Muskoka Lakes

Muskoka Lakes
Township (lower-tier)
Township of Muskoka Lakes
A typical lake scene in Muskoka Lakes
Muskoka Lakes
Coordinates: 45°07′N 79°35′W / 45.117°N 79.583°W / 45.117; -79.583Coordinates: 45°07′N 79°35′W / 45.117°N 79.583°W / 45.117; -79.583
Country  Canada
Province  Ontario
Regional Municipality Muskoka
Established 1971
Government
 • Type Township
 • Mayor Don Furniss
 • Governing Body Muskoka Lakes Township Council
 • MP Tony Clement (CPC)
 • MPP Norm Miller (OPC)
Area[1]
 • Land 794.26 km2 (306.67 sq mi)
Population (2016)[2]
 • Total 6,588
 • Density 8.3/km2 (21/sq mi)
Time zone UTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
Postal code FSA P0B
Area code(s) 705
Website www.muskokalakes.ca

The Township of Muskoka Lakes is an area municipality of the District Municipality of Muskoka, Ontario, Canada. It has a year-round population of 6,588.[2]

The municipal offices are located in Port Carling.

History

The area now covered by the township was opened for settlement and organized in 1870 into the following geographic (and sometime municipal) townships of Watt, Cardwell, Humphrey, Christie, Medora and Wood.

In 1971, the current municipal structure took hold when Cardwell Township, Watt Township, Medora and Wood Townships, Bala, Port Carling, Windermere and part of Monck Township were merged.

Geography

Steamboat Bay in Port Carling.

The township is located on Canadian Shield and thus is marked with outcrops of igneous rock and evergreen trees. Although inland from both Lake Huron's Georgian Bay and Lake Simcoe, the township contains the Muskoka Lakes consisting of Lake Muskoka, Lake Rosseau and Lake Joseph, amongst many other smaller lakes.

Protected areas in Muskoka Lakes include Hardy Lake Provincial Park and Torrance Barrens Conservation Area.

Communities

The township contains the communities of Bala, Bala Park, Bardsville, Barlochan, Beaumaris, Baysville, Bear Cave, Beatrice, Bent River, Brackenrig, Cedar Village, Dee Bank, Dixon's Corners, Dudley, Duffy, Echo Beach, Ferndale, Foot's Bay, Glen Orchard, Gregory, Gull Rock, Hekkla, Inverness Lodge, Juddhaven, Mendora, Milford Bay, Minett, Morinus, Mortimers Point, Park Beach, Port Carling, Port Keewaydin, Port Sandfield, Raymond, Redwood, Roderick, Rossclair, Rosseau Falls, Rostrevor, Shannon Hall, Sunset Beach, Thorel House, Tomelin Bluffs, Torrance, Ufford, Ullswater, Valley Green Beach, Walkers Point, Willow Beach, Whiteside, Windermere, Woodington, Woodward Station and Ziska.

Demographics

Canada census – Muskoka Lakes community profile
2011 2006
Population: 6707[2] (3.7% from 2006) 6467 (7.0% from 2001)
Land area: 794.48 km2 (306.75 sq mi) 781.55 km2 (301.76 sq mi)
Population density: 8.4/km2 (22/sq mi) 8.3/km2 (21/sq mi)
Median age: 47.4 (M: 47.1, F: 47.6)
Total private dwellings: 9723[2] 9211
Median household income: $55,835
References: 2011[3] 2006[4] earlier[5]

Racial groups

Religious groups

Economy

Timber was initially the greatest economic attraction for the region. The soil is poor and rocky and consequently is not especially suited to agriculture.

As the resource industries dried up, the area soon embraced tourism as its economic base because of its proximity to Toronto and the rest of Southern Ontario. For many Ontarians, this is the centre of cottage country.

The Muskoka Lakes Township Public Libraries offer research, literature, and cultural resources to local residents.

Notable people from Muskoka

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Muskoka Lakes census profile". 2011 Census of Population. Statistics Canada. Retrieved 2012-03-07.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Corrections and updates: Population and dwelling count amendments, 2011 Census". Statistics Canada. February 14, 2013. Retrieved February 15, 2013.
  3. ↑ "2011 Community Profiles". Canada 2011 Census. Statistics Canada. July 5, 2013. Retrieved 2012-03-07.
  4. ↑ "2006 Community Profiles". Canada 2006 Census. Statistics Canada. March 30, 2011. Retrieved 2012-03-07.
  5. ↑ "2001 Community Profiles". Canada 2001 Census. Statistics Canada. February 17, 2012.
  • Tatley, Richard. Steamboating in Muskoka. Bracebridge, Ontario : Muskoka Litho, 1972.
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