Early entrepreneurs envisioned the small town known as Etowah becoming the epicenter of silk production in the West, and changed its name to reflect the world-renowned producer of silk in China.

It was a different fabric for which Canton would later become known, thanks to the abundance of cotton production, which transformed the area into a prosperous mill town known for its world-renowned Canton Denim.

Though the last of the mills has long since closed, one has been transformed into a new apartment community, and the county seat still continues to thrive thanks to its family-friendly environment, becoming one of the fastest growing cities in Georgia.

Population: 22,958