"He robbed from the rich and he gave to the poor, stood up to the man and gave them what for. Our love for him now ain't hard to explain, the hero of Canton, the man they call Jayne." (From the television show: Serenity, "Hero of Canton, the Ballad of Jayne Cobb")
Sure, Canton, Georgia isn't the city that made Jayne famous on Serenity. Still, it's not a bad place to lay down roots, and there aren't any exploited miners needing immediate rescue. It's the county seat of Cherokee County and is on the northern edge of the greater Atlanta metro area. Canton was named after the famous silk producing city in China, by town founders who hoped to foster another silk city. It didn't work out, so the path to fame gave way to an all-American small town. Just about 24,000 people call Canton home, an increase of over 200 percent since 2000.
Keepin' it Real
"He robbed from the rich and he gave to the poor, stood up to the man and gave them what for. Our love for him now ain't hard to explain, the hero of Canton, the man they call Jayne." (From the television show: Serenity, "Hero of Canton, the Ballad of Jayne Cobb")
Sure, Canton, Georgia isn't the city that made Jayne famous on Serenity. Still, it's not a bad place to lay down roots, and there aren't any exploited miners needing immediate rescue. It's the county seat of Cherokee County and is on the northern edge of the greater Atlanta metro area. Canton was named after the famous silk producing city in China, by town founders who hoped to foster another silk city. It didn't work out, so the path to fame gave way to an all-American small town. Just about 24,000 people call Canton home, an increase of over 200 percent since 2000.
A City That's More Down to Earth
Keepin' it Real
City traditions like Summer Movies in the Park and fireworks on Labor Day Weekend help maintain Canton's image as a much more average place to call home than it's namesake on Serenity. A quality farmer's market and First Friday events help out as well. First Fridays see live music, food, vendors, and a classic car show, Theater fans can see live performances at the Canton Theater. In short, it's a city that has worked to capture the best of small town Americana and keep it, even while moving into the role of rapidly growing suburb. Canton retains all of the charms, and all of the idiosyncrasies, of the South.
Renting and Living in Canton
Growing Pains
All of the recent growth means the city has to constantly be looking at transportation improvements and utility upgrades to handle new subdivisions. Inevitably, that leads to traffic bottlenecks and drivers frustrated with the rapidly growing populations of orange traffic cones. Of course once you are home, you get to experience living in quality properties with modern amenities in newer rental condos and apartments. Get to know your new neighbors as they are likely new too. Over 60 percent of households are made up of people who came to town since 2005.
Finding Your New Home
Getting a rental in Canton is relatively easy, thanks to a vacancy rate over 12 percent. That means you have a lot to choose from, so don't feel compelled to pounce on the first property you see, but take some time to check things out. The median rent isn't too high, but of course that can vary widely in each part of town. Rental condos are common, thanks to the big numbers built in recent years. Don't be afraid to search for units with all bills paid. Wouldn't it be nice to not have to think about utility bills?
Planning Issues
To get almost anywhere in the greater Atlanta area means struggling with bad traffic brought about by years of short-sighted planning, especially with regard to rapidly growing suburbs. Public transportation options are few, so be prepared to depend on your car to get you where you are going, and allow some extra time to get there.
Recreation
Canton is situated close to extensive outdoor opportunities. Hiking trails, rivers, lakes, streams, and mountain biking runs are all close. Getting away from the heat and humidity of a Georgia summer in a nice river or lake is a time-honored tradition. All of the attractions of the Atlanta metro are nearby, making Canton a small town within easy reach of city amenities.
