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South Glengarry

Coordinates: 45°12′N 74°35′W / 45.200°N 74.583°W / 45.200; -74.583
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(Redirected from Williamstown, Ontario)

South Glengarry
Township of South Glengarry
Lancaster
Lancaster
South Glengarry is located in United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry
South Glengarry
South Glengarry
South Glengarry is located in Southern Ontario
South Glengarry
South Glengarry
South Glengarry is located in Ontario
South Glengarry
South Glengarry
Coordinates: 45°12′N 74°35′W / 45.200°N 74.583°W / 45.200; -74.583
Country Canada
Province Ontario
CountyStormont, Dundas and Glengarry
Settled1785
Incorporated1792 (Royal Townships)
Incorporated1998 (South Glengarry)
Government
 • TypeTownship
 • MayorLachlan McDonald
 • Federal ridingStormont—Dundas—South Glengarry
 • Prov. ridingStormont—Dundas—South Glengarry
Area
 • Land605.36 km2 (233.73 sq mi)
Population
 (2016)[1]
 • Total13,150
 • Density21.7/km2 (56/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC−5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Postal code FSA
K0C
Area code(s)613, 343
Websitesouthglengarry.com

South Glengarry is a township in eastern Ontario, Canada on the Saint Lawrence River in the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry. South Glengarry borders Quebec.

Communities

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The township of South Glengarry comprises a number of villages and hamlets, including the following communities:

  • In the former Charlottenburgh Township: Glen Walter, Green Valley, Martintown, Summerstown, Summerstown Station, St. Raphaels, Williamstown; Avondale, Cashions Glen, Glen Brook, Glendale, Glen Falloch, Glenroy, MacGillivrays Bridge, Munroes Mills, Tyotown; Bayview Estates, Glendale Subdivision, Glen Gordon, Loon Island, North Branch; Camerons Point, Danis Point, Farlingers Point, Flannigans Point, Fraser Point, McGibbons Point, Pilons Point, Prevost Point, Stonehouse Point
  • In the former Lancaster Township: Bainsville, Brown House Corner, Dalhousie Mills, Glen Nevis, Glen Norman, Lancaster, North Lancaster, South Lancaster; Bridge End, Curry Hill, Pine Hill; Lancaster Heights, Maple Hill, North Lancaster Station, Picnic Grove, Redwood Estates; Brittania Point, Creg Quay, Faulkners Point, Nadeaus Point, Pointe Mouillee, Westleys Point

The township administrative offices are located in Lancaster.

History

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Charlottenburgh and Lancaster were two of the original eight "Royal Townships", established along the Saint Lawrence River in Upper Canada in the 1780s. This area was first settled by United Empire Loyalists. The development of this area was encouraged by Sir John Johnson, then the Superintendent General and Inspector General of Indian Affairs, who had been forced to abandon his land holdings in New York State during the American Revolution.[2] Johnson built a house in Williamstown; the home was completed in 1785 and is now a Canadian National Historic Site, the Sir John Johnson Manor House. A grist mill and saw mill, now gone, were also built on the same location. Williamstown also has the oldest house in Ontario, The Bethune-Thompson House built in 1784. Occupants over the years have included the Reverend John Bethune (1751–1815), the great-great-grandfather of Doctor Norman Bethune, and David Thompson, Canadian explorer.

From the late 18th century to the early 19th century, the area was almost entirely settled by Scottish highlanders, especially from Inverness-shire, after the Highland Clearances. Canadian Gaelic / Scottish Gaelic had been spoken in Glengarry County since its first settlement in 1784.[3]

Some of the main partners of the North West Company, including Hugh McGillis, lived in this area.

Ruins of St. Raphael's Church

Alexander McMartin, the first person born in Upper Canada to serve in the Legislative Assembly, was from Martintown.

The Glengarry Celtic Music Hall of Fame is located in Williamstown. The Nor'Westers and Loyalist Museum is also located in Williamstown.

Williamstown is also home to Ontario's oldest continuing agricultural fair,[4] which celebrated its bicentennial in 2012.[5]

South Glengarry is the location of four National Historic Sites of Canada: the Bethune-Thompson House,[6] the Glengarry Cairn,[7] the Sir John Johnson House,[8] and the ruins of St. Raphael's Roman Catholic Church.[9]

Operation of a horse-powered treadmill around the turn of the 20th century, Martintown.

St. Raphael's Catholic Church was completed in 1821 under the authority of Alexander Macdonell later Bishop of Regiopolis (now Kingston, Ontario). This is one of the oldest churches in what was then the colony of Upper Canada. In late 1970, the church interiors, roof and tower were destroyed by fire, but the ruins were preserved. In 1973, a smaller church with the same name was built, attached to the ruins.

The township was established on January 1, 1998, with the amalgamation of the former Townships of Charlottenburgh and Lancaster, along with the Village of Lancaster.

Demographics

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Historical census populations
YearPop.±%
1986 10,946—    
1991 11,971+9.4%
1996 12,649+5.7%
2001 12,700+0.4%
2006 12,880+1.4%
2011 13,162+2.2%
2016 13,150−0.1%
2021 13,330+1.4%
Population amounts prior to 2001 is total of Charlottenburgh TP, Lancaster TP, and Lancaster VL.

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, South Glengarry had a population of 13,330 living in 5,431 of its 5,848 total private dwellings, a change of 1.4% from its 2016 population of 13,150. With a land area of 605.02 km2 (233.60 sq mi), it had a population density of 22.0/km2 (57.1/sq mi) in 2021.[10]

Canada census – South Glengarry community profile
20162011
Population13,150 (-0,1% from 2011)13,162 (2.2% from 2006)
Land area605.36 km2 (233.73 sq mi)605.30 km2 (233.71 sq mi)
Population density21.7/km2 (56/sq mi)21.7/km2 (56/sq mi)
Median age49.9 (M: 49.6, F: 50.1)47.7 (M: 47.3, F: 48.1)
Private dwellings5823 (total)  5616 (total) 
Median household income$76,702
References: 2016[1] 2011[11] earlier[12][13]

Culture

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Canadian author Hugh Hood mentions Williamstown in his short story "Getting to Williamstown," first published in 1928.

Sport

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Group portrait of Martintown football team, 1903

The Char-Lan Rebels of the CCHL2 League play out of the Char-Lan Recreation Centre in Williamstown. The Char-Lan Skating Club is based out of the Char-Lan Recreation Centre.

Notable people

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "2016 Community Profiles". 2016 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. August 12, 2021. Retrieved 2019-10-22.
  2. ^ assnat.qc.ca: "John JOHNSON (1741-1830)"
  3. ^ Campey, Lucille H. (2005). The Scottish Pioneers of Upper Canada 1784–1855. Toronto: Natural Heritage. pp. 3–5. ISBN 1-897045-01-8.
  4. ^ Seebruch, Nick (September 5, 2020). "For 209 years, the Williamstown Fair tradition continues". Seaway News. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  5. ^ "Seeds of the Fair were planted during War of 1812". The Glengarry News. September 2, 2020. Retrieved January 9, 2023 – via Pressreader.com.
  6. ^ Bethune-Thompson House / White House. Canadian Register of Historic Places.
  7. ^ Glengarry Cairn, Directory of Designations of National Historic Significance of Canada
  8. ^ Sir John Johnson House. Canadian Register of Historic Places.
  9. ^ Ruin of St. Raphael's Roman Catholic Church. Canadian Register of Historic Places.
  10. ^ "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions (municipalities), Ontario". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
  11. ^ "2011 Community Profiles". 2011 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. March 21, 2019. Retrieved 2012-02-27.
  12. ^ "2006 Community Profiles". 2006 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. August 20, 2019.
  13. ^ "2001 Community Profiles". 2001 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. July 18, 2021.
  14. ^ Wikipedia
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