| Leeds and the Thousand Islands | |
|---|---|
| — Township — | |
| Welcome sign along Thousand Islands Parkway | |
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Leeds and the Thousand Islands
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Ontario |
| County | Leeds and Grenville |
| Settled | |
| Incorporated | 1998 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Bruce Bryan |
| • Federal riding | Leeds–Grenville |
| • Prov. riding | Leeds–Grenville |
| Area[1] | |
| • Land | 607.18 km2 (234.4 sq mi) |
| Population (2006)[1] | |
| • Total | 9,435 |
| • Density | 15.5/km2 (40.1/sq mi) |
| Time zone | EST (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| Postal Code | K0E |
| Area code(s) | 613 |
| Website | Official website |
Leeds and the Thousand Islands is a township in the Canadian province of Ontario, located within Leeds and Grenville United Counties.
Contents |
The township comprises the communities of Berryton, Black Rapids, Brier Hill, Cheeseborough, Darlingside, Dulcemaine, Ebenezer, Eden Grove, Ellisville, Emery, Escott, Fairfax, Gananoque Junction, Gray's Beach, Greenfield, Grenadier Island, Halsteads Bay, Holland, Ivy Lea, Junetown, La Rue Mills, Lansdowne, Leeds, Legge, Long Point, Lyndhurst, Maple Grove, Mitchellville, Narrows, Oak Leaf, Outlet, Pooles Resort, Quabbin, Rockfield, Rockport, Sand Bay Corner, Seeley's Bay, Selton, Soperton, Sweets Corners, Taylor, Tilley, Union, Warburton, Washburns Corners, Waterton, Willowbank and Wilstead.
The Lansdowne Iron Works, was founded by Wallis Sunderlin on the Gananoque River by 1801. The ironworks enabled the economic development of a small industrial community called Furnace Falls. The iron smelter was destroyed by fire in 1811. Several mills were established in Furnace Falls by Charles and Jonas Jones of Brockville in 1827. The settlement was renamed Lyndhurst by 1846. [2] Camp Hyanto, an Anglican church camp, is also set just off of the village of Lyndhurst. It has been in operation since the 1940s and its motto is, "He who sleeps beneath the pines, sleeps well." Designed by John Roddick, the masonry arch bridge was erected by contractors Miles Fulford and Simon Ransom. The Lansdowne Iron Works, established by Wallis Sunderlin in 1801, was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1932.[3] A plaque commemorating the founding of Lyndhurst (Furnace Falls) in 1801 was erected by the Ontario Heritage Foundation. A plaque commemorating the Lyndhurst Bridge, built in 1856-57, was erected by the Ontario Archaeological and Historic Sites Board.
Rockport is a charming St. Lawrence River village of historic homes, restaurants, resorts, boat launch and marinas. It has been a port since the late 1700’s and is now a major terminus for 1000 Islands cruise tours. There are bicycle racks, benches, and well marked walking paths with interpretive signs and murals for points of historical interest. Two churches that were founded in the late 1800s remain active. Both reflect the architecture of their time and are often open to visitors during the summer. The view from outside St. Brendan’s church along the rocky shore is breathtaking and is not to be missed. For decades boats were built in Rockport; from small wooden St. Lawrence Skiffs to large tour boats used on the St. Lawrence River, in Canada’s capital city Ottawa on the Rideau and Ottawa Rivers, and as far away as Banff National Park in Alberta. [4] Before the building of the International Bridge nearby, ferryboats connected the US and Canada. The area is still or once again famous for boat building, as the industry is producing ice boats that make winter travel to local island homes possible. [5]
Seeley's Bay is at the north west corner of the Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands and is most known for fishing and its direct access to the UNESCO designated Rideau Waterway. The village was established early in the 19th century as a port of call for steamers going between Kingston and Ottawa on the Rideau Canal. Located just off Highway #15, about 20 minutes north of the 401 Highway, it still serves as the first full service port of call for boaters coming north on the Rideau. It is the site of many fishing tournaments and community festivals. Locals boast that it offers the best fireworks show along the whole Rideau system at Canada Day, and Frost Fest takes advantage of the hard water to celebrate winter in Eastern Ontario. The free public wharf provides access to hundreds of miles of shoreline along 4 lakes in the immediate vicinity. Bass, pike, perch, sunfish, bowfin and many other species are common in the local waters. The village has a bank, a full grocery store, a regular post office, a hardware store, several restaurants, and antique and gift shop, an LCBO and beer outlet, tennis courts, parks, hiking trails, and several marinas and tourist accommodations. The local landscape offers a mix of fertile farmland and rugged granite, typical of the Frontenac Arch Biosphere region.
Population trend:[6]
Private dwellings occupied by usual residents: 3649 (total dwellings: 5306)
Mother tongue:[1]
| South Frontenac | Rideau Lakes | Athens | ||
| Kingston | Front of Yonge | |||
| Leeds and the Thousand Islands | ||||
| Saint Lawrence River / Frontenac Islands |
Gananoque, Saint Lawrence River, bridge to Clayton, Orleans (New York, USA) | Saint Lawrence River / Alexandria, Hammond (New York, USA) |