Canton is the largest community in Fulton County. By 1838 Canton had became a booming place with groceries, distilleries, woolen mills, brick yards, pork packing, and cigar makers. Just before the turn of the 20th century, Canton dominated the cigar industry in the Midwest, with as many as 20 firms producing 20 million cigars annually. The Parlin & Orendorff Plow Works, established in 1860, became the largest plow manufacturing plant in the world by 1919, when it was purchased by the International Harvester Company. The Canton Park District includes several parks with a variety of facilities and recreational opportunities. Its wealth of outdoor activities helped ear Canton recognition as a Gateway Community on the Illinois River Road National Scenic Byway. Canton’s histories downtown and its variety of travel and visitor services – including hotels, restaurants, bars, sweet shops, groceries, boutiques, thrift shops, gasoline, convenience stores, bowling alley, roller skating, ATM banking, car washes and auto repair make it an excellent hub from which to explore the area.