Planning

Town of Canton Land Use Plan 2022

The Town of Canton is comfortably nestled in the Smoky Mountains of Haywood County. Its visitors and residents enjoy proximity to the City of Asheville as well as natural amenities such as trails and parks. At its core, the Town reflects its origins in wood, water, and steel. Construction of the Champion Fibre Company Mill caused an explosion of the Town’s early population. The mill processed lumber for wood pulp and intended to utilize the Pigeon River to transport products. However, upon discovering that the river was not an efficient transportation method, construction of railroad lines began. This establishment of industry and connectivity nurtured the Town and thus, Canton was truly born through industrial development.

Today, visitors and residents can still enjoy the calm waters of Pigeon River and hear the freight cars transporting goods from the iconic plant. However, this Town’s story is far from complete. Future park creation, new land development requests, recent and historic flooding events, and emerging economic opportunities require that the Town of Canton be proactive in its planning and development. Land use decisions must work to improve the built environment of the Town rather than constrain it. The Town’s past was associated with wood, water, and steel. Ingenuity, creativity, and holistic planning will guide its future.