Prescott, Ontario

Prescott
Coordinates:
Country Canada
Province Ontario
County Leeds and Grenville
Settled 1787
Government
 • Mayor Elect Brett Todd
Area[1]
 • Land 4.95 km2 (1.9 sq mi)
Population (2006)[1]
 • Total 4,180
 • Density 844.4/km2 (2,187/sq mi)
Time zone EST (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
Postal code K0E
Area code(s) 613
Website www.prescott.ca

Prescott is a town of approximately 4,180 people on the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River in Leeds and Grenville United Counties, Ontario, Canada. The Ogdensburg-Prescott International Bridge, 5 km east of Prescott in Johnstown, connects it with Ogdensburg, New York. The town was founded in the early 19th century by Edward Jessup, a Loyalist soldier during the American Revolution.

Contents

History

Prescott is the home of Fort Wellington, National Historic Park, which is a tourist destination. The Battle of the Thousand Islands was fought near the present location of the city in August 1760. During the War of 1812, troops stationed at Fort Wellington crossed the frozen river and burned Ogdensburg in retaliation for an American raid further up the river; the American citizens of Ogdensburg, who were profiting by supplying the British army with food and other necessities, drove out their own American military detachment after the raid so that they could continue doing business with the British army in Prescott.

Prescott was originally an important transshipment point for cargo moving from the Great Lakes eastwards towards Montreal, Quebec and the Atlantic Ocean, but the construction of the Saint Lawrence Seaway ended the forwarding trade. Prescott is on the mainline of the Canadian National Railway connecting Toronto, Ontario to Montreal, Quebec, and is near the junction of the east-west Highway 401 and Highway 416 north to Ottawa, Ontario.

Prescott is home to the Sandra S. Lawn Harbour, which attracts boaters from as far east as Montreal serving as a picturesque gateway to the 1000 Islands. During the summer months, Prescott hosts the St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival, a professional theatrical production, at the Harbour's public amphitheater.

Demographics

Population:[2]

Total private dwellings, excluding seasonal cottages: 1881 (total: 2054)

Mother tongue:

Residents of note

She has held public office as Member of Parliament and served as Canada's High Commissioner in England. Over the years she carried out her duties with great competence and conscientiousness, particularly during the period of the patriation of the Constitution. In 1981, she was given the Freedom of the City of London.

References

  1. ^ a b Statistics Canada 2006 Census
  2. ^ Statistics Canada: 1996, 2001, 2006 census

External links

Local Media