Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the site where Canton would be founded lay in the heart of the original Cherokee Nation. During the first 100 years of Georgia’s history, Northwest Georgia was generally considered “Indian Country” and was bypassed by settlers going West. Georgia reached an agreement with the federal government in 1802 shortly after the Revolutionary War to relinquish its Western Territory (it claimed the Pacific Ocean as its western boundary) in exchange for the removal of all Indians within its boundaries. Although other tribes had been removed, the Cherokee remained. Since this was the heartland of the Cherokee Nation, the state and nation were reluctant to disturb them. But following the Georgia Gold Rush in 1829, European-American settlers ignored the Indian problems and began to move into the area north of Carrollton and west of the Chattahoochee River and named it Cherokee.

Many members of the Cherokee Nation moved west in 1829, but the majority stayed until removed by federal troops sent into the area during the summer of 1838. The remaining Cherokee were gathered and held in forts until the removal could be completed. Present-day Cherokee County had the largest and most southerly of these forts, Fort Buffington, which stood 6 miles (10 km) east of Canton. Today nothing stands to identify its timber structure, but the area is marked by a large piece of green Cherokee marble quarried near Holly Springs. By autumn of 1838, the federal troops had accomplished their mission, and the Cherokee at Fort Buffington were marched off to join other groups on the infamous “Trail of Tears,” a lengthy march in worsening winter weather to Indian Territory west of the Mississippi River.

The new settlers chose a site for a permanent county seat and courthouse in 1833, naming it “Etowah”. The name was changed to “Cherokee Courthouse” in 1833. In 1834 it was changed to “Canton” (pronounced cant’n), after the Chinese city of Guangzhou, which was then known in English as Canton (pronounced can tahn). The name was chosen because a group of citizens had dreams of making the Georgia town a center of the silk industry, which was concentrated in China at the time. Though Canton never became a significant silk center, it did become a successful manufacturing community.

During the American Civil War, Canton, which had a population of about 200, was burned between November 1 and 5, 1864, by the Union Army under the command of Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman. Canton was destroyed by a foraging party of the Ohio 5th Cavalry under the command of Major Thomas T. Heath. At the time the Ohio 5th Cavalry was headquartered in Cartersville. The written order for destruction was given on October 30, 1864, by Brig. General John E. Smith. Union troops were ordered to burn the town because of Confederate guerrilla attacks coming from Canton and directed against the Western and Atlantic Railroad near the town of Cassville. The railroad was a vital supply line for the Union Army from the captured city of Chattanooga, Tennessee, to newly captured Atlanta. The Union troops identified the Canton home of Governor Joseph E. Brown for destruction. The same Union party destroyed Cassville, the county seat of neighboring Bartow County, on November 5, 1864, as it has also been a base of guerrilla actions. Cassville never rebuilt, but Canton survived to prosper, as it was the county seat.

Over the years, Canton evolved from unsettled territory to a prosperous mill town known the world over for its “Canton Denim”. The original county of 1831 now includes 24 counties. The city of Canton remains the county seat.

Cherokee Poultry, founded by T.B.Bradshaw was built on Univeter Road in 1955; later sold to Central Soya in 1962. The Canton Cotton Mills, which produced the famous “Canton Denim”, closed in 1981. Since then, Canton has grown as the suburbs of Atlanta have expanded northward, and is currently experiencing its period of greatest population growth, which nearly tripled between 2000 and 2010.

Canton is located near the center of Cherokee County at 34°13′38″N 84°29′41″W / 34.22722°N 84.49472°W / 34.22722; -84.49472 (34.227307, −84.494727).
The city lies just north of Holly Springs and south of Ball Ground. Interstate 575 passes through the eastern side of the city, with access from exits 14 through 20. Canton is 40 miles (64 km) north of downtown Atlanta via I-575 and I-75.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 18.7 square miles (48.5 km), of which 18.6 square miles (48.2 km) is land and 0.15 square miles (0.4 km), or 0.76%, is water. The Etowah River, a tributary of the Coosa River, flows from east to west through the center of the city.

Canton first appeared as a town in the 1870 U.S. Census and as a city in the 1960 U.S. Census. Prior to 1970 U.S. Census, the town absorbed the North Canton unincorporated community.

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 32,973 people, 10,233 households, and 7,138 families residing in the city.

As of the 2010 census, there were 22,958 people, 8,204 households, and 5,606 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,234.3 inhabitants per square mile (476.6/km). There were 9,341 housing units at an average density of 502.2 per square mile (193.9/km).

There were 8,204 households, out of which 42.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.6% were headed by married couples living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% were non-families. 25.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.8% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77, and the average family size was 3.30.

The racial makeup of the city was 75.6% White, 22.5% Hispanic or Latino of any race, 8.9% African American, 1.3% Asian, 0.8% Native American, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 10.2% some other race, 2.9% from two or more races.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 29.7% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 34.7% from 25 to 44, 17.1% from 45 to 64, and 9.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.0 males.

For the period 2010–12, the estimated median annual income for a household in the city was $46,691, and the median income for a family was $52,432. Male full-time workers had a median income of $36,971 versus $37,092 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,705. About 13.4% of families and 18.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.6% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.

Education in Canton is run by the Cherokee County government and the Georgia state government.

The Cherokee County School District serves grades pre-school to grade twelve, with 23 elementary schools, seven middle schools, and six high schools. As of 2010, the district had 1,766 full-time teachers and over 28,434 students.
Schools in Cherokee County include:

• Arnold Mill Elementary School
• Avery Elementary School
• Ball Ground Elementary School
• Bascomb Elementary School
• Boston Elementary School
• Canton Elementary School (Closed May 2018)
• Carmel Elementary School
• Clark Creek Elementary School
• Clayton Elementary School
• Free Home Elementary School
• Hasty Elementary School
• Hickory Flat Elementary School
• Holly Springs Elementary School
• Indian Knoll Elementary School
• Johnston Elementary School
• Knox Elementary School
• Liberty Elementary School
• Little River Elementary School
• Macedonia Elementary School
• Mountain Road Elementary School
• Oak Grove Elementary School
• R.M. Moore Elementary School
• Sixes Elementary School
• Woodstock Elementary School

• Creekland Middle School
• Dean Rusk Middle School
• Freedom Middle School- Next to Liberty Elementary School on Bells Ferry Road
• Teasley Middle School-
• Woodstock Middle School
• Mill Creek Middle School
• E.T. Booth Middle School

• Cherokee High School
• Etowah High School
• Creekview High School
• Sequoyah High School
• Woodstock High School
• River Ridge High School

• Chattahoochee Technical College (Canton Campus)