Haldimand County

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, and the Regional Municipality of Niagara.
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. 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. From 1974 to 2000, Haldimand County and Norfolk County were merged to form the Regional Municipality of Haldimand-Norfolk. See Regional Municipality of Haldimand–Norfolk and Norfolk County History for the period when Haldimand and Norfolk were governed as a single unit.
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.
Canborough, area . 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 . Opened for settlement in 1833. Community centre: Dunnville
Moulton, area . Landowner Henry John Boulton named the township from the Boulton family seat in England.
North Cayuga, area .
Oneida, area . 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 Community centres: Balmoral, Selkirk, Rainham Centre and Fisherville.
Seneca, area . Community centres: York and Caledonia
Sherbrooke, area , 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 .
Walpole, area . Community centres were: Hagersville, Jarvis, Selkirk, Cheapside and Nanticoke.
Climate
Demographics
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Haldimand County had a population of living in of its total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of . With a land area of , it had a population density of in 2021.
Ethnicity
Only ethnic groups that comprise greater than 1% of the population are included. Note that a person can report more than one group.
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.
Religion
As of the 2021 census, there were 29,380 citizens identifying as Christian and 18,200 as non-religious and secular perspectives.
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
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. 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
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.
Protected areas
Haldimand Conservation Area
Selkirk Provincial Park
Taquanyah Conservation Area
Hedley Forest Conservation Area
Canborough Conservation Area
Ruigrok Tract Conservation Area
Oswego Conservation Area
Byng Island Conservation Area
Rock Point Provincial Park
Mohawk Island National Wildlife Area
Attractions
Townsend Planned Community (1970)
Nanticoke Generating Station
Natural Landmarks
Canadian Heritage Grand River
Grand Valley Trail
Byng Island Conservation Area and Pool
Seneca Park & Rotary Riverside Trail
Activities
Toronto Motorsports Park (Dragway Park)
Jukasa Motor Speedway
Grand River Dinner Cruises
Killman Zoo
Caledonia Fair
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
Haldimand House & Oasis Drive-In
Caledonia Old Mill
Indiana Ghost Town
Ruthven Park National Historic Site Mansion and Park
Cottonwood Mansion
Caledonia Grand Trunk Station
No. 6 RCAF Dunnville Museum
Port Maitland Outer Range Lighthouse and Pier
Canadian Drilling Rig Museum
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 San Jose Sharks Head Coach Peter DeBoer
Birthplace of Ottawa Senators 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".
Late NHL goaltender Ray Emery, who won Stanley Cup in 2013
Marty McSorley, retired NHL player
Neil Peart, drummer of the Canadian rock group Rush.
See also
List of townships in Ontario and Haldimand County
Notes
References
External links
Cities in Ontario
Former counties in Ontario
Single-tier municipalities in Ontario
Populated places disestablished in 1974
Southwestern Ontario
Populated places on Lake Erie in Canada