Nipissing, Ontario
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Nipissing is a township in central Ontario, Canada on Lake Nipissing in Parry Sound District. Nipissing was surveyed between 1874 and 1881, and was incorporated in 1888. Among the first settles in the area were the Chapman and Beatty families. Nippising village annexed Gurd Township in 1976. The township also contains a community named Nipissing, which is located on the South River near Chapman's Landing, on the South Bay of Lake Nipissing.
The founder of Nipissing, James Chapman arrived by canoe from Pembroke in 1862. He was looking for land suitable for settlement. To lay claim to the property, he made brush piles, and was granted free land by the Ontario Govertnment. Around 1869 James Chapman and his wife, Phoebe Edwards built their first house and barn at the top of the chutes. The family farmed and he carried the mail by canoe, dog team and later horse on a route stretching 200 miles between the villages of Magnetewan and Mattawa.
The Chapman Valley and Chapman Township near Magnetewan are named after the family. James and Phoebe are among the pioneers buried in the Nipissing village cemetery. More details about the pioneer families can be found in the Nipissing museum.
Originally supplies were brought into Nippising from Pembroke by canoe over the Champlain Trail and up the South River. Nipissing village became the main route for shipping supplies. The township and the life of the village as a key port began to fade.
The Chapman family donated the land to the municipal government, and the landing became a municipal boat launch, public dock and swimming hole for village children.
Around 1875 a colonization road was completed which connected tiny Nipissing village to Rosseau (near Huntsville) in the south and this created road travel and another route for shipment of supplies. Furthermore, in 1886 a railway connected Gravenhurst to Callander, cutting out Nipissing village from its main route and the life of the village as a key port began to fade. Today the landing is the municipal boat launch, public dock and favourite swimming hole for village children.
The Chapman family still has many connections to the local area.
[edit] Communities
- Alsace
- Christian Valley
- Hotham
- Nipissing
- Wade's Landing
[edit] Demograpics
According to the Canada 2001 Census:
- Population: 1,553
- % Change (1996-2001): 1.9
- Dwellings: 1,071
- Area (km²): 387.40
- Density (persons per km²): 4.0
[edit] External links
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