Belle River, Ontario

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Belle River is a community in Essex County, Ontario on the south shore of Lake St. Clair within the town of Lakeshore. Population of Belle River, according to the 2001 census, is 4,887. The population is up 7.9% from 1996 and the population occupies an area of 3.56 km² for a density of 1 372.8 people per km².

In January of 1999 the municipalities of Maidstone, Belle River, Rochester, Tilbury North and Tilbury West amalgamated into Lakeshore, the largest municipality (by land mass) within the County of Essex.

The ornithologist Roger Tory Peterson considers the area among the world's best locales for bird watching. Although born in Windsor, Ontario, NHL hockey player Tie Domi grew up in Belle River, played hockey for the Belle River Canadians Jr. C club and has now become a public figure in the town.

[edit] History

The settlement of this area began after a survey in 1793. As a regional shipping point in the 1850s, Belle River enjoyed a certain amount of prosperity. Throughout most of the 19th century, milling was the major industry in this small community founded by French settlers from the Detroit River area. A very popular jet skiing and a boating town on the south shore of Lake St. Clair. Many of the water front homes are American-owned cottages for summer vacation.

[edit] Trivia

Belle River is known as the muskie capital of Canada; however, other communities also make this claim.

Brian Diesbourg of Belle River became famous in 2005 for winning $1,000,000 by kicking a 50-yard field goal, which took place in a half-time promotion during a nationally-televised Canadian Football League game. He missed attempts at 20, 30 and 40 yards before succeeding on the 50-yard attempt.

[edit] External links

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Essex County, Ontario

	Topics on Essex County, Ontario
Transportation	Current Provincial Highways: Highway 3 • Highway 77 • Highway 401 Former Provincial Highways: Highway 2 • Highway 39 • Highway 98 • Highway 107 • Highway 114 Essex County Roads: County Roads • Roads Template Railways: Essex Terminal Railway • Windsor Subdivision • Chatham Subdivision • CASO Subdivision
Municipalities	Amherstburg • Essex ¹ • Kingsville • Lakeshore • LaSalle • Leamington • Township of Pelee Island • Tecumseh • Windsor ²
Communities	Belle River³ • Colchester • Comber • Cottam • Deerbrook • Emeryville • Harrow³ • Maidstone • Malden Center • McGregor • Oldcastle • Puce • River Canard • Ruthven • St. Clair Beach³ • St. Joachim • Seacliffe • Stoney Point • Woodslee
Attractions and Parks	Point Pelee National Park • Fort Malden National Historic Park • Jack Miner Bird Sanctuary • Colasanti's Tropical Gardens • ERCA • Chrysler Canada Greenway • Trans-Canada Trail
Geography	Bois Blanc Island • East Sister Island • Fighting Island • Middle Island • Peche Island • Pelee Island • Point Pelee
Related Topics	Detroit, Michigan • Detroit River • Windsor • Ontario
¹ County seat. ² Separated Municipality, as of 1998. ³ Formerly a separate municipality, merged into another as of 1998.