Southgate, Ontario

Southgate
Township (lower-tier)
Township of Southgate

Dundalk
Southgate
Coordinates: 44°06′N 80°35′W / 44.100°N 80.583°W / 44.100; -80.583Coordinates: 44°06′N 80°35′W / 44.100°N 80.583°W / 44.100; -80.583
Country  Canada
Province  Ontario
County Grey
Formed January 1, 2000
Government
 • Mayor Anna-Marie Fosbrooke
 • Federal riding Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound
 • Prov. riding Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound
Area[1]
 • Land 644.35 km2 (248.78 sq mi)
Population (2011)[1]
 • Total 7,190
 • Density 11.2/km2 (29/sq mi)
Time zone EST (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
Postal Code N0C 1B0
Area code(s) 519 and 226
Website www.southgate.ca

Southgate is a township in western Ontario, Canada, in the southeast corner of Grey County. Southgate was formed on January 1, 2000, when the Village of Dundalk, the Township of Proton and the Township of Egremont were amalgamated. The headwaters of the South Saugeen, Beatty Saugeen and Grand Rivers are located in Southgate.

Communities

Dundalk welcome sign.

The township comprises the communities of Bethel, Birdell, Boothville, Cedarville, Conn, Dromore, Dundalk, Egerton, Gildale, Holstein, Hopeville, Keldon, Kingscote, Landerkin, Proton Station, Robbtown, Signet, Swinton Park, Tartan, Thistle, Varney, Ventry and Yeovil. The largest communities are Dundalk and Holstein.

Infrastructure

The former rail line roadbed has become a snowmobile and ATV trail which is owned by Grey County. Dundalk's three elementary schools are Egremont Community School, Dundalk & Proton Community School and Highpoint Community School. The high school is Grey Highlands Secondary School, which is located in the nearby town of Flesherton.

Economy

Agriculture is the dominant sector of the economy in Southgate. Many of the farms in Southgate have secondary businesses on the farm to service the rural farm community.For the last 20 years, Mennonites have been purchasing farmland in Southgate and have expanded the landbase available for agriculture.

The industrial sector is concentrated in Dundalk. The largest manufacturer is in the auto parts sector Metal Systems of Canada. There are also many small rural industries in Southgate in the metal fabrication especially on Mennonite farms on the eastern side of Southgate.

The Township of Southgate has developed a 220 acres (89 ha) Eco Park which is 65% sold out. The Park has 2 industries involved in the environment sector: Lystek which produces liquid fertilizer and Gro-Bark which produces soil from compost and wood chips. Currently 35 acres are available for industrial development.

Most of the commercial retail businesses are located in downtown Dundalk. There are over 30 businesses in the downtown and another 10 outside the downtown or near Hwy. 10.

The Tourism economy is growing in Southgate focused on the many events held in Holstein and Dundalk. A new tourism experience was developed in 2016 called Butter Tarts & Buggies: Explore the Simpler Life in partnership with Wellington North, Minto and Mapleton. It includes the Mennonite culture of Southgate with butter tarts and the local food experience.<Township of Southgate Economic Development>

Culture and Tourism

Southgate was settled in the 1850s as a farming area spreading from the settlement roads of Hwy 10 and Hwy 6. The original settlers were from England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales and other European countries. Soon after 2 rail lines were built running north-south near Hwy 10 through Dundalk and Proton Station and Hwy 6 through Holstein. The most recent arrivals in Southgate are Mennonites mostly from the Kitchener-Waterloo area. Southgate has several churches representing Catholic, Anglican, Protestant and Mennonite denominations.

Dundalk is the starting point of the Grey County CP Rail Trail, a multi-purpose trail which runs through downtown Dundalk on the old railline to Owen Sound. Dundalk is the hub of the regional ATV and snowmobile networks in the region.

The Highpoint Campground is a municipally-owned campground in downtown Dundalk in Dundalk Memorial Park.

The village of Dundalk hosts many tourism events including the Dundalk Fair and Canadian Open Dance Competition, Music Jamborees, Horse Shows, Family Recreation Weekend, Automotive Swap-Meet & Flea Market and Santa Claus Parade.

The Dundalk Fair and Canadian Open Dance Competition is held the 2nd weekend of September. The Dance Competition includes step dancing, clogging, square dancing and group step dancing. The Fair is a traditional fall fair which has been held for over 160 years. It includes saddle horse shows, harness racing, demolition derby, tractor pulls, classic car show, garden tractor races, Ambassador of the Fair crowning, amusement rides and over a hundred competitions judging jam to livestock.

The village of Holstein hosts many events each year including: the Holstein Maplefest, a Canada Day Fireworks display, Holstein Santa Claus Parade and annual drama productions. Landmarks and businesses in Holstein are the Holstein General Store, Holstein Feed Mill, Holstein Park and Dam, Egremont Optimist's Community centre, Holstein Cenotaph, Knox Holstein Presbyterian Church and Egremont Community School. The Holstein Dam is on the Waterfalls of Grey County Tour.

Holstein's Maplefest is hosted at Love's Sugarbush the second weekend in April and has displays of pioneer activities, modern production of maple syrup, games, booths from local merchants, artists and local community groups and has live shows and children's entertainment.

Butter Tarts and Buggies is a new tourist attraction in Southgate, Wellington North, Minto and Mapleton which features many of the Mennonite businesses in the Holstein area. A special feature of the Butter Tarts and Buggies is an authentic Mennonite horse drawn buggy ride through 2 Mennonite working farms and scenic backroads just outside Holstein.

Full Throttle Motor Speedway is located in Varney on the western edge of Southgate. It is the only speedway in Ontario to feature a 33° high-bank asphalt racing surface. The Speedway is the host to the Great Canadian Truck Show in July.

Demographics

Canada census – Southgate, Ontario community profile
2016 2011 2006
Population: 7354 (1.7% from 2011) 7190 (1.7% from 2006) 7167 (3.8% from 2001)
Land area: 644.35 km2 (248.78 sq mi) 644.35 km2 (248.78 sq mi) 643.95 km2 (248.63 sq mi)
Population density: 11.4/km2 (30/sq mi) 11.2/km2 (29/sq mi) 11.1/km2 (29/sq mi)
Median age: 38.9 (M: 38.7, F: 39.1)
Total private dwellings: 2987 2921 2801
Median household income: $56,710
References: 2016[2] 2011[1] 2006[3] earlier[4]

Population trend:[5]

Subdivisions are currently being developed for over 700 new houses catering to commuters to the Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon. As a result, the population of Dundalk is expected to increase by over 1,000 over the next decade.

Notable residents

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Southgate census profile". 2011 Census of Population. Statistics Canada. Retrieved 2012-03-15.
  2. ↑ "2016 Community Profiles". Canada 2016 Census. Statistics Canada. February 21, 2017.
  3. ↑ "2006 Community Profiles". Canada 2006 Census. Statistics Canada. March 30, 2011. Retrieved 2012-03-15.
  4. ↑ "2001 Community Profiles". Canada 2001 Census. Statistics Canada. February 17, 2012.
  5. ↑ Statistics Canada: 1996, 2001, [[Canada 2006 Census|2006]2011, 2016 census
  6. ↑ Wikipedia - Agnes Campbell Macphail
"Southgate census profile". 2011 Census of Population. Statistics Canada. Retrieved 2012-03-15. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "cp2011" defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).

Jump up ^ "2016 Community Profiles". Canada 2016 Census. Statistics Canada. February 21, 2017. Jump up ^ "2006 Community Profiles". Canada 2006 Census. Statistics Canada. March 30, 2011. Retrieved 2012-03-15. Jump up ^ "2001 Community Profiles". Canada 2001 Census. Statistics Canada. February 17, 2012. Jump up ^ Statistics Canada: 1996, 2001, 2011, 2016 Census Jump up ^ Wikipedia - Agnes Campbell Macphail

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