Haldimand County is a rural city-status single-tier municipality on the Niagara Peninsula in Southern Ontario, Canada, on the north shore of Lake Erie, and on the Grand River. Despite its name, it is no longer a county by definition, as all municipal services are handled by a single level of government. Municipal offices are located in Cayuga.

The county is adjacent to Norfolk County, the County of Brant, the City of Hamilton, the townships of West Lincoln and Wainfleet, and the Six Nations reserve.

History Haldimand's history has been closely associated with that of neighbouring Norfolk County. Upper Canada was created in 1791 by being separated from the old Province of Quebec, Haldimand was created in 1798 as part of the Niagara District.An act for the better division of this province, SUC 1798 (38 Geo. III), c. 5, s. 31, s. 32. Reprinted in The Statutes of Upper Canada to the Time of Union, Revised and Published by Authority, Vol. I - Public Acts (Toronto: Robert Stanton, Queen's Printer, 1843). It was named after Sir Frederick Haldimand, the governor of the Province of Quebec from 1778 to 1785. In 1844, the land was surrendered by the Six Nations to the Crown in an agreement that was signed by the vast majority of Chiefs in the Haldimand tract. In 1974, Haldimand was incorporated as a town by the amalgamation of the villages of Cayuga, Hagersville and Caledonia and the townships of Oneida, Seneca, North Cayuga, South Cayuga and parts of Rainham and Walpole. In 2001, Haldimand was enlarged by amalgamating with Dunnville and half of Nanticoke.

Beginning in February 2006, a land dispute by native protesters began near Caledonia over a housing development being built on the outskirts of town, which members of the nearby Mohawk Six Nations people claim is rightfully their land. The issue reignited again in February 2020, when Mohawk protesters blocked off Highway 6 again in protest of McKenzie Meadows.

Communities The population centres in Haldimand are Caledonia, Dunnville, Hagersville, Jarvis and Cayuga. Part of the Six Nations Reserve is within the geographic area of Haldimand County, but is independent of the county. Most of Haldimand is agricultural land, although some heavy industry, including the former Nanticoke Generating Station, is located here.

Smaller communities within the municipality are Attercliffe Station, Balmoral, Bodri Bay, Brookers Bay, Byng, Canborough, Canfield, Cheapside, Clanbrassil, Crescent Bay, Decewsville, Empire Corners, Featherstone Point, Fisherville, Garnet, Hoover Point, Kohler, Little Buffalo, Lowbanks, Moulton Station, Mount Carmel, Mount Healy, Nanticoke, Nelles Corners, Peacock Point, Port Maitland, Rainham Centre, Selkirk, Sims Lock, South Cayuga, Springvale, Stromness, Sweets Corners, Townsend, Willow Grove, Woodlawn Park and York.

The ghost towns of Cook's Station, Cranston, Dufferin, Erie, Indiana, Lambs Corners, Lythmore, Sandusk, Upper, and Varency are also located within Haldimand.

Historic townships Haldimand County's area of 309,300 acres was formed from part of the land grant to the Six Nations in 1783. The County was purchased by treaty and opened for general settlement in 1832. It was first settled by white veterans of Butler's Rangers established there by Joseph Brant. A large number of Germans were among the first settlers.

Canborough, area . Granted in 1794 by Joseph Brant to John Dochstader of Butler's Rangers. Purchased by Benjamin Canby in 1810 for £5,000, he named the village site "Canborough. Community centre: Canborough, Darling and it touches Dunnville Dunn, area . Opened for settlement in 1833. Community centre: Dunnville Moulton, area . Landowner Henry John Boulton named the township from the Boulton family seat in England. North Cayuga, area . Oneida, area . Joseph Brant granted a 999 year lease of part of Oneida and Seneca townships to Henry Nelles, of Butler's Rangers and his sons, Robert, Abraham, William, Warner and John. Community centres were: Caledonia, Dufferin and Hagersville. Rainham, area Community centres: Balmoral, Selkirk, Rainham Centre and Fisherville. Seneca, area . Community centres: York and Caledonia Sherbrooke, area , the smallest township in Ontario. Opened in 1825 and named from Sir John Coape Sherbrooke, a Governor-General of Canada. The Township was granted by the Indians to William Dickson (a lawyer) as a professional fee. Community centres: Stromness and Port Maitland. South Cayuga, area . Walpole, area . Community centres were: Hagersville, Jarvis, Selkirk, Cheapside and Nanticoke.

Climate

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Haldimand County had a population of living in of its total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of . With a land area of , it had a population density of in 2021.

Ethnicity Only ethnic groups that comprise greater than 1% of the population are included. Note that a person can report more than one group.

+ Ethnic Groups in the City of Haldimand County (2011−2021)EthnicGroup202120162011 First Nations 1,745 2,095 2,105 Canadian 8,770 15,455 14,190 English 14,785 15,555 15,915 Irish 9,495 8,745 9,255 Scottish 11,220 11,025 11,510 French 3,045 3,895 4,260 German 7,670 7,560 7,975 Italian 2,500 2,095 2,245 Ukrainian 1,555 1,770 1,410 Dutch 6,365 6,780 6,045 Polish 1,755 1,460 1,280 Métis 485 305 285 Welsh 855 785 855 Portuguese 840 385 575 American 605 365 690 Hungarian 890 930 710 Total responses 48,565 45,030 44,220 Total population 49,216 45,608 44,876

+ Panethnic Groups in the City of Haldimand County (2001−2021)PanethnicGroup20212016201120062001 European 44,065 42,630 41,905 43,295 41,785 Indigenous 1,890 1,540 1,470 830 970 African 745 220 205 215 165 South Asian 620 215 75 65 75 Southeast Asian 350 155 140 35 60 East Asian 235 90 205 155 145 Latin American 210 95 60 30 25 Middle Eastern 200 40 0 20 10 Other 245 40 125 40 45 Total responses 48,565 45,030 44,220 44,705 43,285 Total population 49,216 45,608 44,876 45,212 43,728

Languages As of the 2021 census, there were 47,190 citizens that spoke English only, 15 that spoke only French, 1,530 that spoke both official languages and 130 that spoke neither.

Religion As of the 2021 census, there were 29,380 citizens identifying as Christian and 18,200 as non-religious and secular perspectives.

Local government The city is within the federal electoral riding of Haldimand—Norfolk and within provincial electoral riding of Haldimand—Norfolk.

+Haldimand federal election results Year Liberal Conservative New Democratic Green 2021 25% 6,786 49% 13,215 15% 4,075 0% 0 2019 25% 6,269 46% 11,755 17% 4,456 7% 1,851

+Haldimand provincial election results Year PC New Democratic Liberal Green 2022 34% 7,011 15% 3,010 7%1,537 4% 846 2018 57% 12,457 28% 6,109 9%1,929 4% 798

Current Mayor: Shelley Ann Bentley

Previous Mayors:

2010–2022: Ken Hewitt 2004–2010: Marie Trainer 2000–2004: Lorraine Bergstrand

Healthcare Healthcare in Haldimand County is overseen by Haldimand-Norfolk Health and Social Services. Hospitals in Haldimand County include Haldimand War Memorial Hospital in Dunnville, and West Haldimand General Hospital in Hagersville.

Policing Policing in the county is provided by the Haldimand detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police located in Cayuga.

Fire services Fire services in the county is provided by the Haldimand County Fire Department which was created in 2001 following the separation of Haldimand and Norfolk. The department currently consists of 11 stations located strategically throughout the county. With almost 300 firefighters and 40 fire apparatuses, it is one of the largest volunteer fire departments in Ontario. The department consists of:

Station 1 – Caledonia Station 2 – Hagersville Station 3 – Jarvis Station 4 – Cayuga (Headquarters) Station 5 – Canfield Station 6 – Canborough Station 7 – Lowbanks Station 9 – Dunnville Station 11 – South Haldimand Station 12 – Fisherville Station 13 – Selkirk

Education

Public Schools in Haldimand County are administered by the Grand Erie District School Board. These schools include: Caledonia Centennial Public School (Caledonia) Oneida Central Public School (Caledonia) River Heights Public School (Caledonia) JL Mitchener Public School (Cayuga) Hagersville Elementary School (Hagersville) Walpole North Elementary School (Hagersville) Mapleview Elementary School (Dunnville) Thompson Creek Elementary School (Dunnville) Rainham Central School (Fisherville) Jarvis Public School (Jarvis) Seneca Central Public School (York)

Catholic Education Catholic Schools in Haldimand County are administered by the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board. These include: St. Patrick's Catholic School (Caledonia) Notre Dame Catholic School (Caledonia) St. Stephen's School (Cayuga) St. Michael's School (Dunnville) St. Mary's School (Hagersville) Jarvis Community Christian School (Jarvis)

Transportation

The Southern Ontario Railway operates in southwestern Haldimand.

Highways that travel through Haldimand include Ontario Highway 3 and Ontario Highway 6.

Several intercity bus companies operate routes that travel through Haldimand County, connecting it to nearby cities and towns. Although, driving is the most common way to get around in Haldimand County, as public transportation options are limited.

Protected areas Haldimand Conservation Area Selkirk Provincial Park Taquanyah Conservation Area Hedley Forest Conservation Area Canborough Conservation Area Ruigrok Tract Conservation Area Oswego Conservation Area Byng Island Conservation Area Rock Point Provincial Park Mohawk Island National Wildlife Area

Attractions Townsend Planned Community (1970) Nanticoke Generating Station

Natural Landmarks Canadian Heritage Grand River Grand Valley Trail Byng Island Conservation Area and Pool Seneca Park & Rotary Riverside Trail

Activities Toronto Motorsports Park (Dragway Park) Jukasa Motor Speedway Grand River Dinner Cruises Killman Zoo Caledonia Fair Kinsmen Park and Caledonia Lions Pool

Heritage Grand River Bridge and Dam Cayuga Library & Heritage Centre Edinburgh Square Heritage and Cultural Centre Wilson MacDonald Memorial School Museum Haldimand House & Oasis Drive-In Caledonia Old Mill Indiana Ghost Town Ruthven Park National Historic Site Mansion and Park Cottonwood Mansion Caledonia Grand Trunk Station No. 6 RCAF Dunnville Museum Port Maitland Outer Range Lighthouse and Pier Canadian Drilling Rig Museum Mohawk Island Lighthouse (abandoned)

Notable people Birthplace of Canadian Olympic high jump medalist Ethel Catherwood. Birthplace of Canadian Women's Hockey Gold Medalist Becky Kellar-Duke. Birthplace of Spud Johnson Major League Baseball player. Birthplace of Boston Bruins' Nathan Horton, who won the Stanley Cup in 2011. Birthplace of Dallas Stars Head Coach Peter DeBoer. Birthplace of Los Angeles Kings goaltender Cam Talbot. Birthplace of Peter Robertson, inventor of the Robertson screw. Birthplace of Andrew Campbell, former Toronto Maple Leafs Defenseman. Birthplace of Allan Roy Edwards, former Detroit Red Wings goaltender. Birthplace of Wilson Pugsley MacDonald, a Canadian lyrical poet most famous for his work "Out of the Wilderness". Birthplace of the late NHL goaltender Ray Emery, who won Stanley Cup in 2013. Birthplace of Marty McSorley, retired NHL player. Birthplace of Neil Peart, drummer of the Canadian rock group Rush.

See also List of townships in Ontario and Haldimand County

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