"Isaac Swan and his child were found in the wreckage of their cabin, the baby dying in its mother's arms,"[10][11] leading some to conclude that the tornado represented divine retribution for the city allowing a circus performance the previous week.

Two people were killed, and the storm, deemed the 1975 Canton Tornado, caused major damage to the downtown area.

[12] Much of the city, particularly the northern portion, has been undermined by room and pillar extraction of coal that took place in the 1800s.

[13] Central Illinois Energy, a locally financed cooperative, began planning for a corn-fermentation ethanol plant in 2002.

Construction and finance delays resulted in its opening in 2007, approximately 4 miles (6 km) south of the city.

Company owner William "Bill" Cook had grown up in Canton and wanted to do something to help revitalize his home town community.

Some of the costs related to Cook Medical were planned to be paid for with state funds: a $750,000 Community Development Assistance Program grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and a $1.1 million grant from the Illinois Department of Transportation for infrastructure improvements near the plant.

[15] Scott Eells, the chief operating officer for Cook Group, has said that the factory will eventually be 45,000 square feet (4,200 m2), with more than 300 employees.

On September 13, 1967, Los Angeles rock band The Doors played a concert at Canton High School.

[20] The Canton audience reportedly reacted with mostly shocked silence at Jim Morrison's stage antics.