South Glengarry, Ontario

South Glengarry
Township (lower-tier)
Township of South Glengarry

Lancaster
South Glengarry
Coordinates: 45°12′N 74°35′W / 45.200°N 74.583°W / 45.200; -74.583Coordinates: 45°12′N 74°35′W / 45.200°N 74.583°W / 45.200; -74.583
Country  Canada
Province  Ontario
County Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry
Settled 1785
Incorporated 1792 (Royal Townships)
Incorporated 1998 (South Glengarry)
Government
 • Type Township
 • Mayor Ian McLeod
 • Federal riding Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry
 • Prov. riding Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry
Area[1]
 • Land 605.30 km2 (233.71 sq mi)
Population (2011)[1]
 • Total 13,162
 • Density 21.7/km2 (56/sq mi)
Time zone EST (UTC−5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC−4)
Postal code FSA K0C
Area code(s) 613
Website southglengarry.com

South Glengarry is a township in eastern Ontario, Canada on the Saint Lawrence River in the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry.

The township was created on 1 January 1998, by amalgamating the townships of Charlottenburgh and Lancaster with the independent village of Lancaster.

Communities

The township comprises the communities of Avondale, Bainsville, Bayview Estates, Bridge End, Brown House Corner, Camerons Point, Cashions Glen, Curry Hill, Dalhousie Mills, Glen Brook, Glendale Subdivision, Glen Falloch, Glen Nevis, Glen Norman, Glenroy, Glen Walter, Green Valley, Lancaster, Lancaster Heights, Loon Island, MacGillivrays Bridge, Martintown, Munroes Mills, North Branch, North Lancaster, North Lancaster Station, Pine Hill, Redwood Estates, South Lancaster, Summerstown, Summerstown Station, St. Raphaels, Tyotown, and Williamstown.

History

Charlottenburgh and Lancaster were two of the original eight "Royal Townships", established along the Saint Lawrence River in Upper Canada in the 1780s. This area was first settled by United Empire Loyalists. The development of this area was encouraged by Sir John Johnson, then the Superintendent General and Inspector General of Indian Affairs, who had been forced to abandon his land holdings in New York State during the American Revolution.[2]

From the late 18th century to the early 19th century, the area was almost entirely settled by Scottish highlanders, especially from Inverness-shire, after the Highland Clearances. Canadian Gaelic / Scottish Gaelic had been spoken in Glengarry County since its first settlement in 1784.

Sir John built a house in Williamstown which was completed in 1785 and is now a Canadian National Historic Site, the Sir John Johnson Manor House. A grist mill and saw mill, now gone, were also built on the same location. Williamstown also has the oldest house in Ontario, The Bethune-Thompson House built in 1784. Occupants over the years have included the Reverend John Bethune (1751–1815), the great-great-grandfather of Doctor Norman Bethune, and David Thompson, Canadian explorer.

Some of the main partners of the North West Company, including Hugh McGillis, lived in this area.

Ruins of St. Raphael's Church

Alexander McMartin, the first person born in Upper Canada to serve in the Legislative Assembly, was from Martintown.

The Glengarry Celtic Music Hall of Fame is located in Williamstown.

Williamstown is also home to Canada's oldest continuing annual fair, which celebrated its bicentennial in 2012. It is also quite possibly North America's oldest annual fair although this distinction has yet to be authenticated.

The Nor'Westers and Loyalist Museum is also located in Williamstown.

South Glengarry is the location of four National Historic Sites of Canada: the Bethune-Thompson House,[3] the Glengarry Cairn,[4] the Sir John Johnson House,[5] and the ruins of St. Raphael's Roman Catholic Church.[6]

St. Raphael's Catholic Church was built commencing 1821 under the authority of Alexander Macdonell later Bishop of Regiopolis (now Kingston, Ontario). This is one of the oldest churches in what was then the colony of Upper Canada. In late 1970, the church interiors, roof and tower were destroyed by fire, but the ruins were preserved. In 1973, a smaller church with the same name was built, attached to the ruins .

Sport

The Char-Lan Rebels of the Eastern Ontario Junior B Hockey League play out of the Char-Lan Recreation Centre in Williamstown.

Notable people

Demographics

Canada census – South Glengarry, Ontario community profile
2011 2006
Population: 13,162 (2.2% from 2006) 12,880 (1.4% from 2001)
Land area: 605.30 km2 (233.71 sq mi) 604.91 km2 (233.56 sq mi)
Population density: 21.7/km2 (56/sq mi) 21.3/km2 (55/sq mi)
Median age: 47.7 (M: 47.3, F: 48.1) 44.8 (M: 44.5, F: 45.1)
Total private dwellings: 5616 5277
Median household income: $62,120
References: 2011[1] 2006[7] earlier[8]

Culture

Canadian author Hugh Hood mentions Williamstown in his short story "Getting to Williamstown," first published in 1928.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "South Glengarry, Ontario (Code 3501005) census profile". 2011 Census of Population. Statistics Canada. Retrieved 2012-02-27.
  2. ↑ assnat.qc.ca: "John JOHNSON (1741-1830)"
  3. ↑ Bethune-Thompson House / White House. Canadian Register of Historic Places.
  4. ↑ Glengarry Cairn, Directory of Designations of National Historic Significance of Canada
  5. ↑ Sir John Johnson House. Canadian Register of Historic Places.
  6. ↑ Ruin of St. Raphael's Roman Catholic Church. Canadian Register of Historic Places.
  7. ↑ "2006 Community Profiles". Canada 2006 Census. Statistics Canada. March 30, 2011. Retrieved 2012-02-27.
  8. ↑ "2001 Community Profiles". Canada 2001 Census. Statistics Canada. February 17, 2012.
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