| Loyalist | |
|---|---|
| — Township — | |
| Main street in Bath | |
| Motto: "A Loyal Three Made Stronger In One" | |
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Loyalist
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Ontario |
| County | Lennox and Addington |
| Settled | |
| Incorporated | 1998 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Township |
| • Mayor | Bill Lowry |
| • Federal riding | Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington |
| • Prov. riding | Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington |
| Area[1] | |
| • Land | 340.02 km2 (131.3 sq mi) |
| Population (2006)[1] | |
| • Total | 15,062 |
| • Density | 44.3/km2 (114.7/sq mi) |
| Time zone | EST (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| Postal Code | K0H |
| Area code(s) | 613 |
| Website | www.loyalist-township.on.ca |
Loyalist is a township in central eastern Ontario, Canada on Lake Ontario. It is in Lennox and Addington County and consists of two parts: the mainland and Amherst Island. It was named for the United Empire Loyalists, who settled in the area after the American Revolution.
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The primary centres of settlement in Loyalist are Amherstview, Bath and Odessa. Smaller communities include Asselstine, Bayview, Emerald, Ernestown, Links Mills, McIntyre, Millhaven, Morven, Nicholsons, Point, Stella, Storms Corners, Switzerville, Thorpe, Violet and Wilton. Since Loyalist Township is the only municipal level of government in the area, the boundaries of all the settlements are unofficial and matters of tradition.
Amherstview is named for Amherst Island, located directly to the south in Lake Ontario. When the community was first established in the 1950s, the spelling was generally "Amherst View". The community is the eastern end of the Loyalist Parkway, a stretch of Highway 33 that travels along Lake Ontario, in an area in which many United Empire Loyalists settled.
Amherstview is home to Fairfield House which is situated in Fairfield Park on the shore of Lake Ontario. Fairfield House was constructed in 1793 by the Fairfield family who were among the first Loyalists to settle the area. It served as the family home and a portion of the building was also used as a tavern for some time. The wood and limestone building is now a museum exhibiting period artifacts and furniture and offering guided tours.
Fairfield Park itself stretches along more than 600 m of Lake Ontario shoreline. The park is a popular picnicking area and is also well used by swimmers and scuba divers. Limestone shelf rock formations leading into the water simplify the launching and landing of kayaks and canoes although suitable facilities for larger watercraft do not exist. The park is home to many species of trees including red oak, poplar, willow, shagbark hickory, ash, maple, cedar, linden, and spruce. Extensive banks of lilac provide flowers and fragrance in season and many of the larger trees in the park are fitted with strings of lights for display at Christmas.
Amherstview is also home to the Henderson Recreation Centre. The Centre houses a public library, a 25 m public swimming pool, and an arena and also includes an outdoor soccer field. The arena is the home rink for the Amherstview Jets hockey team.
Bath was first settled by the United Empire Loyalists in 1784. Bath is one of the oldest communities in Ontario. Bath was first settled by discharged soldiers from Jessup's Rangers. The economic development of the community was enabled by a sheltered harbour and road connections with Kingston stimulated economic development. By mid-century Bath was a prosperous point of trade.[2] After the town had been divided up between the families of Hawley, Davy, Rose and Amey, it was John Davy who was first to lay down roads on his lot #10. By 1804 the whole village had been prepared for settlement and surveyed. The village was incorporated in 1859. Every year on July 1 there is a Canada Day celebration featuring a parade and fair. The village was originally named Ernestown, but was renamed Bath in 1819 after the city in England. The town is the location of Millhaven Institution.
Odessa, originally named Millcreek, was renamed by its postmaster to commemorate the British victory at Odessa in Ukraine during the Crimean War. The village is home to Ernestown Secondary School, which services about 650 students from Loyalist Township, Napanee and Stone Mills. The highest point in the village is the water tower. Visible for several kilometers in all directions, the water tower has been outfitted as a wireless communications facility.
Stella and Emerald are located on Amherst Island. Stella is the major hamlet, where the ferry docks, and lends its name as the postal outlet name for the Island. Emerald is a collection of 4 houses and a church toward the west end of the Island. Amherst Island is located about 3 km offshore from the rest of Loyalist Township, and is serviced by an automobile and truck ferry from Millhaven. Amherst Island was farmed for generations by Irish tenants who rented from a Lord through his manager, and many residents are descendants of those early settlers. Today it has a small arts community, a number of volunteer civic groups, and a radio station, CJAI-FM, that add to the Island's special flavour.
Primary and secondary education is provided at a number of schools operated by either the Limestone District School Board or the Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board. The nearest post-secondary education (community college and university) is in the adjacent city of Kingston.
The Tragically Hip have a recording studio located in Bath called The Bathouse Recording Studio. The band's lead singer, Gordon Downie, was born and raised in Amherstview and attended Amherstview Public School (AVPS).
A community radio station, CJAI-FM, broadcasts from Stella. The township is otherwise served by media from Kingston.
The township is served by provincial Highway 401 and Highway 33.
Public transportation between Amherstview and Kingston is provided by Kingston Transit.
A toll ferry operates between Millhaven (on the mainland) and Stella (on Amherst Island). As of June, 2011 the toll is $9 for a return trip ticket on a standard car or light truck. There is a nominal charge for bicycles and motorcycles while walk-on passengers are free.
According to the Canada 2006 Census:[1]
Population trend:[3]
| Stone Mills | South Frontenac | |||
| Greater Napanee | Kingston | |||
| Loyalist | ||||
| Lake Ontario |