Erin, Ontario

Erin
Town (lower-tier)
Town of Erin

Seal

Location of Erin within Wellington County
Erin
Location of Erin within southern Ontario
Coordinates: 43°46′N 80°04′W / 43.767°N 80.067°W / 43.767; -80.067Coordinates: 43°46′N 80°04′W / 43.767°N 80.067°W / 43.767; -80.067
Country  Canada
Province  Ontario
County Wellington
Established 1820
Amalgamated 1997
Government
 • Mayor Allan Alls
 • Governing Body Town of Erin Council
 • MP Mike Chong (Con)
 • MPP Ted Arnott (PC)
Area[1][2]
 • Town (lower-tier) 297.75 km2 (114.96 sq mi)
 • Urban 4.77 km2 (1.84 sq mi)
Population (2011)[1][2]
 • Town (lower-tier) 10,770
 • Density 36.2/km2 (94/sq mi)
 • Urban 2,674
 • Urban density 560.6/km2 (1,452/sq mi)
Time zone UTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
Postal Code FSA N0B
Area code(s) 519
Website www.erin.ca

Erin is a town in Wellington County, approximately 80 kilometres (50 mi) northwest of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Erin is an amalgamated town, composed of the former Villages of Erin and Hillsburgh, and the hamlets of Ballinafad, Brisbane, Cedar Valley, Crewson's Corners, Ospringe, and Orton, as well as the former Township of Erin. Erin's Town Council includes a Mayor (Allan Alls, 2014-2018) and four councillors. Its upper tier government is provided by Wellington County.

Erin is primarily a rural community but, while farming is still an important activity in the town, most of its population works in the nearby cities of Brampton, Mississauga, Guelph, and even Toronto. The town's new industrial park is attracting a number of new industries, due to its cheaper tax rate, accessibility to transportation, and its location within the "Technology Triangle," a series of high-tech driven cities including nearby Kitchener. Waterloo, and Cambridge.

The community not for profit organization is East Wellington Community Services.

History

A settlement developed after mills were built on the Credit River between 1826 and 1829. The first settlers included Daniel MacMillan and the Trout family. The settlement was established as "MacMillan's Mills" although most sources indicate that the Trout family built the first sawmill. Even so, Daniel MacMillan and his brothers are acknowledged as significant contributors to the growth of the village.[3]

By 1839 a post-office had opened. Records from 1841 indicate that the entire Township of Erin had a population of just 1,368. By 1846, the small settlement in the south-west of the township, then called McMullen's Mills, had a grist and saw mill, a tavern and blacksmith's shop but only 40 to 50 residents.[4]

In 1849, the first place of worship, the Union Church was being used by several denominations. Previously, services had been held in homes and in other available buildings. By 1851, the population increased to 300; the name of the settlement was Erinsville at the time but was later shortened to Erin. Businesses in the area included a distillery, a tannery, and carding, oatmeal and grist-mills. The river provided the power for mills, helping to boost agriculture, milling and wood products manufacturing. By 1869 the population was 600 and the post office was receiving mail daily.[5]

The Credit Valley Railroad reached Erin in 1879 and the same year, Erin was incorporated as a village. At the time the population was 750.[6]

Electricity from small private providers became available before 1890 and a formal power company was established in 1900, Cataract Light & Power. Hydro power was generated at Cataract; that facility was sold to Ontario Hydro in 1944 and continued to operate until 1947.[3]

Communities

In addition to the primary settlement of Erin, the town also includes the smaller communities of Ballinafad, Binkham, Brisbane, Cedar Valley, Churchill, Coningsby, Hillsburgh, Mimosa, Ospringe and Orton.

Demographics

Census Population
Erin (village)
1871 600
1921 479
1931 451
1941 499
1951 650
1961 1,005
1971 1,446
1981 2,313
1991 2,489
1996 2,633
Erin (town)
2001 11,052
2006 11,148
2011 10,770

Population trend:[7]

  • Population in 2006: 11,148 (2001 to 2006 population change: 0.9%)
  • Population in 2001: 11,052
  • Population total in 1996: 10,657
    • Erin (township): 8024
    • Erin (village): 2633
  • Population in 1991:
    • Erin (township): 7561
    • Erin (village): 2489

Private dwellings occupied by usual residents: 3741 (total dwellings: 3939)

Mother tongue:[8]

  • English as first language: 91.4%
  • French as first language: 1.1%
  • English and French as first language: 0.4%
  • Other as first language: 7.1%

Published data by the Town of Erin may be more recent; it indicates a total population of 11,830 and 3900 households in an area of 360 square kilometres (140 square miles).[9]

Culture

Erin revolves around its community centre, called Centre 2000. The building was added to the existing community centre. The facility now includes Erin District High School, 300 seat theatre, large double gym, arena, 6 working vending machines, many community rooms, dentist, physiotherapist, Erin Branch of the Wellington Library, daycare, and many other features. Erin Village Alliance Church meets in the Gymnasium on Sunday mornings. Within the walls of Centre 2000 is Erin Cinema, located in the 300 seat theatre. It shows first run movies and Toronto Film Festival Circuit films on weekends and some weekdays.

Media

The town of Erin has their community radio station CHES-FM broadcasting at 91.7 FM. Their local newspaper The Erin Advocate has a weekly paid-circulation of 2,500 and is published by Metroland Media Group Ltd.. The Erin Advocate also publishes the monthly Country Routes paper distributed to surrounding areas. Newspapers that cover Erin news and events and are distributed door to door for free include the Wellington Advertiser and the Orangeville Banner. The Erin High District High School has its own closed circuit TV station, primarily used for announcements, EDHS TV.

Notable residents

Erin is home to many notable residents, including film-maker Mike Clattenburg, Ex-NHL player Jeff Shevalier, the late musician Stompin' Tom Connors, NHL Referee Terry Gregson, and Franco-Ontarian poet Robert Dickson.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Erin, Ontario (Code 3523017) census profile". 2011 Census of Population. Statistics Canada. Retrieved 2012-08-16.
  2. 1 2 "Erin, Ontario (Code 0265) census profile". 2011 Census of Population. Statistics Canada. Retrieved 2012-08-16.
  3. 1 2
  4. ↑ Smith, Wm. H. (1846). SMITH'S CANADIAN GAZETTEER - STATISTICAL AND GENERAL INFORMATION RESPECTING ALL PARTS OF THE UPPER PROVINCE, OR CANADA WEST:. Toronto: H. & W. ROWSELL. p. 55.
  5. ↑ https://books.google.ca/books?id=z6wOAAAAYAAJ, page 150
  6. ↑
  7. ↑ Statistics Canada: 1996, 2001, 2006 census
  8. ↑ "Erin community profile". 2006 Census data. Statistics Canada. Retrieved 2011-01-17.
  9. ↑
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