First Monday Trade Days in Canton, Texas

Welcome to my new blog. I have set this up to become my avenue of imparting all the news about my newest venture. I have begun to develop a new website called First Monday Trade Days in Canton, Texas. Here in North East Texas we are proud of our little Flea Market. It started somewhat over 150 years ago in the town square in Canton, Texas. It originally is said to have been called " Hoss Monday" in the vernacular of the times. it was supposed to have gotten its name from the wranglers rounding up the wild horses in the area. They would all meet in town on the First Monday to buy, sell or trade their horses. That is just one of the stories about the beginning of the Canton Trade Days legend. Another version has it that since Canton was the county seat of Van Zandt County, Texas. The Circuit Judge Came to Town every First Monday for the one day only. Thus everyone would naturally be try to do all their buying, selling and swapping on that day. That way they could record any deeds or sales with the judge. I am sure many came to see the occasional hanging or to visit friends and family they knew would be there. However it actually got started, Canton's Swap Meet has grown into a World Famous Event. I am sure their is some truth in both stories and it is my belief that many just tagged along to visit friends or neighbors. The World Famous First Monday Trade Days in Canton Texas is widely regarded as the oldest and largest Flea Market, Swap Meet, or Trades Day in the United States if not in the World!First Monday started over a century and a half ago as a few people swapping horses or whatever on the town square. The swap meet has grown to an event of enormous proportions. The Official City of Canton owned and operated First Monday Grounds cover over 160 acres. Host over 3000 vendors some months and causes the population of the City of Canton to grow at times from just over 5000 people to as many as 300,000 people in the best months. There are privately owned and operated areas also all around the park. These locations surround the main park on almost all sides. when you include the Vendor counts from all associated areas operating on First Monday Weekends. The vendor count can go as high as 7000 in the busiest months. The First Monday Swap Meet is truly a shopping Mecca unlike any other. It is an experience that will make an indelible mark upon you. It is so large & there is so much to see and do. It takes days to go through it all! Canton Trade Days acquired the name First Monday Trade Days because it started out being held on the 1st Monday of the month. Today First Monday Canton Trade Days are held the 4 days prior to the First Monday of each month. Vendors are allowed to come in and begin setting up on Wednesday. Visitors are allowed in on Thursday and the selling begins. The Crowds pick up steam all day Thursday and continue to grow through Friday and Saturday. Sundays are a little unpredictable. The always changing North Texas Weather can play a large part in that at times. The actual First Monday of the month is no longer a day of selling. It is now a day of packing up, cleaning up and returning home. I have started a new website that I hope will cover all of The First Monday Trade Days. It will be as complete and comprehensive as it can possibly be made. 1st Monday.com will be dynamic and interactive in many ways. For example, we have our Search able Canton Area Map up. It is powered by Google using map and search APIs. you can view the map of course. But, you can also enter almost anything in the search box. The map will refresh and show you markers of all locations, business or other items in the area that match you query. you can then scroll through the results one at a time starting with the closest to the center point of the map. Which is the East Gate of the official City of Canton First Monday Trade Days Park. You can also get driving directions and routes, find local Hotels & Motels, RV Parks & Camping, Dining or other needs while you are in the area. Go check out our Search able Canton First Monday Trade Days Map! Thank you all for reading this and I hope to see a few comments or meet you out enjoying a visit to the Canton Flea Market or shopping 'till you drop! Thank You, Douglas Wolfe, www.1stmonday.com, Wolfe Web Services Please feel free to comment here in this blog or send me feedback to me at wolfepk1@yahoo.com