Canton in Lincoln County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Canton

Photographed by Ruth VanSteenwyk, June 16, 2018

1. Canton Marker

Inscription. First appeared on maps as Commerce City 1866. Its first postmaster was Benjamin Hill, appointed 14 May 1868. First settler here, L.P. Hyde, 1861. Cuppett, Hewit, & Rea built a blockhouse spring 1868 where Court House now stands. County organized 30 December 1867. Original plat under Act of Congress spring 1868. Twenty five Norwegian families settled near Canton in 1868. Sioux Valley News, first newspaper, established in 1872 by R.H. Miller. Railroad reached Canton in 1879. First county seat directed to be on Section 14 Township 98 Range 59 was named Canton by vote of settlers, believed to be exactly opposite to Canton, China. O.E. Rolvaag author of "Giants in the Earth" student Augustana Academy 1898-1901. Ernest Orlando Lawrence inventor of the cyclotron and eminent scientist was born here 1902 as was Merle Tuve developer of the famous "radio proximity fuze" of World War II.

Erected 1955 by Chamber of Commerce and State Highway Commission. (Marker Number 78.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Norwegian-Americans, and the South Dakota State Historical Society Markers series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is May 14, 1868.

Location. 43° 18.059′ N, 96°

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35.533′ W. Marker is in Canton, South Dakota, in Lincoln County. It is at the intersection of East 5th Street and North Main Street on East 5th Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 109 E 5th St, Canton SD 57013, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in East River

and in Greater Sioux Falls.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

in the Corn Belt,

on the prairies,

and on the Northern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Canton Veterans Memorial (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Resolution Designating Jack Fox Park (about 400 feet away); Augustana- The School on Wheels (approx. 0.7 miles away); Augustana – The School on Wheels (approx. 2.1 miles away); Hiawatha Asylum for Insane Indians (approx. 2.1 miles away); The Canton Ski Hill (approx. 2.1 miles away); Inwood Veterans Memorial (approx. 8.1 miles away in Iowa); Worthing Area Veterans Memorial (approx. 8.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Canton.

Regarding Canton. Canton, South Dakota is actually opposite a point in the southern Indian Ocean, with the nearest land being Amsterdam Island (-43.30085,83.40919).

Lincoln County Courthouse image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Ruth VanSteenwyk, June 16, 2018

2. Lincoln County Courthouse

Credits. This page was last revised on July 8, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 18, 2018, by Ruth VanSteenwyk of Aberdeen, South Dakota. This page has been viewed 673 times since then and 36 times this year. Last updated on July 7, 2025, by Luci j Baker Johnson of Seattle, Washington. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 18, 2018, by Ruth VanSteenwyk of Aberdeen, South Dakota. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.