Canton, once the city's industrial heart, has undergone a transformation over the last 25 years. But this tranformation has preserved much of the community's industrial heritage, by converting the old factories into business and homes.

Canton has quite a history. It was a large estate founded by Captain John O'Donnell, who named the area after Canton China. Canton became a shipbuilding center and the frigate Constellation was built there in 1797. Armored plating for the Union warship Monitor was also forged there.

Canton was a magnet for many immigrants of Polish, Irish and German descent. The area's many factories made tin cans, copper and beer, and refined oil or packed oysters.

Canton is a major transportation hub with its location on the harbor and its railroad connections and roads. The Canton Railroad still serves the needs of the port.

Here is a link to some photos of Canton, dating back to the late 1800s.

Here's the site of the Canton Community Association.

This page on the Baltimore City Website also has good information about the community.