Smithville, Ontario

Smithville
—  Unincorporated community  —
Nickname(s): The Hub of the Niagara Peninsula, The Chicken Capital of Canada
Coordinates:
Country Canada
Province Ontario
Regional municipality Niagara
Township West Lincoln
Area
 • Total 4.61 km2 (1.8 sq mi)
Population (2006)
 • Total 3,769
Time zone EST (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
Forward sortation area L0R 2A0
Area code(s) 905 and 289
NTS Map 030M04
GNBC Code FCPLS

Smithville is a community in the township of West Lincoln. It is located on Regional Road 20 between Hamilton and Niagara Falls in the Niagara Region of Ontario, Canada.

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Annual events

Although the town is small, it is known for the annual festival known as Poultry Fest. Held annually in June, residents from various areas of the region visit to see the town's display of agricultural pride.

Smithville continues to hold an agricultural fair on the Labour Day weekend every year. There are lots of agricultural competitions, demolition derbies and entertainment for all ages.

Education

Smithville has six schools, including four elementary and two secondary.

The elementary schools are College Street, St. Martin's, John Calvin, and Covenant Christian Schools.

South Lincoln High School is a public school, while Smithville District Christian High School is a private school.

Government

In some ways Smithville acts as the "administrative centre" of the Township of West Lincoln. The council chambers and the largest branch of the municipal library are located in town, as well as the major fire station. The public works yard is also centralized in a Smithville location.

Smithville falls into two municipal wards. The area north of Townline Road is part of Ward 3, the former Township of South Grimsby. Development south of Townline is part of Ward 2, the former Township of Gainsborough.

The Mayor of West Lincoln serves as the local representative on regional council.

Federally and provincially (as of October 2008), Smithville is located in the Niagara West-Glanbrook riding.

Population

In 2006, Smithville was reported to have a population of 3,000 + (Statistics Canada).

Recreation

Parks in Smithville include the Smithville Conservation Area, and the Smithville Fairgrounds and West Lincoln Arena.

The "Murgatroyd Parkette" is at the corner of Griffin and St. Catharines Street. It has trees and benches, and features the town clock (from the original post offices) mounted on a pedestal.

The Smithville Branch of the West Lincoln Public Library is located on Canborough St. and open six days a week.

Transportation

The major artery in Smithville, and West Lincoln as a whole, continues to be Regional Road 20. Regional Road 20 runs along West Street, Griffin Street North and St. Catharines Street through the town.

The major arteries include the aforementioned Griffin (downtown), St. Catharines (Regional Road 20 east of Griffin), and West (Regional Road 20 west of Griffin) streets. Canborough Street and Station Street, the southern and northern extensions of Griffin Street, are designated as part of Regional Road 14. Townline Road is the major artery in the southern portion of town, and is also known as Smithville Road west of town. It is also designated as part of 14, up to the intersection with Canborough.

Smithville is located on Canadian Pacific's Hamilton Subdivision, and was formerly the location of a junction with the railroad's Dunnville spur. The latter was abandoned in 2003, and has subsequently been turned into a trail (as far as Attercliffe). The former railroad station is a local landmark, and is the headquarters of the West Lincoln Historical Society.

Smithville is also along the Twenty Mile Creek, a waterway which was important to its early settlement and development.

External links