First Monday Trade Days

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First Monday Trade Days is a monthly flea market held in Canton, Texas. The market is actually held on the Thursday through Sunday preceding the first monday of each month. It purports to be the largest and oldest continually operated flea market in the United States, and is a highly popular event in the area.

History

First Monday Trade Days began sometime in the 1850s. As was common in those days, the circuit judge would stop in certain areas on specific days to hold court sessions, whereby people came to town to see the court proceedings, and to conduct business. Canton's designated day was the first Monday of each month; thus the origin of the name.

Despite numerous and repeated attempts by early city officials to discourage traders from doing business on the streets of the city, First Monday Trade Days continued and flourished. Eventually Canton realized that it could benefit from the popularity of the market, and purchased a site dedicated to it.

Trade Days Today

First Monday Trade Days currently operates over 100 acres and provides places for 6,000 vendors. There are various buildings and areas, each designated by name, among them the Old Mill Marketplace, The Village, The Mountain, The Arbors and The Dog Patch. There is also an area adjacent to the First Monday Trade Days facility (the one operated by the city) known as 'the Lewis side'.

Despite the large size of the facility, people with disabilities will find easy access, and can even rent a scooter to get around the market area with ease.

Because of the income the city receives from operating the facility, a city property tax is not required from Canton's residents.

External Links

[First Monday Trade Days]

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