Huron Shores is a municipality in the Canadian province of Ontario, located along the North Channel of Lake Huron in the Algoma District.[3]

Huron Shores
Municipality of Huron Shores
Municipal building in Iron Bridge
Municipal building in Iron Bridge
Huron Shores is located in Ontario
Huron Shores
Huron Shores
Coordinates: 46°17′N 83°12′W / 46.283°N 83.200°W / 46.283; -83.200
CountryCanada
ProvinceOntario
DistrictAlgoma
Established1999
Government
 • TypeTown
 • MayorMatthew Seabrook
 • MPCarol Hughes (NDP)
 • MPPMichael Mantha (NDP)
Area
 • Land457.35 km2 (176.58 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
 • Total1,860
 • Density3.8/km2 (10/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
Postal code
P0R 1H0
Area code705
Websitewww.huronshores.ca
Highway 17 and bridge over the Mississagi River in Iron Bridge.

The municipality was created in 1999 through the amalgamation of the former Township of Thessalon, Township of Thompson, Townships of Day and Bright Additional, and the former village of Iron Bridge. Huron Shores also surrounds the town of Thessalon and the Thessalon First Nation, but neither are part of the municipality.

Communities

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The main communities in the township are Iron Bridge, Sowerby and Little Rapids. Smaller communities include Ansonia, Day Mills, Dayton, Dean Lake, Eley, Livingstone, Livingstone Creek, Maple Ridge, Nestorville, Sherwood and Sunset Beach.

The municipality officers are located in Iron Bridge, which was originally named Tally-Ho for the call that the lumberjacks would make upon reaching a trading post, Iron Bridge was renamed in the early 1900s after the bridge built over the nearby Mississagi River.[4] Its most notable tourist attractions are its snowmobile trails, nearby wilderness areas for hunting and fishing, and the Voyageur Hiking Trail which passes through the town of Iron Bridge.

As a formerly independent village, Iron Bridge retains the status of designated place in Canadian censuses. It had a population of 632 in the Canada 2011 Census, up from 614 in the 2006 census.[5]

Recreation

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The municipality has numerous recreation centres and community halls which are used frequently for local events. These centres are located throughout the municipality and include:

  • Thessalon Township Community Centre
  • Little Rapids Gazebo and Ballpark softball field with gazebo shelter
  • Sowerby Hall
  • Historic Cordukes/Weber 12-Sided Barn
  • Iron Bridge Recreation Centre (Arena)
  • Thompson Hall Community Gym

Many of these community centres have significant historical connections. The Thessalon Township Community Centre is the former Little Rapids one-room school house. The Cordukes/Weber 12-Sided Barn is one of only three 12-sided barns in Canada. It was originally built in 1919 and was restored and relocated to its present site in 2010.[6]

Huron Shores is home to two museum: the Iron Bridge Historical Museum in Iron Bridge and the Heritage Park Museum in Little Rapids. The Iron Bridge Historical Museum is dedicated to preserving the heritage of the town and the surrounding communities which make up Huron Shores. The museum is open seasonally in July and August and consists of a number of historical buildings from the area including two pioneer log houses.[7] The Heritage Park Museum was established in 1977 to preserve the heritage of the Huron Shores region. The heritage site is open in July and August and is well known locally for its annual county fair and auction which occurs every civic holiday weekend. The Museum is operated by the Thessalon Township Heritage Committee, a committee within the municipality of Huron Shores.[8]

There is a substantial farming community in Huron Shores. During the summer months many local farmers and food producers participate in local farmers' markets held at the 12-sided Round Barn heritage site and the Iron Bridge Historical Museum.[9]

The municipality is also home to a number of publicly accessible lakes and rivers. The outdoors are one of the main attractions of the area with many visitors coming to the area to fish, hunt, or enjoy the water. It includes several islands, including Clinton Island.[10]

Demographics

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In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Huron Shores had a population of 1,860 living in 834 of its 1,171 total private dwellings, a change of 11.8% from its 2016 population of 1,664. With a land area of 451.87 km2 (174.47 sq mi), it had a population density of 4.1/km2 (10.7/sq mi) in 2021.[2]

Canada census – Huron Shores community profile
202120162011
Population1,860 (+11.8% from 2016)1,664 (-3.4% from 2011)1,723 (+1.6% from 2006)
Land area451.87 km2 (174.47 sq mi)457.35 km2 (176.58 sq mi)455.59 km2 (175.90 sq mi)
Population density4.1/km2 (11/sq mi)3.6/km2 (9.3/sq mi)3.8/km2 (9.8/sq mi)
Median age56.4 (M: 56.4, F: 56.4)48.7 (M: 49.1, F: 48.3)
Private dwellings1,171 (total)  834 (occupied)1,253 (total)  1,258 (total) 
Median household income$67,500$55,552
References: 2021[11] 2016[12] 2011[13] earlier[14][15]

Population:[16][17][1]

  • Population in 2016: 1,664
  • Population in 2011: 1,723
  • Population in 2006: 1,696
  • Population in 2001: 1,794
  • Population total in 1996: 1,877
    • Day and Bright Additional: 217
    • Iron Bridge: 777
    • Thessalon: 758
    • Thompson: 125
  • Population in 1991:
    • Day and Bright Additional: 249
    • Iron Bridge: 823
    • Thessalon: 771
    • Thompson: 119

Languages:[1]

  • English as first language: 94.0%
  • French as first language: 5.7%
  • English and French as first language: 0%
  • Other as first language: 0.3%

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Census Profile, 2016 Census: Huron Shores, Municipality". Statistics Canada. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions (municipalities), Ontario". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  3. ^ "Huron Shores". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada.
  4. ^ "History". Municipality of Huron Shores. Archived from the original on June 30, 2016. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
  5. ^ "Iron Bridge, Ontario census profile". 2011 Census of Population. Statistics Canada. Retrieved 2012-02-17.[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ Keenan, Tom (October 22, 2010). "More sides the merrier - Not only is Huron Shores blessed by two of three 12-sided barns in Canada, one has been pegged for public functions". MSault Star. Archived from the original on October 22, 2016. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
  7. ^ "Iron Bridge Historical Museum". Visit A Museum. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
  8. ^ "You're invited to the county fair". Sootoday.com. July 19, 2014. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
  9. ^ "Farmers Market Directory". buyalgoma.ca. 2016. Archived from the original on June 9, 2016. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
  10. ^ "Clinton Island". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada.
  11. ^ "2021 Community Profiles". 2021 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. February 4, 2022. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  12. ^ "2016 Community Profiles". 2016 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. August 12, 2021. Retrieved 2019-06-09.
  13. ^ "2011 Community Profiles". 2011 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. March 21, 2019. Retrieved 2012-02-17.
  14. ^ "2006 Community Profiles". 2006 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. August 20, 2019.
  15. ^ "2001 Community Profiles". 2001 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. July 18, 2021.
  16. ^ Statistics Canada: 1996, 2001, 2006 census
  17. ^ "Huron Shores census profile". 2011 Census of Population. Statistics Canada. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2012-02-17.
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