View source for Niagara-on-the-Lake

{{Short description|Town in Ontario, Canada}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=April 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2018}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Niagara-on-the-Lake
| official_name      = Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake
| settlement_type    = [[List of towns in Ontario|Town]] ([[List of municipalities in Ontario#Lower-tier municipalities|lower-tier]])
| image_skyline      = Niagara on the lake.jpg
| image_flag         = Flag of Niagara-on-the-Lake.svg
| image_blank_emblem = 
| image_shield       = 
| shield_size        = 
| image_map          = 
| mapsize            = 
| map_caption        = 
| pushpin_map        = CAN ON Niagara#Canada Southern Ontario
| pushpin_label      = 
| pushpin_label_position = 
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in southern Ontario
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_type1  = [[Provinces and territories of Canada|Province]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of Ontario census divisions|Region]]
| subdivision_name   = {{flagdeco|Canada}} Canada
| subdivision_name1  = {{flagdeco|Ontario}} [[Ontario]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Regional Municipality of Niagara|Niagara]]
| leader_title       = [[Lord Mayor]]
| leader_title1      = Governing body<ref name=niagara>{{cite web |url= https://notl.civicweb.net/document/12233 |title= Clerk's Declaration of Election Results |publisher= Niagara-on-the-Lake |access-date= 2018-11-13 |archive-date= July 12, 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210712070746/https://notl.civicweb.net/document/12233 |url-status= dead }}</ref>
| leader_title2      = [[House of Commons of Canada|MP]]
| leader_title3      = [[Legislative Assembly of Ontario|MPP]]
| leader_name        = Gary Zalepa
| leader_name1       = Town Council
| leader_name2       = [[Tony Baldinelli]]
| leader_name3       = [[Wayne Gates]]
| established_title  = Settled
| established_title2 = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_title3 = 
| established_date   = 1781
| established_date2  = 1792
| established_date3  = 
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_footnotes     = <ref name=SC2016/>
| area_total_km2     = 
| area_land_km2      = 132.81
| area_water_km2     = 
| area_water_percent = 
| area_urban_km2     = 
| population_as_of   = 2021
| population_note    = <ref name=SC2016>{{cite web |title=Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario census profile |url=http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=3526047&Geo2=PR&Code2=35&Data=Count&SearchText=Niagara-on-the-Lake&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&GeoLevel=PR&GeoCode=3526047&TABID=1 |publisher=[[Statistics Canada]] |work=[[Canada 2016 Census|2016 Census of Population]] |date=February 8, 2017 |access-date=March 4, 2017}}</ref>
| population_total   = 19088
| population_urban   = 
| population_density_km2 = 131.8
| population_demonym = {{hlist|Niagaran|NOTLer}}
| timezone           = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset         = -5
| timezone_DST       = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern Daylight (EDT)]]
| utc_offset_DST     = -4
| coordinates        = {{coord|43|15|19|N|79|4|18|W|region:CA-ON|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_m        = 82.3
| postal_code_type   = [[Postal codes in Canada|Postal code]]
| postal_code        = L0S 1J0
| area_codes          = [[Area codes 905 and 289|905 and 289]]
| website            = {{URL|www.notl.org}}
}}
[[Image:Court House N-O-T-L.jpg|thumb|right|The Court House, a [[Shaw Festival]] theatre and [[Parks Canada]] headquarters of Niagara National Historic Sites, built in 1847.]]
[[File:St Marks Church, Niagara on the lake.jpg|thumb|right|[[St. Mark's Church (Niagara-on-the-Lake)|St. Mark's Church]], built in 1809, founded in 1791]]

'''Niagara-on-the-Lake''' is a [[town]] in [[Ontario]], Canada. It is located on the [[Niagara Peninsula]] at the point where the [[Niagara River]] meets [[Lake Ontario]], across the river from [[New York (state)|New York]], United States. Niagara-on-the-Lake is in the [[Regional Municipality of Niagara|Niagara Region]] of Ontario and is the only town in Canada that has a [[lord mayor]].<ref name=lordy>[http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/2007/08/04/oh-lordy-niagara-on-the-lakes-mayor-is-the-only-one-in-canada-referred-to-as-lord-but-as-reporter-monique-beech-discovered-the-titles-official-status-isnt-clear "Oh, Lordy!; Niagara-on-the-Lake's mayor is the only one in Canada referred to as 'lord,' but as reporter Monique Beech discovered, the title's official status isn't clear"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002192531/http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/2007/08/04/oh-lordy-niagara-on-the-lakes-mayor-is-the-only-one-in-canada-referred-to-as-lord-but-as-reporter-monique-beech-discovered-the-titles-official-status-isnt-clear |date=October 2, 2013 }}. ''[[St. Catharines Standard]]'', August 4, 2007.</ref> It had a population of 19,088 as of the [[2021 Canadian census]].

Niagara-on-the-Lake is important in the [[history of Canada]]: it served as the first capital of the province of [[Upper Canada]], the predecessor of Ontario. It was called Newark from 1792 to 1797. During the [[War of 1812]], the town, the two former villages of St. David's and [[Queenston]], and [[Fort George, Ontario|Fort George]] were the sites of numerous battles following the American invasion of Upper Canada, and the town was razed. Niagara-on-the-Lake is home to the oldest [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] church, the second-oldest [[Anglicanism|Anglican]] church in Ontario, and the oldest surviving [[golf course]] in North America.

Today, Niagara-on-the-Lake draws tourists with its [[Colonial architecture|colonial-style]] buildings, the [[Shaw Festival]], Fort George, wineries, an outlet mall on the highway, and its proximity to [[Niagara Falls]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ontariotravel.net/en/explore/niagara/niagara-on-the-lake?WT.mc_id=Ontario_Masterbrand_search_Google_G_SEM_text_Explore28&gclid=Cj0KEQjwrYbIBRCgnY-OluOk89EBEiQAZER58sWOH3a-ST2aLNQ9aI6PjKoIkAsqkclUCaD9WZ-LM9MaAqJ68P8HAQ|title=Things To Do In Niagara on the Lake - OntarioTravel.net|website=www.ontariotravel.net|access-date=April 27, 2017|archive-date=April 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170428052603/https://www.ontariotravel.net/en/explore/niagara/niagara-on-the-lake?WT.mc_id=Ontario_Masterbrand_search_Google_G_SEM_text_Explore28&gclid=Cj0KEQjwrYbIBRCgnY-OluOk89EBEiQAZER58sWOH3a-ST2aLNQ9aI6PjKoIkAsqkclUCaD9WZ-LM9MaAqJ68P8HAQ|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Niagara Region has the second-highest percentage of seniors in Ontario.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.comfortlife.ca/blog/best-places-to-retire-in-ontario-10685/#_ftn6|title=Best places to retire in Ontario|website=www.comfortlife.ca}}</ref>

==History==
Before the British settlers came, the point where Fort Mississauga is situated was inhabited by at least three Native American tribes: the [[Neutral Nation|Neutral]] (15th century); [[Seneca people|Seneca]] (late 17th century); and [[Mississaugas|Mississauga]] (18th century).{{citation needed|date=January 2023}}

The settlement was founded in 1781 as '''Butlersburg''' in honour of Colonel [[John Butler (pioneer)|John Butler]], the commander of [[Butler's Rangers]]. It was later renamed '''West Niagara''' to distinguish it from [[Fort Niagara]].<ref name="maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca">{{cite web|url=https://www.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca/documents/cumberland/default.asp?ID=c014|title=A Century of Sail and Steam on the Niagara River|first=Barlow|last=Cumberland|date=March 12, 2001|website=www.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca}}</ref> It was a British military base and haven for pro-British [[Loyalist (American Revolution)|loyalist]]s fleeing the United States during the volatile aftermath of the [[American Revolution]].<ref name="InfoNiagara.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.infoniagara.com/attractions/notl/history.html|title=Niagara on the Lake History - Historical Events & Facts|website=www.infoniagara.com|access-date=July 23, 2009|archive-date=June 7, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090607103329/http://www.infoniagara.com/attractions/notl/history.html |url-status=dead}}</ref> Renamed '''Newark''' by [[List of lieutenant governors of Ontario|Lieutenant-Governor]] [[John Graves Simcoe]] in 1792, it was the first capital of Upper Canada (now the province of Ontario). The Upper Canada legislature first met at [[Navy Hall]] on September 17, 1792, and met there four more times until June 1796.<ref name="InfoNiagara.com" /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ontarioplaques.com/Plaques/Plaque_Niagara07.html |title=Town of Niagara |website=Ontario's Historical Plaques |publisher=Alan L. Brown|access-date=October 24, 2022}}</ref> In 1797, Simcoe moved the capital to [[York, Upper Canada|York]] because Newark was very close to the border with the U.S. Newark was renamed '''Niagara''' in 1798.<ref name="maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca" />

[[File:McFarland House, daffodil season.jpg|thumb|McFarland House, {{Circa|1800}}]]
[[File:Niagara lodge 2 building.jpg|thumb|Niagara lodge 2, built in 1816]]
[[File:McDougal-Harrison House.jpg|thumb|McDougal-Harrison, built in 1820]]

[[Fort George, Ontario|Fort George]] was built just south of the settlement in 1796–1799. During the War of 1812, Niagara was taken in the [[Battle of Fort George]] by American forces in May 1813 after a two-day bombardment by cannon from Fort Niagara and the American fleet, followed by a fierce battle. After capturing Fort George, the Americans built their own fortifications there. The British retook the fort in December 1813 but abandoned it in 1815. The tiny portion of the fort that still remains has been fully restored.<ref>{{cite web |title=Fort George |website=Ontario's Historical Plaques |publisher=Alan L. Brown |url=https://www.ontarioplaques.com/Plaques/Plaque_Niagara86.html |access-date=October 24, 2022}}</ref> [[Fort Mississauga]] was built starting in 1813 but was not completed until after the war in 1816. During the war, the settlement of Niagara was razed and burnt to the ground by American soldiers as they withdrew to Fort Niagara. (Afterwards, on December 19, 1813, the British captured Fort Niagara.)<ref>{{cite web |title=The Battle of Fort George |url=https://www.ontarioplaques.com/Plaques/Plaque_Niagara85.html |website=Ontario's Historical Plaques |publisher=Alan L. Brown|access-date=October 24, 2022}}</ref> The citizens rebuilt Niagara after the war, with the residential quarter around Queen Street and toward King Street, where the new court house was rebuilt out of range of Fort Niagara's cannons.<ref name="InfoNiagara.com" />

The ''Smith's Canadian Gazetteer'' of 1846 describes "Niagara (formerly called Newark)" as follows:

<blockquote>It has been a place of considerable trade. On the east side of the town is a large military reserve. About half a mile up the river are the ruins of Fort George, where the remains of General Brock were originally interred; they were removed. A new town-hall and court-house are intended to be erected by the town. There is a fire brigade with two engines and a hook and ladder company. Churches and chapels total five. Two newspapers are published weekly ... Steamboats run daily, as long as the weather will allow of it, from Toronto ... The Niagara Harbour and Dock Company were incorporated in the year 1830 ... the vessels turned out by the Company [include] the steamboat "London," which commenced running in the spring of 1845, the fastest boat on the upper lakes ... The Company usually employ about 150 hands; and, when particularly busy, have employed as many as 350. There is also on the premises a marine railway, large enough for hauling up vessels of the first class. Post Office, post every day. Professions and Trades.—Three physicians and surgeons, nine lawyers, twelve stores, taverns, two chemists and druggists, three booksellers and stationers, two saddlers, four wagon makers, two watchmakers, two tallow-chandlers, marble works, two printers, two cabinet makers, one hatter, four bakers, two livery stables, two tinsmiths, three blacksmiths, six tailors, seven shoemakers, one tobacconist, one bank agency,  ... large quantities of apples, peaches, and cider are shipped annually.<ref>{{cite book |last=Smith |first=Wm. H. |date=1846 |title=Smith's Canadian Gazetteer - Statistical and General Information Respecting all parts of the Upper Province, or Canada West|url=https://archive.org/details/smithscanadianga00smit |location=Toronto |publisher=H. & W. Rowsell |page=129 }}</ref></blockquote>

In 1859, the town built its first public school, [[Niagara Public School]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://niagarabb.com/bedandbreakfasts/allison-inn-bed-and-breakfast.html|title=Brancliff Inn circa 1859 at NiagaraBB.com|website=niagarabb.com}}</ref> The town's present name of Niagara-on-the-Lake was adopted around 1880 as a postal address to distinguish the town from [[Niagara Falls, Ontario|Niagara Falls]]. The name was officially adopted in 1970 when the Town of Niagara and the Township of Niagara merged.<ref name="InfoNiagara.com" />

===Historic sites===
Most of the former military sites, such as Fort George, Navy Hall, and [[Butler's Barracks]], have been restored. Fort George's restoration was done as a "Make Work Project," guided by plans from the [[Royal Engineers]] during the [[Great Depression]] of the 1930s, an early example of historic preservation. Fort George National Historic Site is a focal point in a collection of War of 1812 sites, which, collectively, are managed by [[Parks Canada]] under the name Niagara National Historic Sites. That administrative name includes several national historic sites: [[Fort Mississauga]], Mississauga Point Lighthouse (1804, the first on the [[Great Lakes]]), Navy Hall, Butler's Barracks, and [[Queenston Heights]].
[[File:Fort Mississauga National Historic Site of Canada-Niagara-on-the-Lake-Ontario-HPC7616-NHSC433-20240331.jpg|thumb|Fort Mississauga]]
[[Image:Niagara On The Lake cenotaph.jpg|thumb|left|Cenotaph and clock tower]]

Niagara-on-the-Lake features historical plaques.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.niagaraparks.com/niagara-falls-attractions/historic-plaques-and-markers.html|title=Plaques & Markers|website=www.niagaraparks.com}}</ref> Critical battles in defence of Upper Canada took place here, and at nearby at [[Queenston]] and St. David's, both now part of Niagara-on-the-Lake. In one of these, [[Laura Secord]] gained her fame (She is known for having walked 32&nbsp;km out of American-occupied territory in 1813 to warn British forces of an impending American attack).{{clarify|reason=which battle?|date=March 2024}} The town was both as a stop on the [[Underground Railroad]] for those travelling further into Upper Canada and as a refuge in its own right.

Its stock of [[Regency architecture|regency]] and [[Neoclassical architecture|classical revival]] buildings, considered the best in the country from the post-War of 1812 period, led the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada to recommend the town's historic district be designated a [[National Historic Sites of Canada|National Historic Site of Canada]], a designation which was approved in 2003.<ref>[http://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/lhn-nhs/det_E.asp?oqSID=2067&oqeName=Niagara-on-the-Lake&oqfName=Niagara-on-the-Lake Niagara-on-the-Lake]{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }},  Directory of Designations of National Historic Significance of Canada</ref><ref>{{CRHP|14623|Niagara-on-the-Lake}}</ref>  The historic centre had been designated as a provincial Heritage Conservation District under the ''[[Ontario Heritage Act]]'' in 1986. Although it did not make the final list, the historic district was considered for nomination as a [[World Heritage Site]].<ref>[http://www.pc.gc.ca/progs/spm-whs/itm3-/page7_e.asp Parks Canada Tentative List for World Heritage Sites, 2004.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070224042914/http://www.pc.gc.ca/progs/spm-whs/itm3-/page7_e.asp |date=February 24, 2007 }}</ref> The town has other National Historic Sites of Canada within its boundaries: the [[Battle of Fort George|Battlefield of Fort George]]<ref>{{CRHP|15905|Battlefield of Fort George}}</ref> and nearby Fort George,<ref>{{CRHP|7613|Fort George}}</ref> Butler's Barracks,<ref>{{CRHP|7824|Butler's Barracks}}</ref> [[Fort Drummond (Queenston Heights)|Fort Drummond]],<ref>{{CRHP|14547|Fort Drummond}}</ref> [[Fort Mississauga]],<ref>{{CRHP|7616|Fort Mississauga}}</ref> the site of the [[Fort Mississauga#Early uses of the site|Mississauga Point Lighthouse]],<ref>{{CRHP|12012|Mississauga Point Lighthouse}}</ref> the [[Niagara Apothecary]] (the oldest apothecary in Canada),<ref>{{CRHP|9169|Niagara Apothecary}}</ref> the [[Niagara District Court House]],<ref>{{CRHP|10406|Niagara District Court House}}</ref> [[Queenston Heights]],<ref>[http://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/lhn-nhs/det_E.asp?oqSID=0507&oqeName=Queenston+Heights&oqfName=Hauteurs+de+Queenston Queenston Heights]{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }},  Directory of Designations of National Historic Significance of Canada</ref><ref>{{CRHP|7677|Queenston Heights}}</ref> Queenston-Chippawa Hydro-electric Plant,<ref>[http://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/lhn-nhs/det_E.asp?oqSID=0508&oqeName=Queenston%2DChippawa+Hydro%2DElectric+Development&oqfName=Am%E9nagement+hydro%2D%E9lectrique+de+Queenston%2DChippawa Queenston-Chippawa Hydro-electric Plant]{{Dead link|date=August 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }},  Directory of Designations of National Historic Significance of Canada</ref><ref>{{CRHP|17706|Queenston-Chippawa Hydro-electric Plant}}</ref> [[Willowbank, Canada|Willowbank]]<ref>[http://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/lhn-nhs/det_E.asp?oqSID=2069&oqeName=Willowbank&oqfName=Willowbank Willowbank]{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }},  Directory of Designations of National Historic Significance of Canada</ref><ref>{{CRHP|11954|Willowbank}}</ref> and Vrooman's Battery.<ref>{{CRHP|17421|Vrooman's Battery}}</ref>

The Gate House, built after 1849, was the site of the former Wilson's Hotel and the inaugural meeting of the [[Law Society of Upper Canada]] in 1797. John "Irish John Wilson (1744-~1798) was a sergeant with the [[Butler's Rangers]] and Loyalist from New Jersey.<ref name="Untitled Document">{{Cite web | url=http://historicwilson-guyhouse.com/home/home1.html | title=Untitled Document }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://sites.google.com/site/niagarasettlers/upper-canada-land-petitions/petitions-w/petitions-willson-to | title=The Niagara Settlers - Petitions "Willson to Wilmot" }}</ref> The stone foundation of the Gate House is the remains of the hotel after 1849 fire. His son John Wilson Jr. built the nearby Wilson-Guy House.<ref name="Untitled Document"/>

* Other historic sites include the [[Niagara District Court House|Old Court House Theatre]], built in 1847; Queen's Royal Park, the site of the former Queen's Royal Hotel;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.exploringniagara.com/places_to_explore/parks_beaches/queens_royal_park.html|title=Exploring Niagara - Queen's Royal Park|website=www.exploringniagara.com}}</ref> [[St. Mark's Church (Niagara-on-the-Lake)|St. Mark's Church]], the oldest [[Anglican Church]] in Ontario after the [[Mohawk Chapel]]; St. Vincent de Paul, the oldest [[Catholic Church]] in Ontario; the McFarland House, the oldest building in town; the [[Niagara Public School]], built in 1859; and the Niagara Golf Club, the oldest golf course in North America still in use.

==Government==
Niagara-on-the-Lake is within the [[Niagara Falls (federal electoral district)|federal electoral district of Niagara Falls]], currently represented in the [[House of Commons of Canada]] by [[Tony Baldinelli]], and the provincial electoral district of [[Niagara Falls (provincial electoral district)|provincial electoral district of Niagara Falls]], represented in the [[Legislative Assembly of Ontario]] by [[Wayne Gates]].

It is the only municipality in Canada whose elected leader is designated as lord mayor, a title most common in the [[United Kingdom]].<ref name=lordy /> Popular legend suggests [[Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn]] bestowed the title on the mayor of Niagara during a visit to the town in the early 19th century, in recognition of the town's history as the first capital of Upper Canada;<ref name=lordy /> however, there is no record of a mayor using it until Jerry Mussen in the early 1920s, and even afterward the title was used only irregularly until the ''Regional Municipality of Niagara Act'' of 1969 legislated that "The mayor of the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake shall be known as the Lord Mayor."<ref name=lordy /> The town's current lord mayor is Gary Zalepa, as of the 2022 municipal election.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-24 |title='I'm excited for the community:' Gary Zalepa elected Niagara-on-the-Lake's new lord mayor |url=https://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/local-niagara-on-the-lake/news/municipal-election/2022/10/24/gary-zalepa-elected-niagara-on-the-lake-s-new-lord-mayor.html |access-date=2022-10-25 |website=notl.org}}</ref> Previous lord mayors have included [[Betty Disero]], Patrick Darte, Dave Eke, Gary Burroughs, Art Viola, [[Mike Dietsch]], Stan Ignatczyk, Jim Marino, Wilbert Dick, [[Jake Froese]] and Fred Goring.<ref name=lordy />

==Climate==
Niagara-on-the-Lake experiences a [[humid continental climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Dfb'' bordering on ''Dfa'') using the {{convert|0|C|F|}} isotherm but also borders an [[oceanic climate]] (Köppen ''Cfb'') and a [[humid subtropical climate]] (Köppen ''Cfa'') using the {{convert|-3|C|F|}} isotherm, having four seasons, with warm summers, cold winters, and cool to mild autumns and springs. Snowfall is moderate, averaging around 3 feet (92&nbsp;cm) per year, one of the lowest yearly snowfall totals received in all of Ontario. A long shoreline along [[Lake Ontario]] results in more moderate temperatures than neighbouring cities, as well as [[seasonal lag]].

{{Weather box
| location = Niagara-on-the-Lake (1981–2010)
| metric first = yes
| single line = yes
| Jan record high C = 18.0
| Feb record high C = 16.0
| Mar record high C = 23.5
| Apr record high C = 29.0
| May record high C = 33.0
| Jun record high C = 35.0
| Jul record high C = 35.5
| Aug record high C = 34.0
| Sep record high C = 33.0
| Oct record high C = 28.0
| Nov record high C = 22.5
| Dec record high C = 16.5
| year record high C = 35.5
| Jan high C = 0.2
| Feb high C = 0.2
| Mar high C = 4.4
| Apr high C = 10.9
| May high C = 17.6
| Jun high C = 23.4
| Jul high C = 26.3
| Aug high C = 25.3
| Sep high C = 21.0
| Oct high C = 14.8
| Nov high C = 8.4
| Dec high C = 2.2
| year high C = 12.9
| Jan mean C = −3.0
| Feb mean C = −3.2
| Mar mean C = 0.7
| Apr mean C = 6.7
| May mean C = 12.6
| Jun mean C = 18.4
| Jul mean C = 21.7
| Aug mean C = 20.9
| Sep mean C = 16.6
| Oct mean C = 10.7
| Nov mean C = 5.0
| Dec mean C = −0.8
| year mean C = 8.9
| Jan low C = -6.3
| Feb low C = -6.6
| Mar low C = -3.0
| Apr low C = 2.4
| May low C = 7.5
| Jun low C = 13.4
| Jul low C = 17.0
| Aug low C = 16.4
| Sep low C = 12.2
| Oct low C = 6.5
| Nov low C = 1.5
| Dec low C = -3.8
| year low C = 4.8
| Jan record low C = -26.0
| Feb record low C = -20.0
| Mar record low C = -16.0
| Apr record low C = -9.5
| May record low C = -1.5
| Jun record low C = 4.0
| Jul record low C = 8.5
| Aug record low C = 5.0
| Sep record low C = 1.0
| Oct record low C = -5.0
| Nov record low C = -10.0
| Dec record low C = -19.5
| year record low C = -26.0
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 55.1
| Feb precipitation mm = 51.0
| Mar precipitation mm = 57.7
| Apr precipitation mm = 81.1
| May precipitation mm = 81.9
| Jun precipitation mm = 75.8
| Jul precipitation mm = 79.2
| Aug precipitation mm = 74.9
| Sep precipitation mm = 91.8
| Oct precipitation mm = 76.8
| Nov precipitation mm = 88.1
| Dec precipitation mm = 66.5
| year precipitation mm = 879.6
| rain colour = green
| Jan rain mm = 30.1
| Feb rain mm = 23.8
| Mar rain mm = 43.5
| Apr rain mm = 76.6
| May rain mm = 81.9
| Jun rain mm = 75.8
| Jul rain mm = 79.2
| Aug rain mm = 74.9
| Sep rain mm = 91.8
| Oct rain mm = 76.8
| Nov rain mm = 84.1
| Dec rain mm = 49.0
| year rain mm = 787.4
| Jan snow cm = 24.9
| Feb snow cm = 27.2
| Mar snow cm = 14.1
| Apr snow cm = 4.5
| May snow cm = 0.0
| Jun snow cm = 0.0
| Jul snow cm = 0.0
| Aug snow cm = 0.0
| Sep snow cm = 0.0
| Oct snow cm = 0.0
| Nov snow cm = 4.0
| Dec snow cm = 17.5
| year snow cm = 92.2
| unit precipitation days = 0.2 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 14.6
| Feb precipitation days = 10.8
| Mar precipitation days = 12.6
| Apr precipitation days = 14.2
| May precipitation days = 12.6
| Jun precipitation days = 11.3
| Jul precipitation days = 11.0
| Aug precipitation days = 11.5
| Sep precipitation days = 12.5
| Oct precipitation days = 13.8
| Nov precipitation days = 15.7
| Dec precipitation days = 13.5
| year precipitation days = 154.3
| unit rain days = 0.2 mm
| Jan rain days = 6.9
| Feb rain days = 5.0
| Mar rain days = 9.5
| Apr rain days = 13.1
| May rain days = 12.6
| Jun rain days = 11.3
| Jul rain days = 11.0
| Aug rain days = 11.5
| Sep rain days = 12.5
| Oct rain days = 13.8
| Nov rain days = 14.4
| Dec rain days = 8.5
| year rain days = 130.3
| unit snow days = 0.2 cm
| Jan snow days = 8.8
| Feb snow days = 6.9
| Mar snow days = 4.3
| Apr snow days = 1.6
| May snow days = 0.0
| Jun snow days = 0.0
| Jul snow days = 0.0
| Aug snow days = 0.0
| Sep snow days = 0.0
| Oct snow days = 0.0
| Nov snow days = 1.5
| Dec snow days = 6.1
| year snow days = 29.1
| source 1 = [[Environment Canada]]<ref>{{cite web
| publisher = [[Environment Canada]]
| url = ftp://ftp.tor.ec.gc.ca/Pub/Normals/English/ONT/ONT_GORE-OTTA_ENG.csv
| title = Niagara On the Lake, Ontario
| work = Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200718042915/ftp://ftp.tor.ec.gc.ca/Pub/Normals/English/ONT/ONT_GORE-OTTA_ENG.csv
| archive-date = 2020-07-18
| url-status = dead
| access-date = August 21, 2019}}</ref>
| source = 
}}

==Demographics==
{| cellpadding="1" style="float:right; margin:0 1em 1em 0; border:1px #bbb solid; border-collapse:collapse; font-size:90%;"
|- style="text-align:center;" bgcolor="#cccccc"
!Census
!Population
|- style="text-align:right;"
|1871
|1,600
|- style="text-align:right;"
|1901
|1,258
|- style="text-align:right;"
|1911
|1,318
|- style="text-align:right;"
|1921
|1,357
|- style="text-align:right;"
|1931
|1,228
|- style="text-align:right;"
|1941
|1,541
|- style="text-align:right;"
|1951
|2,712
|- style="text-align:right;"
|1961
|2,108
|- style="text-align:right;"
|1971
|12,552
|- style="text-align:right;"
|1981
|12,186
|- style="text-align:right;"
|1991
|12,945
|- style="text-align:right;"
|2001
|13,839
|- style="text-align:right;"
|2006
|14,587
|- style="text-align:right;"
|2011
|15,400
|- style="text-align:right;"
|2016
|17,511
|- style="text-align:right;"
|2021
|19,088
|}

In the [[2021 Canadian census|2021 Census of Population]] conducted by [[Statistics Canada]], Niagara-on-the-Lake had a population of {{val|19088|fmt=commas}} living in {{val|7857|fmt=commas}} of its {{val|8578|fmt=commas}} total private dwellings, a change of {{percentage|{{#expr:19088-17511}}|17511|1}} from its 2016 population of {{val|17511|fmt=commas}}. With a land area of {{convert|131.35|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, it had a population density of {{Pop density|19088|131.35|km2|sqmi|prec=1}} in 2021.<ref name=2021census>{{cite web | url=https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810000203&geocode=A000235 | title=Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions (municipalities), Ontario | publisher=[[Statistics Canada]] | date=February 9, 2022 | accessdate=March 30, 2022}}</ref>

==Communities==
[[File:Edward Walsh - Queenstown, Upper Canada on the Niagara (a.k.a. Queenston, Ontario).jpg|thumb|left|[[Queenston, Ontario|Queenston]], {{Circa|1805|lk=no}}, by Army surgeon Edward Walsh]]
[[File:Brock's Monument at Queenston Heights, Ontario.JPG|thumb|Brock's Monument at Queenston Heights, Ontario]]
In addition to the primary town site of Niagara-on-the-Lake (the Old Town), the town also includes the settlements of Colemans, Homer, McNab, Mississauga Beach, [[Queenston, Ontario|Queenston]], St. Davids, and Virgil.<ref>{{cite web | title =  Niagara-on-the-Lake | publisher = Statistics Canada | date = November 2, 2016 | url = https://www23.statcan.gc.ca/imdb/p3VD.pl?CLV=4&CPV=3526047&CST=01012011&CVD=116949&Function=getVD&MLV=4&TVD=116940}}</ref> In June 2024, the museum for the town received funding from [[Library and Archives Canada]] to document [[oral histories]] about the Mennonite community in Virgil.<ref>{{cite web |title=NOTL Museum receives grant to document Mennonite History |url=https://www.notllocal.com/local-news/notl-museum-receives-grant-to-document-mennonite-history-8935971 |website=NOTL Local |date=June 2024 |access-date=13 August 2024}}</ref>

Glendale is located near the junction of the Queen Elizabeth Way [[QEW]], [[Ontario Highway 405|Highway 405]], and [[Highway 55 (Ontario)|Highway 55]], and adjacent to the [[Welland Canal]]. It is home to the Niagara-on-the-Lake campus of [[Niagara College]] and a large outdoor shopping mall.

Virgil, just southwest of the Old Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, is the area most visited by tourists. The community has a large [[Mennonite]] community, who settled in the area from Russia in the early to mid-20th century. Virgil has a large sports park, serving as the centre of Niagara-on-the-Lake's bustling hockey, softball, lacrosse and soccer leagues, two arenas, three baseball diamonds and a skate park. Once a year, on the Victoria Day weekend in May, the community holds its "Virgil Stampede." The festival includes rides, attractions and its annual soccer start-up tournament. Virgil's educational institutions are St. Michael's Elementary School and Crossroads Public School, which opened in September 2011, amalgamating the now-closed Virgil and Colonel John Butler Public Schools. The town's only secondary school, Niagara District, was closed by the [[District School Board of Niagara]] in 2010.

The Old Town also had an elementary school on King Street: Parliament Oak Public School. It was on the site of the signing of the [[Act Against Slavery]] of 1793, by the first legislative session of the parliament of Upper Canada.<ref>{{Cite web|title=VF 03 Parliament Oak School and the 1793 Act Against Slavery|url=https://www.guidetags.com/friends-of-laura-secord/explore/laura-secord-heritage-routes/938-vf-03-parliament-oak-school-and-the-1793-act-against-slavery|access-date=2021-04-12|website=Friends of Laura Secord}}</ref> The school was closed on June 25, 2015.<ref>{{cite web|last=Cheevers|first=Melinda|date=June 17, 2015|title=Community says farewell to Parliament Oak|url=http://m.niagarathisweek.com/community-story/5682260-community-says-farewell-to-parliament-oak/|website=niagarathisweek.com}}</ref>

* St. Davids Public School serves Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8 students in the southern part of the municipality.
* St. Michael Catholic Elementary School serves Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8 students in the southern part of the municipality.
* Crossroads Elementary School serves Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8 students in the northern part of the municipality.
* High school students now take a bus to Laura Secord in St. Catharines or to A.N. Myer in Niagara Falls.

==Economy==

===Tourism===
[[File:Queen's Royal Park gazebo.jpg|thumb|Niagara-on-the-Lake beach, 2021]]
The town is home to the [[Shaw Festival]], Canada's second largest producing theatre and a repertory company featuring the works of [[George Bernard Shaw]], his contemporaries, or plays about his era (1856–1950), running from April to December. The festival operates four theatres in the centre of town: the Festival, The Jackie Maxwell Studio, The Royal George, and the Court House Theatre. The Festival produces over 750 performances annually, featuring its lauded repertory ensemble and employs over 520 artists, artisans and artsworkers locally.

Along the Niagara Parkway is [[RiverBrink Art Museum]] in [[Queenston]]. It is home to a collection of over 1,400 artworks and artifacts by Canadian and international artists assembled by Samuel E. Weir. Completed in 1970, the building features Georgian-style architecture, including a mansard roof and gabled windows. It served as Weir's country residence and was converted into an art museum following his death in 1981.

[[File:NiagaraPublicSchool.jpg|right|200px|thumb|The old [[Niagara Public School]], today a [[bed and breakfast]]]]

Niagara-on-the-Lake is home to many shops, restaurants, wineries, and a growing number of breweries. Historic Old Town is a popular shopping and dining destination. In 2014, Niagara-on-the-Lake also opened an open-air outlet mall, the [[Outlet Collection at Niagara]], which is Canada's largest open-air outlet mall.

===Film location shooting===
{{More citations needed section|date=October 2021}}
Films that have used Niagara-on-the-Lake as a filming location include:
*''[[When Michael Calls]]'', also released as ''Shattered Silence'' (1972), starring [[Michael Douglas]], [[Ben Gazzara]] and [[Elizabeth Ashley]]
*''[[The Dead Zone (film)|The Dead Zone]]'' (1983), starring [[Christopher Walken]], [[Martin Sheen]], [[Brooke Adams (actress)|Brooke Adams]] and [[Tom Skerritt]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Famed gazebo prop for movie |url=https://www.niagarathisweek.com/whatson-story/3288024-famed-gazebo-prop-for-movie/ |newspaper=Niagarathisweek.com |access-date=27 October 2021}}</ref>
*''[[Samuel Lount (film)|Samuel Lount]]'' (1985)
*''[[The Experts (1989 film)|The Experts]]'' (1989), starring [[John Travolta]], [[Arye Gross]] and [[Kelly Preston]]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Davies |first1=Tanya |title=People |url=https://archive.macleans.ca/article/1999/6/21/people |website=MacLean's |access-date=27 October 2021 |archive-date=October 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027225719/https://archive.macleans.ca/article/1999/6/21/people |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*''[[Trapped in Paradise]]'' (1994), starring [[Nicolas Cage]], [[Dana Carvey]] and [[Jon Lovitz]]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Simon |first1=Jeff |title=Paradise Lost Redemption is a Reach for Three Idiot Brothers |url=https://buffalonews.com/news/paradise-lost-redemption-is-a-reach-for-three-idiot-brothers/article_bff6ab1a-2187-52ed-b4e6-1ce8a7b8506d.html |website=The Buffalo News |date=December 2, 1994 |access-date=October 27, 2021}}</ref>
*''[[The Ref]]'' (1994), starring [[Denis Leary]], [[Judy Davis]] and [[Kevin Spacey]]
*''[[Canadian Bacon (film)|Canadian Bacon]]'' (1995), starring [[John Candy]], [[Alan Alda]] and [[Rhea Perlman]]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Scheer |first1=Mark |title=SCHEER: Remembering 'Canadian Bacon' |url=https://www.niagara-gazette.com/opinion/scheer-remembering-canadian-bacon/article_d5f8d0bf-6c87-5390-9f19-4f14fe250b7c.html |website=Niagara Gazette |date=September 22, 2020 |access-date=October 27, 2021}}</ref>
*''That Old Feeling'' (1997)
*''An All American Fairytale'' (2001)
*''[[Amelia (film)|Amelia]]'' (2009), starring [[Richard Gere]], [[Hilary Swank]], and [[Ewan McGregor]]

==Transportation==
Niagara-on-the-Lake can be reached by the [[Queen Elizabeth Way]], a highway that stretches to [[Fort Erie, Ontario|Fort Erie]] to the south, [[Hamilton, Ontario|Hamilton]] to the west and curves around Lake Ontario to Toronto.  Public transportation is served by [[Niagara-on-the-Lake Transit]].

==Sports==
Niagara-on-the-Lake has a long history of recreational boating.  There are 2 boat clubs located there.  Niagara-on-the-Lake Sailing Club is located at 10 Melville Street, Niagara-On-The-Lake.<ref>{{Cite web | title=NOLSC - Sailing Club - Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario | url=https://niagaraonthelakesailingclub.com/ | access-date=2025-05-19 | website=niagaraonthelakesailingclub.com}}</ref>  Smuggler's Cove Boat Club is located at 16001 Niagara River Parkway,  
Niagara-On-The-Lake.<ref>{{Cite web | title=Smuggler's Cove Boat Club – Niagara's Hidden Treasure | url=https://smugglerscoveboatclub.com/ | access-date=2025-05-19 | website=smugglerscoveboatclub.com}}</ref>  
{{unreferenced section|date=December 2022}}
Niagara-on-the-Lake has a junior men's hockey team, [[Niagara Predators]] in the [[Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League]].

The current team was first registered as Toronto Predators from 2013 to 2020 and relocated after the cancelled 2020–2021 season to NOTL to playoff in the Meridian Credit Union arena located in Virgil.

The team replaced the [[Niagara-on-the-Lake Nationals]], which joined as a Junior A team in 2018–2019 sponsored by the local bar Bricks and Barley.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.eliteprospects.com/team/26527/niagara-on-the-lake-nationals | title=Niagara-on-the-Lake Nationals - Roster, News, Stats & more }}</ref> The Nationals left the [[Canadian Premier Junior Hockey League]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.niagarathisweek.com/life/niagara-on-the-lake-lands-junior-hockey-team/article_80ba730b-653d-543f-bd25-7ebcad1cf972.html | title=Niagara-on-the-Lake lands junior hockey team | date=May 4, 2018 }}</ref> but announced that the team would fold after their first season due to poor attendance, but returned to play the following season.

The Predators play at the 500 seat Meridian Credit Union Arena across from Centennial Sports Park. Built in 2003–2005 the rink has seating and attached to the smaller Centennial Arena built in 1967.<ref>{{Cite web| title=Facilities Master Plan - WalterFedy's Building Condition Assessment | url=https://domino.notl.com/sites/notl/NOTLCOTW.nsf/vwReports/439F93256EEA59368525828D004F3F1D/$file/OPS-18-018.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240523165400/https://domino.notl.com/sites/notl/NOTLCOTW.nsf/vwReports/439F93256EEA59368525828D004F3F1D/$file/OPS-18-018.pdf | archive-date=2024-05-23}}</ref>

Niagara-on-the-Lake also has a Men's soccer team, the Lakers, which plays in the Peninsula Soccer League (PSL). The team was formed in the 2019 season and sponsored by a local bar, Sand Trap.

Niagara-on-the-Lake also has a rich history in the sport of lacrosse.

==Awards and recognition==
The Town of Niagara was the site of the [[8th World Scout Jamboree]] in 1955. Over 11,000 Scouts from 71 countries attended the Jamboree. It was the first to be held outside Europe and had the theme "Jamboree of New Horizons." Niagara-on-the-Lake was named the Prettiest Town in Canada in 1996 by [[Communities in Bloom]], a nationwide beautification programme.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/travel/20040723-082951-9863r.htm|title=Town full of charms in Ontario|work=The Washington Times }}</ref> The town is now a popular tourist destination, located at the northern terminus of the [[Niagara Parkway]], a scenic drive and biking/walking path.

==See also==
*[[List of townships in Ontario]]

==References==
{{reflist|33em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario}}
{{wikivoyage|Niagara-on-the-Lake}}
*{{Official website|https://notl.org/}}
<!-- Please do not add commercial links here. Wikipedia is not a collection of links or a propaganda machine. Any changes that look like commercial link spam will be reverted. Thanks. -->

{{Geographic location|
North=''[[Lake Ontario]]''|
West=[[St. Catharines]]|
Center=Niagara-on-the-Lake|
East=''[[Niagara River]]'' / {{flagicon|US}}{{flagicon|NY}} [[Porter, New York|Porter]], [[Youngstown, New York|Youngstown]], [[Lewiston (town), New York|Lewiston]]|
South=[[Niagara Falls, Ontario|Niagara Falls]]}}

{{RegionalNiagara}}
{{NHSC}}
{{Great Lakes Megalopolis}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Niagara-on-the-Lake| ]]
[[Category:Lower-tier municipalities in Ontario]]
[[Category:Upper Canada]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1781]]
[[Category:Populated places on Lake Ontario in Canada]]
[[Category:Towns in Ontario]]
[[Category:Former colonial capitals in Canada]]
[[Category:1781 establishments in the Province of Quebec (1763–1791)]]