Sparta, Ontario

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Sparta, Ontario, Canada is a community near London, Port Burwell and St. Thomas that is famous for their candles, small businesses, and craft shop. The population of the community is less than 200 people. There is also a steel forge museum that is located in the town as well as upscale residential homes that date back from the 19th century.

Jonathan Doan (1765-1847), the founder of Sparta, was a member of the Society of Friends (Quakers), who came to Upper Canada from Pennsylvania about 1789. He settled first in the Niagara peninsula, and then purchased 80 ha of wilderness here in South Yarmouth Township in 1813. A few years later Doan became a land agent for the Honourable James Baby. He acquired 1215 ha for settlement and revisited Niagara and Pennsylvania to recruit fellow Quakers. A community known as the Quaker Settlement, or Yarmouth Corners developed around Doan's farm, grist-mill and tannery. In 1820 he donated the land for a meeting house and the burying ground. The name Sparta was adopted by the settlement in 1832.¹

1. http://www.ontarioplaques.com/Plaques_DEF/Plaque_Elgin06.html

Coordinates: 42°42′00″N 81°04′59″W / 42.7, -81.083