VAN ZANDT COUNTY
County Offices
121 E. Dallas Street
Canton 903-567-6503
https://www.vanzandtcounty.org/
Chamber of Commerce
119 N. Buffalo Street
Canton 903-567-2991
https://www.cantontexaschamber.com/
Services
Claiming the advantage of Interstate 20, Van Zandt County is located approximately 50 miles east of Dallas in northeastern Texas. This rural area offers welcoming small towns where residents enjoy first-rate services close to home. Advanced healthcare is available as close as Cozby-Germany Hospital, an acute-care institution that offers a Level IV Trauma Center. Located in the leading city of Grand Saline, the hospital is only one of many healthcare facilities in the area. Extended care centers, family medicine and specialty clinics, rehabilitation and therapy facilities, and home health care are all available within Van Zandt County.
Area schools provide a quality education in modern classrooms where dedicated instructors are able to take full advantage of favorable pupil/teacher ratios. Opportunities for higher education are abundant within a reasonable commute, from community college campuses in nearby cities to public and private colleges and universities throughout the region. Trinity Valley Community College District offers a campus in Terrell, which is also the location of Southwestern Christian College. Texas A&M University in Commerce, Collin County Community College in Plano, Tyler Junior College and the University of Texas at Tyler, and Paris Junior College in Paris are other possibilities.
Lifestyle
Newcomers to Van Zandt County will discover a relaxed atmosphere where close-knit communities enjoy family oriented activities from seasonal festivals to picnics. Opportunities for outdoor adventures that include hunting, fishing, hiking, biking, and horseback riding are abundant in this region of sparkling lakes and lush state parks. The town of Van in Van Zandt County is home to Purtis Creek State Park, which also provides rental canoes and paddle boats. Among the local attractions are the famous First Monday Trade Days in Canton, Lake Fork and Lake Tawakoni, the Salt Festival and Rodeo held in Grand Saline, and the County Fair and Rodeo and Bluegrass Festival in Canton.
The Salt Palace, distinguished as the only structure in the world made from salt rocks, serves as a visitor’s center and museum with displays and exhibits about local lore and history. The site of the 1923 railroad depot is now the location of the Grand Saline Depot Library and Civic Center. The adjacent open-air pavilion provides a gathering place for community activities including the popular Salt Festival. The five-day event with parades, rodeos, games, and live entertainment celebrates the area’s expansive underground salt mine. Historic sites and fine museums abound in Van Zandt County, home to the Wills Point Depot Museum, Mineola Railroad Museum, Edgewood Heritage Park, Van Area Oil & History Museum, and more than 75 state markers. Shoppers will delight in browsing through the area’s antique shops, while students of nature will appreciate the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center. Canton First Monday Trade Days draws a regional crowd to an expansive flea market that virtually offers “everything under the sun.”
Canton
City Hall
903-567-2826
https://www.firstmondaycanton.com/
Chamber of Commerce
903-567-2991
https://www.cantontexaschamber.com/
The county seat of Canton is home to less than 4,000 residents, although this small town welcomes up to 250,000 visitors each month to the wildly popular and phenomenally large flea market, First Monday Trade Days. Except for the designated trade days just prior to the first Monday of each month when the historic flea market is in full swing, Canton is known for its tranquility and charm. The 34,000-square-foot Canton Civic Center where the Trade Days are held is also a center of community events, including trade shows, rallies, concerts, conventions, banquets, and meetings. Many are drawn to the Trade Days for the sheer variety and quality of the concessions, although the town offers a number of dining opportunities as well. Another unique aspect of Canton is the fine architectural detailing of the 1937 courthouse. The eagle displayed on the courthouse lawn was once a rite of passage for Van Zandt County boys who would scale the 1896 courthouse to touch the eagle.
Grand Saline
City Hall
903-962-3122
https://grandsalinetx.gov/
Chamber of Commerce
903-962-7147
https://www.facebook.com/Grand-Saline-Tx-Chamber-of-Commerce-235560646465631
Sharing the spotlight with Canton as a leading city in Van Zandt County, Grand Saline is located on U.S. Highway 80 and State Highway 110. The city’s extensive salt mines led to its title as the “salt capital of Texas.” In a single year, Morton Salt produced 400,000 tons of salt from Grand Saline mines, which are still active just southeast of the city. The town draws a regional crowd to the annual celebration of the Salt Festival and Rodeo, although a number of other special events bring neighbors and friends together around the four seasons. The Rogers Center and Woodside cemeteries are located near the town, and the Main Street Salt House, with huge salt crystals from the Morton mines, remains a local attraction. Focused on community and family values, Grand Saline offers a serene country home within commuting distance to major metropolitan centers.
Wills Point
City Hall
903-873-2578
https://willspointtx.org
Chamber of Commerce
903-873-3111
https://willspointchamber.com/
Located along U.S. Highway 80, the City of Wills Point claims a relatively stable but growing population of approximately 3,500 residents. The city harmonizes residential neighborhoods with local businesses that appreciate the backdrop of natural beauty created by the area’s wild roses, elms, and pecan trees. Known as the “Gateway to Tawakoni” for its access to the Lake Tawakoni recreation area, Wills Point’s invites visitors and residents to enjoy charm of its historic district with brick streets, a railroad depot museum, and the original Wills log cabin. The city’s warm and friendly atmosphere, land-rich environment, excellent youth sports programs, and superb outdoor recreation are drawing newcomers to the area. Families, retirees, and businesses can all see the potential in Wills Point as a community with a bright future.
