launch near the lock and dam site in the northern part of Canton. Wakonda State Park, about 9 miles south, is situated on a lake with places to boat, fish and swim. Turkey and deer hunting are typically permitted at nearby conservation areas, many of which are less than 10 miles away. Canton also has a public library and a few green spaces with playgrounds, including Central Park.
Restaurants, movies and events bring life to Canton’s main street
Office buildings, a few locally owned restaurants and cultural centers fill Italianate-style buildings in Canton’s small downtown district. Culver-Stockton flags decorate Primo’s, a pizza and sundae shop that has been around since 1997. Margaritas are made from scratch at Los Girasoles Mexican Restaurant, known for its hefty portions of enchiladas and fajitas. The Art Deco-style Lewis Street Playhouse, which opened in 1893, regularly shows family friendly movies. A few events are held downtown, including a car show in May and a farmers market every other Saturday between April and September. Canton also has a Tractor Supply Co. and a County Market grocery store.
U.S. Route 61 helps get to Quincy, Springfield and St. Louis
Canton is a car-dependent community with paved and gravel roads. A 21-mile drive south on U.S. Route 61 leads to Quincy, home to Blessing Hospital, an Amtrak station and a small regional airport with flights to Chicago. The highway connects with other routes to reach cities like Springfield, 133 miles east, and St. Louis, 151 miles south.
