Haldimand County
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Haldimand County is a rural city-status single-tier municipality on the Niagara Peninsula in Southern Ontario, Canada, on the north shore of Lake Erie, and on the Grand River. Despite its name, it is no longer a county by definition, as all municipal services are handled by a single level of government. Municipal offices are located in Cayuga.
The county is adjacent to Norfolk County, the County of Brant, the City of Hamilton, the townships of West Lincoln and Wainfleet, and the Six Nations reserve.
History
Haldimand's history has been closely associated with that of neighbouring Norfolk County. Upper Canada was created in 1791 by being separated from the old Province of Quebec, Haldimand was created in 1798 as part of the Niagara District.<ref>An act for the better division of this province, SUC 1798 (38 Geo. III), c. 5, s. 31, s. 32. Reprinted in The Statutes of Upper Canada to the Time of Union, Revised and Published by Authority, Vol. I - Public Acts (Toronto: Robert Stanton, Queen's Printer, 1843).</ref> It was named after Sir Frederick Haldimand, the governor of the Province of Quebec from 1778 to 1785. In 1844, the land was surrendered by the Six Nations to the Crown in an agreement that was signed by the vast majority of Chiefs in the Haldimand tract.Template:Citation needed In 1974, Haldimand was incorporated as a town by the amalgamation of the villages of Cayuga, Hagersville and Caledonia and the townships of Oneida, Seneca, North Cayuga, South Cayuga and parts of Rainham and Walpole. In 2001, Haldimand was enlarged by amalgamating with Dunnville and half of Nanticoke.
Beginning in February 2006, a land dispute by native protesters began near Caledonia over a housing development being built on the outskirts of town, which members of the nearby Mohawk Six Nations people claim is rightfully their land. The issue reignited again in February 2020, when Mohawk protesters blocked off Highway 6 again in protest of McKenzie Meadows.
Communities
The population centres in Haldimand are Caledonia, Dunnville, Hagersville, Jarvis and Cayuga. Part of the Six Nations Reserve is within the geographic area of Haldimand County, but is independent of the county. Most of Haldimand is agricultural land, although some heavy industry, including the former Nanticoke Generating Station, is located here.
Smaller communities within the municipality are Attercliffe Station, Balmoral, Bodri Bay, Brookers Bay, Byng, Canborough, Canfield, Cheapside, Clanbrassil, Crescent Bay, Decewsville, Empire Corners, Featherstone Point, Fisherville, Garnet, Hoover Point, Kohler, Little Buffalo, Lowbanks, Moulton Station, Mount Carmel, Mount Healy, Nanticoke, Nelles Corners, Peacock Point, Port Maitland, Rainham Centre, Selkirk, Sims Lock, South Cayuga, Springvale, Stromness, Sweets Corners, Townsend, Willow Grove, Woodlawn Park and York.
The ghost towns of Cook's Station, Cranston, Dufferin, Erie, Indiana, Lambs Corners, Lythmore, Sandusk, Upper, and Varency are also located within Haldimand.
Historic townships
Haldimand County's area of 309,300 acres was formed from part of the land grant to the Six Nations in 1783. The County was purchased by treaty and opened for general settlement in 1832. It was first settled by white veterans of Butler's Rangers established there by Joseph Brant. A large number of Germans were among the first settlers.<ref name = 'historictown'>Template:Cite book</ref>
- Canborough, area Template:Convert. Granted in 1794 by Joseph Brant to John Dochstader of Butler's Rangers. Purchased by Benjamin Canby in 1810 for £5,000, he named the village site "Canborough. Community centre: Canborough, Darling and it touches Dunnville
- Dunn, area Template:Convert. Opened for settlement in 1833. Community centre: Dunnville
- Moulton, area Template:Convert. Landowner Henry John Boulton named the township from the Boulton family seat in England.
- North Cayuga, area Template:Convert.
- Oneida, area Template:Convert. Joseph Brant granted a 999 year lease of part of Oneida and Seneca townships to Henry Nelles, of Butler's Rangers and his sons, Robert, Abraham, William, Warner and John. Community centres were: Caledonia, Dufferin and Hagersville.
- Rainham, area Template:Convert Community centres: Balmoral, Selkirk, Rainham Centre and Fisherville.
- Seneca, area Template:Convert. Community centres: York and Caledonia
- Sherbrooke, area Template:Convert, the smallest township in Ontario. Opened in 1825 and named from Sir John Coape Sherbrooke, a Governor-General of Canada. The Township was granted by the Indians to William Dickson (a lawyer) as a professional fee. Community centres: Stromness and Port Maitland.
- South Cayuga, area Template:Convert.
- Walpole, area Template:Convert. Community centres were: Hagersville, Jarvis, Selkirk, Cheapside and Nanticoke.
Climate
Demographics
Template:Historical populations
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Haldimand County had a population of Template:Val living in Template:Val of its Template:Val total private dwellings, a change of Template:Percentage from its 2016 population of Template:Val. With a land area of Template:Convert, it had a population density of Template:Pop density in 2021.<ref name='census2021' /><ref name = 'census2016' /> Template:Canada census
Ethnicity
Only ethnic groups that comprise greater than 1% of the population are included. Note that a person can report more than one group.<ref name='census2021' />
Languages
As of the 2021 census, there were 47,190 citizens that spoke English only, 15 that spoke only French, 1,530 that spoke both official languages and 130 that spoke neither.<ref name = 'census2021' />
Religion
As of the 2021 census, there were 29,380 citizens identifying as Christian and 18,200 as non-religious and secular perspectives.<ref name = 'census2021' />Template:Efn
Local government
The city is within the federal electoral riding of Haldimand—Norfolk and within provincial electoral riding of Haldimand—Norfolk.
Current Mayor: Shelley Ann Bentley<ref name = 'MayorBentley'>Template:Cite web</ref>
Previous Mayors:
- 2010–2022: Ken Hewitt
- 2004–2010: Marie Trainer
- 2000–2004: Lorraine Bergstrand
Healthcare
Healthcare in Haldimand County is overseen by Haldimand-Norfolk Health and Social Services.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Hospitals in Haldimand County include Haldimand War Memorial Hospital in Dunnville, and West Haldimand General Hospital in Hagersville.
Policing
Policing in the county is provided by the Haldimand detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police located in Cayuga.
Fire services
Fire services in the county is provided by the Haldimand County Fire Department which was created in 2001 following the separation of Haldimand and Norfolk. The department currently consists of 11 stations located strategically throughout the county. With almost 300 firefighters and 40 fire apparatuses, it is one of the largest volunteer fire departments in Ontario. The department consists of:
- Station 1 – Caledonia
- Station 2 – Hagersville
- Station 3 – Jarvis
- Station 4 – Cayuga (Headquarters)
- Station 5 – Canfield
- Station 6 – Canborough
- Station 7 – Lowbanks
- Station 9 – Dunnville
- Station 11 – South Haldimand
- Station 12 – Fisherville
- Station 13 – Selkirk
Education
Template:Further Public Schools in Haldimand County are administered by the Grand Erie District School Board. These schools include:
- Caledonia Centennial Public School (Caledonia)
- Oneida Central Public School (Caledonia)
- River Heights Public School (Caledonia)
- JL Mitchener Public School (Cayuga)
- Hagersville Elementary School (Hagersville)
- Walpole North Elementary School (Hagersville)
- Mapleview Elementary School (Dunnville)
- Thompson Creek Elementary School (Dunnville)
- Rainham Central School (Fisherville)
- Jarvis Public School (Jarvis)
- Seneca Central Public School (York)
Catholic Education
Catholic Schools in Haldimand County are administered by the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board. These include:
- St. Patrick's Catholic School (Caledonia)
- Notre Dame Catholic School (Caledonia)
- St. Stephen's School (Cayuga)
- St. Michael's School (Dunnville)
- St. Mary's School (Hagersville)
- Jarvis Community Christian School (Jarvis)
Transportation
The Southern Ontario Railway operates in southwestern Haldimand.
Highways that travel through Haldimand include Ontario Highway 3 and Ontario Highway 6.
Several intercity bus companies operate routes that travel through Haldimand County, connecting it to nearby cities and towns. Although, driving is the most common way to get around in Haldimand County, as public transportation options are limited.
Protected areas
- Haldimand Conservation Area<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Selkirk Provincial Park<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Taquanyah Conservation Area<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Hedley Forest Conservation Area<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Canborough Conservation Area<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Ruigrok Tract Conservation Area<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Oswego Conservation Area
- Byng Island Conservation Area <ref name='byng' />
- Rock Point Provincial Park
- Mohawk Island National Wildlife Area
Attractions
Natural Landmarks
- Canadian Heritage Grand River
- Grand Valley Trail
- Byng Island Conservation Area and Pool<ref name='byng'>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Seneca Park & Rotary Riverside Trail
Activities
- Toronto Motorsports Park (Dragway Park)
- Jukasa Motor Speedway
- Grand River Dinner Cruises<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Killman Zoo
- Caledonia Fair<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Kinsmen Park and Caledonia Lions Pool
Heritage
- Grand River Bridge and Dam
- Cayuga Library & Heritage Centre
- Edinburgh Square Heritage and Cultural Centre
- Wilson MacDonald Memorial School Museum<ref name = 'wmmsm'>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Haldimand House & Oasis Drive-In
- Caledonia Old Mill
- Indiana Ghost Town <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Ruthven Park National Historic Site Mansion and Park<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Cottonwood Mansion<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Caledonia Grand Trunk Station<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- No. 6 RCAF Dunnville Museum
- Port Maitland Outer Range Lighthouse and Pier
- Canadian Drilling Rig Museum<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Mohawk Island Lighthouse (abandoned)
Notable people
- Birthplace of Canadian Olympic high jump medalist Ethel Catherwood.
- Birthplace of Canadian Women's Hockey Gold Medalist Becky Kellar-Duke.
- Birthplace of Spud Johnson Major League Baseball player.
- Birthplace of Boston Bruins' Nathan Horton, who won the Stanley Cup in 2011.
- Birthplace of Dallas Stars Head Coach Peter DeBoer.
- Birthplace of Los Angeles Kings goaltender Cam Talbot.
- Birthplace of Peter Robertson, inventor of the Robertson screw.
- Birthplace of Andrew Campbell, former Toronto Maple Leafs Defenseman.
- Birthplace of Allan Roy Edwards, former Detroit Red Wings goaltender.
- Birthplace of Wilson Pugsley MacDonald, a Canadian lyrical poet most famous for his work "Out of the Wilderness".
- Birthplace of the late NHL goaltender Ray Emery, who won Stanley Cup in 2013.
- Birthplace of Marty McSorley, retired NHL player.
- Birthplace of Neil Peart, drummer of the Canadian rock group Rush.<ref name=NPEART>Template:Cite web</ref>
See also
Notes
References
External links
Template:Geographic location Template:Subdivisions of Ontario