Canton Renames Riverstone Boulevard To Honor Dr. King

CANTON, GA — The Canton City Council at its Sept. 20 meeting voted unanimously to rename one of its streets after American civil rights activist Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Council members voted to rename Riverstone Boulevard to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. The segment that would be named stretches from the intersection with Bluffs Parkway — at the Sears store — westbound to its Reinhardt College Parkway intersection.

The approval was met with enthusiastic applause from members of some of Canton's historically black churches. Bishop Charles Gearing Jr. of Zion Canton Lighthouse Church, who pushed for the change, and Rev. Tyrone Gates of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church were also in attendance.

The city notes there are no addresses issued along this stretch of the Boulevard, and the road is near the Hickory Log Creek Cemetery and historic black farmlands.

City Manager Billy Peppers said Canton will have to work on getting the signage installed to reflect the new name, which he said could take a few weeks to happen. This street in Canton would be the first in Cherokee County to bear Dr. King's name, as no other roads have this designation.

Mayor Gene Hobgood, who was approached by some members of the city's faith community to consider the name change, said a ceremony celebrating the name change is expected to be announced in the coming weeks. The city manager said once a date is finalized, it will be shared with the public.

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