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Simcoe, Ontario

Simcoe is an unincorporated community and former town in Southwestern Ontario, Canada near Lake Erie. It is the county seat and largest community of Norfolk County.[1] Simcoe is at the junction of Highway 3, at Highway 24, due south of Brantford, and accessible to Hamilton by nearby Highway 6. The largest of the communities in Norfolk County, Simcoe had a population of 16,121 at the time of the 2021 Census.[2]

Simcoe, Ontario
Unincorporated Community in Norfolk County
Governor Simcoe Square – Main Offices of Norfolk County
Motto: 
Ontario's Garden
Simcoe, Ontario
Location in southern Ontario
Coordinates: 42°50′0″N 80°18′0″W / 42.83333°N 80.30000°W / 42.83333; -80.30000
CountryCanada
ProvinceOntario
Established1795
Amalgamated2001
Government
 • MayorAmy Martin
 • Governing BodyThe Council of The Corporation of Norfolk County
 • MPsLeslyn Lewis (Con)
 • MPPsBobbi Ann Brady (Independent)
Elevation
224 m (735 ft)
Population
 (2021)
16,121
Time zoneUTC−5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Forward sortation area
Area code(s)519 and 226
Websitewww.norfolkcounty.ca

History edit

Simcoe was founded in 1795 by Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe.[3] Initially, the settlement consisted of two distinct areas, Birdtown, named by William Bird who arrived in the early 1800s and the Queensway which grew up around Aron Culver's sawmill and grist mill in the 1820s. The post office opened in 1829 and was called Simcoe. In 1837, the village became the seat of government of the then Talbot District.[4]

A historical plaque adds that Lieutenant-Governor Simcoe gave land to Aaron Culver in 1795 on the agreement that he would build mills; after they were in operation, a hamlet formed by 1812, although it was burned down by American troops in 1814. Between 1819 and 1823 Culver laid out a village; streets were surveyed in 1835 to 1836.[5]

Records from 1846 indicate that the settlement was far from any major roads and had little communication with areas outside of Brantford, and that a stone court house and jail had already been built; the courthouse would be destroyed by fire in 1863 and rebuilt.[6] There were three churches, Methodist, Baptist, and Congregationalist A weekly newspaper is published here, the Long Point Advocate. The population was about 1,400. The post office was receiving mail daily. This settlement contained the offices of the Judge of District Court, Sheriff, Clerk of Peace, Inspector of Licenses, Crown Lands Agent, District Clerk, Treasurer, Clerk of District Court, Deputy Clerk of Crown and the Superintendent of Schools. Already operating were two grist-mills, two sawmills, a brewery, two distilleries, a foundry, a fulling mill, nine stores, six taverns, two druggists, a bank (Gore)(absorbed into Canadian Bank of Commerce) and many tradesmen.[7]

The population in 1850 was about 1600; in that year, Simcoe became the County seat of Norfolk County.[5] It had increased to 2100 by 1869 and two banks had opened.[8]

Simcoe was incorporated as a town in 1878 and had its own town council and mayor until December 31, 2000. In 2001, the town was amalgamated with Delhi, Norfolk and half of Nanticoke to become Norfolk County.

During the 20th century, passed their first tree conservation by-law in 1947. This law was revised in 2000 as a part of Norfolk County's Forestry Act. Around 350 applications for tree cutting permits are sent to Norfolk council per year. For every 100 acres of undeveloped land in Norfolk County, more than 25 of those acres are considered to be forested.[9] Most of these forests can be found within 10 miles or 16 kilometres of downtown Simcoe and are open for exploration except during periods of heavy snow.

Community and culture edit

One of the town's notable landmarks is the Norfolk County Memorial Tower, which commemorates the lives of Canadians who died for Canada in conflicts overseas.[10] The Memorial Tower overlooks scenic Wellington Park, a public greenspace that includes walking paths and a waterway system with a small lake, close to the downtown core.

Simcoe's main cemetery is Oakwood Cemetery.

A cultural club for people of Croatian descent operates in this town; the formal name given to this organization is the 531st branch of the Croatian Fraternal Union.[11] First organized by Franjo Bertovic during the 1990s, he went on to found other Croatian Fraternal Unions throughout Canada and Croatia.[12] Members of this fraternal benefit society refer to the club as the Simcoe Croatian Club when not in formal conversation. Expenses for sick workers in addition to their funeral expenses are often partially covered through its members' benefits.

The historic Molson Bank operated here from May 1898 until sometime in the 1920s; when the Bank of Montreal took over the building. Alterations made to the building within those decades would allow twice as much banking to take place. Fifteen more people were hired during the expansion of the bank in the early 20th century; bringing white collar jobs to the town.[13]

Many of Simcoe's buildings feature the International style of architecture; typical of the period between 1920 and 1950[14] while residential buildings from the 1850s use the Gothic Revival style of architecture.[15] The relatively tall buildings that came out of the "International" style (compared to the buildings in Simcoe prior to the 1950s) were used to make Simcoe into a more international destination for people to live, work, and admire. A couple of buildings in the downtown core even blend "International" elements with the Art Deco style of architecture; bringing bright colors and illusions of rapid movement into the building design.[14]

The only operating alligator tugboat remaining in the world, the W.D. Stalker, is in Simcoe.[16]

Simcoe has a radio station, 98.9 myFM, and two newspapers: The Simcoe Reformer and the Norfolk News. CHCH-DT in Hamilton is the nearest broadcast television station along with CKCO-DT in Kitchener and CIII-DT (a Toronto station with a repeater in Paris, Ontario). CHCH (channel 11 on Eastlink Cable - formerly Amtelecom Cable) is mostly a news channel while CKCO (CTV Two) and CIII (Global) offer a variety of entertainment choices during prime time (7 PM through 11 PM on weekdays).

Major local festivals include the Rotary-sponsored Friendship Festival, the Norfolk County Fair and Horse Show, and the winter light show of Panorama. Simcoe was one of the communities in Canada that relayed the Olympic torch, which travelled from Athens, Greece to Vancouver for the 21st Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, British Columbia.[17]

The Simcoe Santa Claus Parade has been historically held on the weekend following Remembrance Day. During the heyday of this event in the 1950s, the town would stop operating for one afternoon for people to enjoy the festivities.[18] In recent years, the parade has held a lower profile; with people preferring "warm weather" events like the Friendship Festival and the Norfolk County Fair.

Climate edit

Simcoe, like all of Norfolk County, Ontario has a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb). Winters are cold with a January average of −7.8 °C (18.0 °F) in January and most days have maximum temperatures below 0 °C (32 °F). Though winters are cold, mild stretches of weather can bring temperatures above 10 °C (50 °F) in January. The average annual snowfall is 133 centimetres (52 in), with maximum accumulations of it occurring in February when the snow depth is 10 centimetres (4 in). Summers are warm and humid with a July high of 27 °C (81 °F) and a July low of 15 °C (59 °F). Temperatures above 30 °C (86 °F) occur 10 days per year. The average annual precipitation is 1,010 millimetres (40 in), which is relatively evenly distributed throughout the year. Delhi averages 2021 hours of bright sunshine per year or 43% of daylight hours, ranging from a low of 21.2% in December to 62.2% in July.[19]

The hottest day ever recorded for Simcoe was on August 28, 1973 when the local weather station registered temperatures up to 36.1 °C (97.0 °F).[20] Simcoe's coldest ever temperatures occurred on January 18, 1976 when temperatures of −29.4 °C (−20.9 °F) were detected by local weather authorities.[20] Traditionally, temperatures have ranged between −1.1 °C (30.0 °F) in January to 25.6 °C (78.1 °F) in July during times of moderate climate.[21][22]

As a rural community, Simcoe is generally 10% drier than the major cities of Toronto, Hamilton, and Ottawa. It is also 25 times less likely to face smog-related problems between the months of June and September than metropolitan cities like London, Windsor, and Sarnia. Sunny days tend to last 15% longer; granting more needed sunlight for summer days in addition to forestalling the cold and dark winter nights.[23]

Climate data for Simcoe (1971-2000)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 18.3
(64.9)
16.0
(60.8)
25.0
(77.0)
29.5
(85.1)
33.0
(91.4)
36.7
(98.1)
40.6
(105.1)
36.7
(98.1)
36.1
(97.0)
31.7
(89.1)
25.0
(77.0)
19.5
(67.1)
40.6
(105.1)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −2.1
(28.2)
−1.3
(29.7)
4.4
(39.9)
11.9
(53.4)
19.3
(66.7)
24.4
(75.9)
27.0
(80.6)
25.7
(78.3)
20.9
(69.6)
14.2
(57.6)
7.2
(45.0)
1.0
(33.8)
12.7
(54.9)
Daily mean °C (°F) −5.7
(21.7)
−5.3
(22.5)
0.0
(32.0)
6.6
(43.9)
13.2
(55.8)
18.4
(65.1)
20.9
(69.6)
20.0
(68.0)
15.6
(60.1)
9.4
(48.9)
3.5
(38.3)
−2.5
(27.5)
7.8
(46.0)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −9.4
(15.1)
−9.4
(15.1)
−4.3
(24.3)
1.2
(34.2)
7.1
(44.8)
12.3
(54.1)
14.8
(58.6)
14.2
(57.6)
10.2
(50.4)
4.5
(40.1)
−0.2
(31.6)
−5.9
(21.4)
2.9
(37.2)
Record low °C (°F) −33.9
(−29.0)
−30.0
(−22.0)
−25.0
(−13.0)
−15.0
(5.0)
−6.1
(21.0)
−1.7
(28.9)
3.3
(37.9)
−0.6
(30.9)
−3.9
(25.0)
−9.4
(15.1)
−18.9
(−2.0)
−28.0
(−18.4)
−33.9
(−29.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 70.1
(2.76)
59.2
(2.33)
83.1
(3.27)
85.3
(3.36)
83.6
(3.29)
83.2
(3.28)
86.1
(3.39)
85.8
(3.38)
98.1
(3.86)
83.9
(3.30)
100.1
(3.94)
91.3
(3.59)
1,009.8
(39.75)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 36.8
(1.45)
30.0
(1.18)
62.3
(2.45)
79.7
(3.14)
83.6
(3.29)
83.2
(3.28)
86.1
(3.39)
85.8
(3.38)
98.1
(3.86)
83.5
(3.29)
91.1
(3.59)
57.6
(2.27)
877.6
(34.55)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 33.3
(13.1)
29.7
(11.7)
20.9
(8.2)
5.6
(2.2)
0.1
(0.0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0.5
(0.2)
9.0
(3.5)
33.7
(13.3)
132.7
(52.2)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) 14.4 12.4 12.6 13.0 11.9 10.4 10.5 9.4 11.3 11.6 13.8 14.6 146.0
Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) 4.6 4.2 8.4 11.9 11.9 10.4 10.5 9.4 11.3 11.6 11.6 7.5 113.2
Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) 10.5 9.0 5.2 1.4 0.04 0 0 0 0 0.12 2.4 8.3 37.0
Mean monthly sunshine hours 84.0 98.6 132.3 189.3 242.5 272.1 289.1 251.1 179.1 139.2 84.3 59.6 2,021.1
Source: Environment Canada[19]

Housing and neighbourhoods edit

The monthly rent of a typical apartment in Simcoe ranges from 713 Canadian dollars per month (for a bachelor apartment in a working class neighbourhood) to 1500 Canadian dollars (for the same bachelor apartment newer and more posh neighbourhood).[24] While the monthly rent for a rented apartment is considered inexpensive by global standards, the typical cost of eating at a restaurant in this community can vary from being reasonable to expensive; this depends primarily on the genre of the establishment and the type of food products being used in the preparation.[25] Fast food restaurants and Chinese restaurants tend to be reasonable while Italian restaurants and pizza places tend to be expensive.

The average age of a Simcoe resident as of 2011 is 48 years of age; the average male is 47 years old while the average female is 50 years old. While almost 6,000 people who live in this community are legally married as of 2011, a substantial number of people who never married exist in Simcoe; nearly 3,000 people in Simcoe have remained single and never engaged in a legal or common-law form of marriage. English is spoken the most frequently in Simcoe; with Ojibway and several Eastern European languages spoken by a tiny minority of the residents.[26]

Transportation and tourism edit

In 1886 the South Norfolk Railway constructed a line from Hamilton, Ontario, to Port Rowan, Ontario, that stopped in Simcoe.[27] The train operated until 1965. Economic considerations in addition to rising energy and fuel prices are what basically killed the train operations in Norfolk County during the latter portion of the 20th century.

A local transit program is centred around Simcoe and helps to serve the major communities of Norfolk County.[28] It costs at least $17,000 for a budget vehicle for families in Simcoe (Toyota Corolla or any of its equivalents) and at least $19,195 for a budget vehicle for 1-2 people (Volkswagen Golf or any of its equivalents).[25]

There are 50 hotels and bed and breakfast properties within a reasonable driving distance of Simcoe's downtown core; having on-peak rates of anywhere between $97/night to $150/night in addition to off-peak rates ranging from $55/night to $129/night.[29]

A country club was established in Simcoe by Duncan Campbell in 1895 called the Norfolk County Golf and Country Club. It originally excluded ladies from membership and hard liquor from being consumed until 1912 when the club had to get incorporated. When it first became a co-educational golf club, ladies had the "privilege" of paying $4 to access the facilities while the gentlemen had to pay a handsome $15 to be entitled to full privileges.[30] This country club still stands today and visitors are encouraged to acquire memberships before playing golf.

Employment edit

Simcoe is on a positive trajectory of employment growth, which corresponds with their population growth in recent years.[31][32] Rural Canadian towns similar to Simcoe are struggling due to economic and transportation issues that prevent people from holding meaningful employment and being prosperous. Towns like Eastend in Saskatchewan, Grey River in Newfoundland and Dollard in Saskatchewan are facing general hardships due to diminishing transportation choices, aging residents and bleak local employment opportunities. Simcoe's infrastructure and close proximity to urban markets are some of the reasons why Simcoe is not in any great economic peril within the next 30 years.[33]

Manufacturing sector edit

One of the earliest manufacturers to operate in Simcoe is the West & Peachey Company, an equipment and boiler maker company that invented an amphibious steamboat called an Alligator. Known as an alligator boat, this was used by logging companies all over Eastern North America in 1878.[34] The firm built 230 alligator tugs between 1889 and 1932.[35]

In 1929, American Can Company began its manufacturing operations in Simcoe.[36] During the 42 years that it was operating, this metal-can manufacturing plant employed many local residents. The Canadian Canning Company, which had been in operation in Simcoe since the 1870s, was a primary customer for some of the products of the American Can Plant, and was a producer of canned fruit, vegetable, and processed prepared foodstuffs, such as soup. This processing plant relied heavily on fruit and vegetables produced locally. In 1991, the Robinson street manufacturing plants closed. The shutdown of the plants can be partially attributed to the recession of the early 1990s.[37] At its prime, American Can Company employed 605 male employees and 39 female employees with highly competitive wages.[38] During the Second World War, the Simcoe plant employed many women on a full-time basis, due to the shortage of men who had gone off to fight in the war. The plant continued to produce cans for the food industry, along with specialized packaging needed for the war effort. Notable MPP Charles Strange from the historical Brantford electoral district worked at this plant in his later life and lived in Simcoe.

Small factories once were dominant in the southeastern end of Simcoe until the early 2000s, when high-wage manufacturing jobs started to be outsourced to low-wage regions like China, Bangladesh, and Singapore, which was a prevalent trend across Ontario.[39] In 2011, Statistics Canada estimated that 11.1% of Simcoe's labour force is employed in the manufacturing industry, slightly higher than the province average of 10.2%.[40] In 2018, Toyotetsu announced a multi-million dollar expansion of their manufacturing facilities in Simcoe.[41] Their first manufacturing plant in the northwestern end of Simcoe, built in 2006, employs approximately 170 full-time personnel in metal parts stamping and fabrication for the automotive industry. Since their inception, Toyotetsu has steadily expanded their production facilities in the community.[42][43]

Retail sector edit

The Simcoe Town Centre, is the largest enclosed mall in the municipality of Norfolk. It is anchored by Food Basics and Giant Tiger and has national tenants such as Reitmans, Ardene, Coles, Bentley, Bell and easyhome. Recent retail additions to Simcoe include Shoppers Drug Mart, Boston Pizza and A&W. A Bulk Barn outlet officially opened on December 15, 2012.[44] A Walmart store, LCBO, and Dollar Tree are parts of the new Highway #3 complex in the northeastern part of the community.

Health edit

There are 24 physicians who practice within the city limits. Most of the doctors do not accept new patients, with the exception of the terminally ill, pregnant women, and their families. This situation is expected to clear itself within five to ten years.[45]

Simcoe is home to the Norfolk General Hospital; the only general hospital in Norfolk County.

Norfolk General Hospital is the governing agency for Holmes House. Operating since 1989, Holmes House has been operating across the road from Norfolk General Hospital. It provides services to help recovering drug addicts manage their addiction using a co-education detoxification program. Applicants over the age of 16 years are accepted and the facility does not provide medicinal treatment for withdrawal symptoms.[46]

There are many other social health and welfare programs available in Simcoe that benefit all residents of the community. Some are available from organizations such as Haldimand-Norfolk Women's Services near downtown Simcoe.[47]

Notable people edit

Arts edit

Education edit

Entertainment edit

Military edit

Politics edit

Science edit

Sports edit

References edit

  1. ^ See Norfolk County, Ontario
  2. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2022-02-09). "Profile table, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Simcoe [Population centre], Ontario". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-03-25.
  3. ^ "Southern Ontario Tourism: Simcoe, Ontario". Southern Ontario Tourism Organization. Retrieved 2007-12-04.
  4. ^ "Simcoe". Norfolk County Tourism. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  5. ^ a b "Founding of Simcoe". ontarioplaques.com. Alan L. Brown. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  6. ^ "Norfolk County Court-House And Gaol". ontarioplaques.com. Alan L. Brown. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  7. ^ Smith, Wm. H. (1846). Smith's Canadian Gazetteer – Statistical and General Information Respecting all parts of the Upper Province, or Canada West. Toronto: H. & W. Rowsell. pp. 170–171.
  8. ^ The Province of Ontario Gazetteer and Directory. Robertson & Cook. 1869. p. 442. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  9. ^ Report on Tree Conservation By-Laws in Southern Ontario 2006-09-25 at the Wayback Machine at Tree Canada
  10. ^ Canadian Encyclopedia Monuments, World Wars I and II. The Canadian Encyclopedia
  11. ^ Croatian Fraternal Unions throughout Canada and the United States 2012-12-03 at the Wayback Machine at Croatian Fraternal Union
  12. ^ All about Franjo Bertovic 2012-12-04 at the Wayback Machine at Croatian Fraternal Union
  13. ^ Simcoe's Molson Bank at Norfolk Historical Society
  14. ^ a b International Building Style at Ontario Architecture
  15. ^ Architecture: Ontario/New York at Thousand Islands Life
  16. ^ Alligator of the North, Barrett Harry, and Clarence Coons
  17. ^ "Carrying Olympic torch dream come true". Simcoe.com. 2009-11-18. Retrieved 2020-07-30.
  18. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the : "1950 Simcoe Santa Claus parade in Norfolk County, Ontario". YouTube. Retrieved 2012-09-24.
  19. ^ a b Environment Canada Canadian Climate Normals 1971-2000, accessed 18 March 2012
  20. ^ a b Environment Canada Canadian Climate Normals 1961-1990 for Simcoe, accessed 18 March 2012
  21. ^ "Weather of Simcoe, Ontario (January 1, 1960)". The Old Farmers' Almanac. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
  22. ^ "Weather of Simcoe, Ontario (July 1, 1960)". The Old Farmers' Almanac. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
  23. ^ "Climate facts about Simcoe, Ontario". Simcoe and District Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved 2012-10-19.
  24. ^ Property prices in Simcoe, Ontario at Numbeo
  25. ^ a b Cost of living in Simcoe, Ontario at Numbeo
  26. ^ "2011 Census profile for Simcoe, Ontario". Statistics Canada. Retrieved 2012-12-17.
  27. ^ Ron Brown (2009). "The Lake Erie Shore: Ontario's Forgotten South Coast". Dundurn. pp. 36, 38, 40, 41, 88–90, 91, 126, 127, 128, 153. ISBN 9781554883882. Retrieved 2012-11-23.
  28. ^ Make public transit a top priority at SimcoeRefomer.ca
  29. ^ Simcoe Hotels at Trip Advisor
  30. ^ at Norfolk Golf and Country Club
  31. ^ "Growth Information - Planning". www.simcoe.ca. Retrieved 2020-07-30.
  32. ^ Government of Ontario, Ministry of Finance. "Ontario Population Projections, 2018–2046". www.fin.gov.on.ca. Retrieved 2020-07-30.
  33. ^ Simcoe or Bust: Transportation in Rural Canada 2014-11-29 at the Wayback Machine at Daily Gum Boot
  34. ^ Clark, Peter (2015-02-06). "Railways and alligators at Heritage Renfrew". InsideOttawaValley.com. Retrieved 2020-07-30.
  35. ^ Brian Owen, "The Alligator or Steam Powered Amphibious Warping Tug", Duckworks Magazine 2008-06-30 at the Wayback Machine
  36. ^ "Display Location: American Canning Company - Urban Exploration Resource". www.uer.ca. Retrieved 2020-07-30.
  37. ^ American Canning Company historical information at UER.ca
  38. ^ Number of People Employed in Simcoe Industries in 1980 at McMaster University Digital Commons
  39. ^ "How Ontario lost 300,000 manufacturing jobs (and why most aren't coming back) | The Mowat Centre". Retrieved 2020-07-30.
  40. ^ "Fast Facts" (PDF). County of Simcoe Economic Development Office. Retrieved 2020-07-30.
  41. ^ May 8, Monte Sonnenberg Published on; May 8, 2018 | Last Updated; Edt, 2018 3:07 Pm (2018-05-08). "Simcoe Toyotetsu plant has fourth major expansion since 2007". Simcoe Reformer. Retrieved 2020-07-30.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  42. ^ November 20, Daniel R. Pearce Published on; November 20, 2012 | Last Updated; Est, 2012 2:59 Pm (2012-11-20). "Toyotetsu expanding, adding jobs". Simcoe Reformer. Retrieved 2020-07-30.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  43. ^ August 4, Jacob Robinson Published on; August 4, 2018 | Last Updated; Edt, 2018 10:30 Am (2018-08-04). "Best places to live list: Norfolk ranks 319". Simcoe Reformer. Retrieved 2020-07-30.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  44. ^ New Bulk Barn location for Simcoe Archived 2013-01-15 at archive.today at Country1073.ca
  45. ^ Medical Doctors in Simcoe, Ontario at Virtual Walk
  46. ^ Holmes House: Drug Treatment Centre Detoxification & Rehabilitation Service at Norfolk General Hospital
  47. ^ Services and teen resources at Haldimand and Norfolk's Women's Services
  48. ^ Brother of Rick Danko. Both Dankos were born in the hamlet of Green's Corners which is immediately outside of Simcoe; see Rick Danko.
  49. ^ See Canadian Pop Encyclopedia, Biography of Terry Danko[usurped]; www.jam.canoe.ca.
  50. ^ Davidson is interred at Oakwood Cemetery, Simcoe. See Margo Davidson Obituary, Ferris Funeral Homes, Simcoe; www.ferrisfuneral.com.
  51. ^ "Jack M. "Roxy" Roxburgh". Norfolk County Sports Hall of Recognition. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
  52. ^ British Columbia Death Registrations, vol. 638, British Columbia: British Columbia Vital Statistics Agency, 1959

External links edit

simcoe, ontario, confused, with, simcoe, county, ontario, simcoe, unincorporated, community, former, town, southwestern, ontario, canada, near, lake, erie, county, seat, largest, community, norfolk, county, simcoe, junction, highway, highway, south, brantford,. Not to be confused with Simcoe County Ontario Simcoe is an unincorporated community and former town in Southwestern Ontario Canada near Lake Erie It is the county seat and largest community of Norfolk County 1 Simcoe is at the junction of Highway 3 at Highway 24 due south of Brantford and accessible to Hamilton by nearby Highway 6 The largest of the communities in Norfolk County Simcoe had a population of 16 121 at the time of the 2021 Census 2 Simcoe OntarioUnincorporated Community in Norfolk CountyGovernor Simcoe Square Main Offices of Norfolk CountyMotto Ontario s GardenSimcoe OntarioLocation in southern OntarioCoordinates 42 50 0 N 80 18 0 W 42 83333 N 80 30000 W 42 83333 80 30000CountryCanadaProvinceOntarioEstablished1795Amalgamated2001Government MayorAmy Martin Governing BodyThe Council of The Corporation of Norfolk County MPsLeslyn Lewis Con MPPsBobbi Ann Brady Independent Elevation224 m 735 ft Population 2021 16 121Time zoneUTC 5 EST Summer DST UTC 4 EDT Forward sortation areaN3YArea code s 519 and 226Websitewww wbr norfolkcounty wbr ca Contents 1 History 2 Community and culture 3 Climate 4 Housing and neighbourhoods 5 Transportation and tourism 6 Employment 6 1 Manufacturing sector 6 2 Retail sector 7 Health 8 Notable people 8 1 Arts 8 2 Education 8 3 Entertainment 8 4 Military 8 5 Politics 8 6 Science 8 7 Sports 9 References 10 External linksHistory editSimcoe was founded in 1795 by Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe 3 Initially the settlement consisted of two distinct areas Birdtown named by William Bird who arrived in the early 1800s and the Queensway which grew up around Aron Culver s sawmill and grist mill in the 1820s The post office opened in 1829 and was called Simcoe In 1837 the village became the seat of government of the then Talbot District 4 A historical plaque adds that Lieutenant Governor Simcoe gave land to Aaron Culver in 1795 on the agreement that he would build mills after they were in operation a hamlet formed by 1812 although it was burned down by American troops in 1814 Between 1819 and 1823 Culver laid out a village streets were surveyed in 1835 to 1836 5 Records from 1846 indicate that the settlement was far from any major roads and had little communication with areas outside of Brantford and that a stone court house and jail had already been built the courthouse would be destroyed by fire in 1863 and rebuilt 6 There were three churches Methodist Baptist and Congregationalist A weekly newspaper is published here the Long Point Advocate The population was about 1 400 The post office was receiving mail daily This settlement contained the offices of the Judge of District Court Sheriff Clerk of Peace Inspector of Licenses Crown Lands Agent District Clerk Treasurer Clerk of District Court Deputy Clerk of Crown and the Superintendent of Schools Already operating were two grist mills two sawmills a brewery two distilleries a foundry a fulling mill nine stores six taverns two druggists a bank Gore absorbed into Canadian Bank of Commerce and many tradesmen 7 The population in 1850 was about 1600 in that year Simcoe became the County seat of Norfolk County 5 It had increased to 2100 by 1869 and two banks had opened 8 Simcoe was incorporated as a town in 1878 and had its own town council and mayor until December 31 2000 In 2001 the town was amalgamated with Delhi Norfolk and half of Nanticoke to become Norfolk County During the 20th century passed their first tree conservation by law in 1947 This law was revised in 2000 as a part of Norfolk County s Forestry Act Around 350 applications for tree cutting permits are sent to Norfolk council per year For every 100 acres of undeveloped land in Norfolk County more than 25 of those acres are considered to be forested 9 Most of these forests can be found within 10 miles or 16 kilometres of downtown Simcoe and are open for exploration except during periods of heavy snow Community and culture editOne of the town s notable landmarks is the Norfolk County Memorial Tower which commemorates the lives of Canadians who died for Canada in conflicts overseas 10 The Memorial Tower overlooks scenic Wellington Park a public greenspace that includes walking paths and a waterway system with a small lake close to the downtown core Simcoe s main cemetery is Oakwood Cemetery A cultural club for people of Croatian descent operates in this town the formal name given to this organization is the 531st branch of the Croatian Fraternal Union 11 First organized by Franjo Bertovic during the 1990s he went on to found other Croatian Fraternal Unions throughout Canada and Croatia 12 Members of this fraternal benefit society refer to the club as the Simcoe Croatian Club when not in formal conversation Expenses for sick workers in addition to their funeral expenses are often partially covered through its members benefits The historic Molson Bank operated here from May 1898 until sometime in the 1920s when the Bank of Montreal took over the building Alterations made to the building within those decades would allow twice as much banking to take place Fifteen more people were hired during the expansion of the bank in the early 20th century bringing white collar jobs to the town 13 Many of Simcoe s buildings feature the International style of architecture typical of the period between 1920 and 1950 14 while residential buildings from the 1850s use the Gothic Revival style of architecture 15 The relatively tall buildings that came out of the International style compared to the buildings in Simcoe prior to the 1950s were used to make Simcoe into a more international destination for people to live work and admire A couple of buildings in the downtown core even blend International elements with the Art Deco style of architecture bringing bright colors and illusions of rapid movement into the building design 14 The only operating alligator tugboat remaining in the world the W D Stalker is in Simcoe 16 Simcoe has a radio station 98 9 myFM and two newspapers The Simcoe Reformer and the Norfolk News CHCH DT in Hamilton is the nearest broadcast television station along with CKCO DT in Kitchener and CIII DT a Toronto station with a repeater in Paris Ontario CHCH channel 11 on Eastlink Cable formerly Amtelecom Cable is mostly a news channel while CKCO CTV Two and CIII Global offer a variety of entertainment choices during prime time 7 PM through 11 PM on weekdays Major local festivals include the Rotary sponsored Friendship Festival the Norfolk County Fair and Horse Show and the winter light show of Panorama Simcoe was one of the communities in Canada that relayed the Olympic torch which travelled from Athens Greece to Vancouver for the 21st Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver British Columbia 17 The Simcoe Santa Claus Parade has been historically held on the weekend following Remembrance Day During the heyday of this event in the 1950s the town would stop operating for one afternoon for people to enjoy the festivities 18 In recent years the parade has held a lower profile with people preferring warm weather events like the Friendship Festival and the Norfolk County Fair Climate editSimcoe like all of Norfolk County Ontario has a humid continental climate Koppen Dfb Winters are cold with a January average of 7 8 C 18 0 F in January and most days have maximum temperatures below 0 C 32 F Though winters are cold mild stretches of weather can bring temperatures above 10 C 50 F in January The average annual snowfall is 133 centimetres 52 in with maximum accumulations of it occurring in February when the snow depth is 10 centimetres 4 in Summers are warm and humid with a July high of 27 C 81 F and a July low of 15 C 59 F Temperatures above 30 C 86 F occur 10 days per year The average annual precipitation is 1 010 millimetres 40 in which is relatively evenly distributed throughout the year Delhi averages 2021 hours of bright sunshine per year or 43 of daylight hours ranging from a low of 21 2 in December to 62 2 in July 19 The hottest day ever recorded for Simcoe was on August 28 1973 when the local weather station registered temperatures up to 36 1 C 97 0 F 20 Simcoe s coldest ever temperatures occurred on January 18 1976 when temperatures of 29 4 C 20 9 F were detected by local weather authorities 20 Traditionally temperatures have ranged between 1 1 C 30 0 F in January to 25 6 C 78 1 F in July during times of moderate climate 21 22 As a rural community Simcoe is generally 10 drier than the major cities of Toronto Hamilton and Ottawa It is also 25 times less likely to face smog related problems between the months of June and September than metropolitan cities like London Windsor and Sarnia Sunny days tend to last 15 longer granting more needed sunlight for summer days in addition to forestalling the cold and dark winter nights 23 Climate data for Simcoe 1971 2000 Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec YearRecord high C F 18 3 64 9 16 0 60 8 25 0 77 0 29 5 85 1 33 0 91 4 36 7 98 1 40 6 105 1 36 7 98 1 36 1 97 0 31 7 89 1 25 0 77 0 19 5 67 1 40 6 105 1 Mean daily maximum C F 2 1 28 2 1 3 29 7 4 4 39 9 11 9 53 4 19 3 66 7 24 4 75 9 27 0 80 6 25 7 78 3 20 9 69 6 14 2 57 6 7 2 45 0 1 0 33 8 12 7 54 9 Daily mean C F 5 7 21 7 5 3 22 5 0 0 32 0 6 6 43 9 13 2 55 8 18 4 65 1 20 9 69 6 20 0 68 0 15 6 60 1 9 4 48 9 3 5 38 3 2 5 27 5 7 8 46 0 Mean daily minimum C F 9 4 15 1 9 4 15 1 4 3 24 3 1 2 34 2 7 1 44 8 12 3 54 1 14 8 58 6 14 2 57 6 10 2 50 4 4 5 40 1 0 2 31 6 5 9 21 4 2 9 37 2 Record low C F 33 9 29 0 30 0 22 0 25 0 13 0 15 0 5 0 6 1 21 0 1 7 28 9 3 3 37 9 0 6 30 9 3 9 25 0 9 4 15 1 18 9 2 0 28 0 18 4 33 9 29 0 Average precipitation mm inches 70 1 2 76 59 2 2 33 83 1 3 27 85 3 3 36 83 6 3 29 83 2 3 28 86 1 3 39 85 8 3 38 98 1 3 86 83 9 3 30 100 1 3 94 91 3 3 59 1 009 8 39 75 Average rainfall mm inches 36 8 1 45 30 0 1 18 62 3 2 45 79 7 3 14 83 6 3 29 83 2 3 28 86 1 3 39 85 8 3 38 98 1 3 86 83 5 3 29 91 1 3 59 57 6 2 27 877 6 34 55 Average snowfall cm inches 33 3 13 1 29 7 11 7 20 9 8 2 5 6 2 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 2 9 0 3 5 33 7 13 3 132 7 52 2 Average precipitation days 0 2 mm 14 4 12 4 12 6 13 0 11 9 10 4 10 5 9 4 11 3 11 6 13 8 14 6 146 0Average rainy days 0 2 mm 4 6 4 2 8 4 11 9 11 9 10 4 10 5 9 4 11 3 11 6 11 6 7 5 113 2Average snowy days 0 2 cm 10 5 9 0 5 2 1 4 0 04 0 0 0 0 0 12 2 4 8 3 37 0Mean monthly sunshine hours 84 0 98 6 132 3 189 3 242 5 272 1 289 1 251 1 179 1 139 2 84 3 59 6 2 021 1Source Environment Canada 19 Housing and neighbourhoods editThe monthly rent of a typical apartment in Simcoe ranges from 713 Canadian dollars per month for a bachelor apartment in a working class neighbourhood to 1500 Canadian dollars for the same bachelor apartment newer and more posh neighbourhood 24 While the monthly rent for a rented apartment is considered inexpensive by global standards the typical cost of eating at a restaurant in this community can vary from being reasonable to expensive this depends primarily on the genre of the establishment and the type of food products being used in the preparation 25 Fast food restaurants and Chinese restaurants tend to be reasonable while Italian restaurants and pizza places tend to be expensive The average age of a Simcoe resident as of 2011 is 48 years of age the average male is 47 years old while the average female is 50 years old While almost 6 000 people who live in this community are legally married as of 2011 a substantial number of people who never married exist in Simcoe nearly 3 000 people in Simcoe have remained single and never engaged in a legal or common law form of marriage English is spoken the most frequently in Simcoe with Ojibway and several Eastern European languages spoken by a tiny minority of the residents 26 Transportation and tourism editIn 1886 the South Norfolk Railway constructed a line from Hamilton Ontario to Port Rowan Ontario that stopped in Simcoe 27 The train operated until 1965 Economic considerations in addition to rising energy and fuel prices are what basically killed the train operations in Norfolk County during the latter portion of the 20th century A local transit program is centred around Simcoe and helps to serve the major communities of Norfolk County 28 It costs at least 17 000 for a budget vehicle for families in Simcoe Toyota Corolla or any of its equivalents and at least 19 195 for a budget vehicle for 1 2 people Volkswagen Golf or any of its equivalents 25 There are 50 hotels and bed and breakfast properties within a reasonable driving distance of Simcoe s downtown core having on peak rates of anywhere between 97 night to 150 night in addition to off peak rates ranging from 55 night to 129 night 29 A country club was established in Simcoe by Duncan Campbell in 1895 called the Norfolk County Golf and Country Club It originally excluded ladies from membership and hard liquor from being consumed until 1912 when the club had to get incorporated When it first became a co educational golf club ladies had the privilege of paying 4 to access the facilities while the gentlemen had to pay a handsome 15 to be entitled to full privileges 30 This country club still stands today and visitors are encouraged to acquire memberships before playing golf Employment editSimcoe is on a positive trajectory of employment growth which corresponds with their population growth in recent years 31 32 Rural Canadian towns similar to Simcoe are struggling due to economic and transportation issues that prevent people from holding meaningful employment and being prosperous Towns like Eastend in Saskatchewan Grey River in Newfoundland and Dollard in Saskatchewan are facing general hardships due to diminishing transportation choices aging residents and bleak local employment opportunities Simcoe s infrastructure and close proximity to urban markets are some of the reasons why Simcoe is not in any great economic peril within the next 30 years 33 Manufacturing sector edit One of the earliest manufacturers to operate in Simcoe is the West amp Peachey Company an equipment and boiler maker company that invented an amphibious steamboat called an Alligator Known as an alligator boat this was used by logging companies all over Eastern North America in 1878 34 The firm built 230 alligator tugs between 1889 and 1932 35 In 1929 American Can Company began its manufacturing operations in Simcoe 36 During the 42 years that it was operating this metal can manufacturing plant employed many local residents The Canadian Canning Company which had been in operation in Simcoe since the 1870s was a primary customer for some of the products of the American Can Plant and was a producer of canned fruit vegetable and processed prepared foodstuffs such as soup This processing plant relied heavily on fruit and vegetables produced locally In 1991 the Robinson street manufacturing plants closed The shutdown of the plants can be partially attributed to the recession of the early 1990s 37 At its prime American Can Company employed 605 male employees and 39 female employees with highly competitive wages 38 During the Second World War the Simcoe plant employed many women on a full time basis due to the shortage of men who had gone off to fight in the war The plant continued to produce cans for the food industry along with specialized packaging needed for the war effort Notable MPP Charles Strange from the historical Brantford electoral district worked at this plant in his later life and lived in Simcoe Small factories once were dominant in the southeastern end of Simcoe until the early 2000s when high wage manufacturing jobs started to be outsourced to low wage regions like China Bangladesh and Singapore which was a prevalent trend across Ontario 39 In 2011 Statistics Canada estimated that 11 1 of Simcoe s labour force is employed in the manufacturing industry slightly higher than the province average of 10 2 40 In 2018 Toyotetsu announced a multi million dollar expansion of their manufacturing facilities in Simcoe 41 Their first manufacturing plant in the northwestern end of Simcoe built in 2006 employs approximately 170 full time personnel in metal parts stamping and fabrication for the automotive industry Since their inception Toyotetsu has steadily expanded their production facilities in the community 42 43 Retail sector edit The Simcoe Town Centre is the largest enclosed mall in the municipality of Norfolk It is anchored by Food Basics and Giant Tiger and has national tenants such as Reitmans Ardene Coles Bentley Bell and easyhome Recent retail additions to Simcoe include Shoppers Drug Mart Boston Pizza and A amp W A Bulk Barn outlet officially opened on December 15 2012 44 A Walmart store LCBO and Dollar Tree are parts of the new Highway 3 complex in the northeastern part of the community Health editThere are 24 physicians who practice within the city limits Most of the doctors do not accept new patients with the exception of the terminally ill pregnant women and their families This situation is expected to clear itself within five to ten years 45 Simcoe is home to the Norfolk General Hospital the only general hospital in Norfolk County Norfolk General Hospital is the governing agency for Holmes House Operating since 1989 Holmes House has been operating across the road from Norfolk General Hospital It provides services to help recovering drug addicts manage their addiction using a co education detoxification program Applicants over the age of 16 years are accepted and the facility does not provide medicinal treatment for withdrawal symptoms 46 There are many other social health and welfare programs available in Simcoe that benefit all residents of the community Some are available from organizations such as Haldimand Norfolk Women s Services near downtown Simcoe 47 Notable people editArts edit Bruce McCall a Canadian illustrator and author best known for his frequent contributions to The New Yorker especially covers for the magazine In his memoir Thin Ice 1997 McCall recounts his childhood years in Simcoe Stella Asling Riis novelist and writer was born at Simcoe Deborah Ellis the recipient of the Governor General s Award the Jane Addams Children s Book Award the Vicky Metcalf Award for a body of work an ALA Notable and the Children s Africana Book Award Honor Book for Older Readers lives in Simcoe Ronald Beckett a Canadian composer conductor choir director and the founder artistic director of the Arcady Ensemble Education edit R Scott Bakker Canadian fantasy author David Strangway Canadian geophysicistEntertainment edit Rick Danko d 1999 musician Ronnie Hawkins The Band Terry Danko musician 48 Ronnie Hawkins Atkinson Danko and Ford Bearfoot session musician with George Harrison Stephen Stills Eric Clapton and Bob Dylan amongst others 49 Margo Davidson d 2008 50 musician The Parachute Club Military edit James Sutherland Brown senior staff officer in the Canadian Expeditionary Force in the First World War wrote a contingency plan to invade and occupy northern United States Politics edit Reed Elley Member of Parliament for Nanaimo Cowichan Alexander M Hardy United States Congressman Eric Hoskins Member of Provincial Parliament and Ontario cabinet minister Arthur Slaght Member of the Canadian House of CommonsScience edit Alfred H Bell 1895 1977 petroleum geologistSports edit John Axford baseball player Rob Blake hockey player Annaleise Carr swimmer Jassen Cullimore hockey player Red Kelly hockey player Ryan Lindsay hockey player Andrew Penner hockey player Dwayne Roloson hockey player Jack Roxburgh president of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association and the Ontario Hockey Association member of parliament for Norfolk 51 H J Sterling president of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association and the Thunder Bay Amateur Hockey Association 52 Ryan VandenBussche hockey player Rick Wamsley hockey playerReferences edit See Norfolk County Ontario Government of Canada Statistics Canada 2022 02 09 Profile table Census Profile 2021 Census of Population Simcoe Population centre Ontario www12 statcan gc ca Retrieved 2023 03 25 Southern Ontario Tourism Simcoe Ontario Southern Ontario Tourism Organization Retrieved 2007 12 04 Simcoe Norfolk County Tourism Retrieved March 12 2019 a b Founding of Simcoe ontarioplaques com Alan L Brown Retrieved March 12 2019 Norfolk County Court House And Gaol ontarioplaques com Alan L Brown Retrieved March 12 2019 Smith Wm H 1846 Smith s Canadian Gazetteer Statistical and General Information Respecting all parts of the Upper Province or Canada West Toronto H amp W Rowsell pp 170 171 The Province of Ontario Gazetteer and Directory Robertson amp Cook 1869 p 442 Retrieved March 12 2019 Report on Tree Conservation By Laws in Southern Ontario Archived 2006 09 25 at the Wayback Machine at Tree Canada Canadian Encyclopedia Monuments World Wars I and II The Canadian Encyclopedia Croatian Fraternal Unions throughout Canada and the United States Archived 2012 12 03 at the Wayback Machine at Croatian Fraternal Union All about Franjo Bertovic Archived 2012 12 04 at the Wayback Machine at Croatian Fraternal Union Simcoe s Molson Bank at Norfolk Historical Society a b International Building Style at Ontario Architecture Architecture Ontario New York at Thousand Islands Life Alligator of the North Barrett Harry and Clarence Coons Carrying Olympic torch dream come true Simcoe com 2009 11 18 Retrieved 2020 07 30 Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine 1950 Simcoe Santa Claus parade in Norfolk County Ontario YouTube Retrieved 2012 09 24 a b Environment Canada Canadian Climate Normals 1971 2000 accessed 18 March 2012 a b Environment Canada Canadian Climate Normals 1961 1990 for Simcoe accessed 18 March 2012 Weather of Simcoe Ontario January 1 1960 The Old Farmers Almanac Retrieved 2012 07 06 Weather of Simcoe Ontario July 1 1960 The Old Farmers Almanac Retrieved 2012 07 06 Climate facts about Simcoe Ontario Simcoe and District Chamber of Commerce Retrieved 2012 10 19 Property prices in Simcoe Ontario at Numbeo a b Cost of living in Simcoe Ontario at Numbeo 2011 Census profile for Simcoe Ontario Statistics Canada Retrieved 2012 12 17 Ron Brown 2009 The Lake Erie Shore Ontario s Forgotten South Coast Dundurn pp 36 38 40 41 88 90 91 126 127 128 153 ISBN 9781554883882 Retrieved 2012 11 23 Make public transit a top priority at SimcoeRefomer ca Simcoe Hotels at Trip Advisor History of the Norfolk Golf and Country Club at Norfolk Golf and Country Club Growth Information Planning www simcoe ca Retrieved 2020 07 30 Government of Ontario Ministry of Finance Ontario Population Projections 2018 2046 www fin gov on ca Retrieved 2020 07 30 Simcoe or Bust Transportation in Rural Canada Archived 2014 11 29 at the Wayback Machine at Daily Gum Boot Clark Peter 2015 02 06 Railways and alligators at Heritage Renfrew InsideOttawaValley com Retrieved 2020 07 30 Brian Owen The Alligator or Steam Powered Amphibious Warping Tug Duckworks Magazine Archived 2008 06 30 at the Wayback Machine Display Location American Canning Company Urban Exploration Resource www uer ca Retrieved 2020 07 30 American Canning Company historical information at UER ca Number of People Employed in Simcoe Industries in 1980 at McMaster University Digital Commons How Ontario lost 300 000 manufacturing jobs and why most aren t coming back The Mowat Centre Retrieved 2020 07 30 Fast Facts PDF County of Simcoe Economic Development Office Retrieved 2020 07 30 May 8 Monte Sonnenberg Published on May 8 2018 Last Updated Edt 2018 3 07 Pm 2018 05 08 Simcoe Toyotetsu plant has fourth major expansion since 2007 Simcoe Reformer Retrieved 2020 07 30 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint numeric names authors list link November 20 Daniel R Pearce Published on November 20 2012 Last Updated Est 2012 2 59 Pm 2012 11 20 Toyotetsu expanding adding jobs Simcoe Reformer Retrieved 2020 07 30 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint numeric names authors list link August 4 Jacob Robinson Published on August 4 2018 Last Updated Edt 2018 10 30 Am 2018 08 04 Best places to live list Norfolk ranks 319 Simcoe Reformer Retrieved 2020 07 30 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint numeric names authors list link New Bulk Barn location for Simcoe Archived 2013 01 15 at archive today at Country1073 ca Medical Doctors in Simcoe Ontario at Virtual Walk Holmes House Drug Treatment Centre Detoxification amp Rehabilitation Service at Norfolk General Hospital Services and teen resources at Haldimand and Norfolk s Women s Services Brother of Rick Danko Both Dankos were born in the hamlet of Green s Corners which is immediately outside of Simcoe see Rick Danko See Canadian Pop Encyclopedia Biography of Terry Danko usurped www jam canoe ca Davidson is interred at Oakwood Cemetery Simcoe See Margo Davidson Obituary Ferris Funeral Homes Simcoe www ferrisfuneral com Jack M Roxy Roxburgh Norfolk County Sports Hall of Recognition Retrieved April 17 2021 British Columbia Death Registrations vol 638 British Columbia British Columbia Vital Statistics Agency 1959External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Simcoe Ontario Norfolk County Archived 2009 02 28 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Simcoe Ontario amp oldid 1217439588, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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