Canton - Definition and Overview

A canton is:

• a territorial subdivision of a country (especially cantons of Switzerland and France or Quebec), see canton (subnational entity)

• the top inner quarter of a flag, see flag terminology

• a subordinary in heraldry occupying the (shield holder's) upper right-hand ("dexter") ninth of the field

• the name of a number of places:
  • Canton, China, see Guangzhou
  • Canton, Connecticut, USA.
  • Canton, Georgia, USA.
  • Canton, Illinois, USA.
  • Canton, Massachusetts, USA.
  • Canton, Michigan, USA.
  • Canton, Mississippi, USA.
  • Canton, Missouri, USA.
  • Canton, New York
    • Village of Canton, New York, USA.
    • Town of Canton, New York, USA.
  • Canton, North Carolina, USA.
  • Canton, Ohio, USA.
  • Canton, Oklahoma, USA.
  • Canton, Pennsylvania, USA.
  • Canton, South Dakota, USA.
  • Canton Township, Michigan, USA.
  • Canton Township, Pennsylvania, USA.
  • Canton, Cardiff, Wales.

Canton Island (together with Enderbury Island) formed an area disputed by the United States of America and the United Kingdom in the Pacific Ocean during the 1930s -- see Canton and Enderbury Islands. (The island is now the property of The Republic of Kiribati and spelled Kanton Island.)