| East Zorra-Tavistock | |
|---|---|
| — Township — | |
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East Zorra-Tavistock
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Ontario |
| County | Oxford |
| Formed | 1975 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Don McKay |
| • Federal riding | Oxford |
| • Prov. riding | Oxford |
| Area[1] | |
| • Land | 247.42 km2 (95.5 sq mi) |
| Population (2006)[1] | |
| • Total | 7,350 |
| • Density | 29.7/km2 (76.9/sq mi) |
| Time zone | Eastern Standard Time (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (UTC-4) |
| Postal Code | N0J |
| Area code(s) | 519 and 226 |
| Website | www.twp.ezt.on.ca |
East Zorra-Tavistock is a township in south-western Ontario, Canada. It is part of Oxford County. The township had a population of 7,350 in the Canada 2006 Census.
Contents |
The township is governed by a Mayor (Don McKay acclaimed at November 2006 election[1]), a Deputy Mayor (Maureen Ralph), and Councillors over three geographic wards:
The township includes the population centres of Braemar, Cassel, East Zorra, Hickson, Huntingford, Innerkip, Perry Mine, Perrys Lane, Strathallan, Tavistock, Tollgate, Willow Lake, and Woodstock Airport.
Hickson is located at the intersection of Highway 59 and County Road 8, approximately 13 kilometres north of Woodstock and 10 kilometres south of Tavistock.
Hickson was founded in 1876 when the town of Strathallen was bypassed by the new Port Dover and Lake Huron Railway, which went in east of the anticipated location. A new village was created at the whistle-stop, and Strathallan slowly faded away as community members relocated, along with a few houses moved by the milk factory. The new village was named after Sir Joseph Hickson, the general manager of the Grand Trunk Railway, who never saw the village in his lifetime. Curiously, the Hickson Centennial was celebrated erroneously in 1978 on unreliable information.
Hickson has only 3 streets in addition to Highway 59, which is also known as Harwood Street: Lovey's Street, John Street, and King Cresecent. Hickson is home to Hickson Central Public School (elementary), a public park, the East-Zorra Tavistock township hall and volunteer fire department, a post office, and several small businesses.
Huntingford is on Hwy 59, between Oxford Road 33 and Braemar Sideroad.
Innerkip Quarry, a recreational-nature facility is located near the community. From 1928 until its flooding in 1937, Innerkip Quarry produced gravel for railway beds. It was purchased in 1957 and since then has been used as a camp ground and trailer park. It is also used for SCUBA diving and swimming.[2]
The quarry is known for diving although it has only a maximum depth of 30 feet, and the only access is by shore. There are submerged cars, boats and planes for divers to use. Ice diving is popular at the quarry in the winter time. Many companies in Southern Ontario use the quarry for training. There is no diveshop on site, but there is a tank fill station.
Tavistock is located 15 kilometers southeast of Stratford and five kilometers south of Shakespeare on County Road 59. The world championship crokinole tournament has been held annually since 1999 in Tavistock.
Tavistock is home to the Tavistock Braves, a junior hockey team that plays in the Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League, and the Tavistock Royals, a senior hockey team that plays in the Western Ontario Athletic Association Senior Hockey League.
Tavistock has hosted the World Crokinole Championship (WCC) tournament has been held annually on the first Saturday of June since 1999. Tavistock was chosen as the host city because it was home of Eckhardt Wettlaufer, the creator of the earliest known board.
Population trend:[3]
Private dwellings occupied by usual residents: 2568 (total dwellings: 2657)
| Perth East | Wilmot | |||
| Zorra | Blandford-Blenheim | |||
| East Zorra-Tavistock | ||||
| South-West Oxford | Woodstock |