Jump to content

Uxbridge, Ontario

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Hwy43 (talk | contribs) at 04:25, 2 November 2014 (per WP:CANSTYLE#Infoboxes and per consensus at Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Ontario#City infoboxes: "tier" or "conventional" municipal statuses (or both)?). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Uxbridge
Township (lower-tier)
Township of Uxbridge
Coat of arms of Uxbridge
Coat of arms
Location of Uxbridge within Durham Region.
Location of Uxbridge within Durham Region.
Country Canada
Province Ontario
RegionDurham Region
Established1850
Government
 • MayorGerri Lynn O'Connor
 • Governing bodyUxbridge Township Council
Area
[1]
 • Land420.65 km2 (162.41 sq mi)
Elevation
273 m (896 ft)
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Total
20,623
 • Density45.6/km2 (118/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (Eastern (EDT))
Websitewww.town.uxbridge.on.ca

Uxbridge is a township in south-central Ontario, Canada, in the Regional Municipality of Durham, in the Greater Toronto Area.

The main centre in the township is the namesake community of Uxbridge. Other communities within the township include Coppins Corners, Goodwood,[2] Leaskdale, Sandford, Siloam, Victoria's Corner, and Zephyr.

History

It was named for Uxbridge, England, of which the name is derived from "Wixan's Bridge".[3] The Wixan were a 7th-century Saxon tribe from Lincolnshire who also began to settle in what became Middlesex.[4] Anglo-Saxons began to settle and farm in the area of Uxbridge, England in the 5th century, clearing the dense woodland and remaining there for around 500 years.[4] Uxbridge, UK became part of the Elthorne Hundred with other villages in the area. The town later appears in records from 1107 as "Woxbrigge".[5]

The first settlers in the area were Quakers who started arriving in 1806 from the Catawissa area of Pennsylvania. The community's oldest building, the Uxbridge Friends Meeting House, was built in 1820 and overlooks the town from Quaker Hill, a kilometre to the west.

The township was incorporated as a municipality in 1850 and became part of the newly formed Ontario County two years later.

The first passenger carrying narrow gauge railway in North America, the Toronto and Nipissing Railway arrived in Uxbridge in June 1871, and for over a decade Uxbridge was the headquarters of the railway. In 1872, the Village of Uxbridge was separated from the Township and incorporated as a separate entity.

With the creation of the Regional Municipality of Durham in 1974, Uxbridge Township was amalgamated with the Town of Uxbridge and Scott Township to create an expanded Township of Uxbridge.

Uxbridge today

Today, Uxbridge serves as a mostly suburban community in northern Durham Region. Major manufacturing employers include Pine Valley Packaging (packaging, containers and portable shelters), Koch-Glitsch Canada (mass transfer systems) and Hela Canada (spice and ingredient manufacture). Many residents commute to other centres in Durham and York Regions and beyond.

The 30-bed Uxbridge Cottage Hospital opened in 1958 is a site associated with the Markham Stouffville Hospital Corporation.

Uxbridge is twinned with Catawissa, Pennsylvania in the United States, from which many of its settlers originated.

Uxbridge has two community newspapers, the Standard the Cosmos. The Uxbridge Times Journal is responsible for flyer distribution in the town. Uxbridge is also served by a monthly community magazine and events guide, Uxbridge Town Talk.

Demographics

Historical populations
YearPop.±%
199114,092—    
199615,882+12.7%
200117,377+9.4%
200619,169+10.3%
201120,623+7.6%
Racial makeup
Canada 2006 Census Population % of Total Population
Visible minority group
Source:[6]		 South Asian 110 0.6
Chinese 110 0.6
Black 75 0.4
Filipino 20 0.1
Latin American 35 0.2
Southeast Asian 0 0
Arab 20 0.1
West Asian 0 0
Korean 0 0
Japanese 30 0.2
Mixed visible minority 20 0.1
Other visible minority 20 0.1
Total visible minority population 445 2.3
Aboriginal group
Source:[7]		 First Nations 110 0.6
Métis 10 0.1
Inuit 0 0
Total Aboriginal population 120 0.6
White 18,510 97
Total population 19,075 100

According to the 2011 Census, the township has a population of 20,623 over an area of 420.65 km². The population has increased 7.6% since 2006 and has a density of 49.0 people per square kilometre.[8]

The urban centre of Uxbridge has a population of 11,531 as of 2011, up from 10,175 in 2006. This is a growth rate of 13.3%.[9]

Major hurdles must be jumped if the town wishes to continue on this level of growth. Uxbridge's sewage system is reaching its maximum capacity, and with the exception of a couple small developments, the system must be expanded if the town wishes to continue to grow.

English is the mother tongue of 91.7% of the population, whereas French, the other official language, of 1.0%. German is the mother tongue of 1.4% of the residents of Uxbridge, while native speakers of Italian make up exactly 1.0% of the population.[10]

Attractions

Thomas Foster Memorial

In 2009 Uxbridge Township received federal designation by Industry Canada as The Trail Capital of Canada, resulting from the over 220 kilometers of managed trails on over 8,000 acres (32 km2) of protected greenspace within its borders. Uxbridge trails run through and alongside historic villages, mixed forests, meadows, ponds, streams, and wetlands. A number of major trail systems run through the Township, including the Oak Ridges Trail and the Trans-Canada Trail.

The Uxbridge-Scott Museum and Archives possesses a number of artifacts, mostly related to the township's agricultural heritage and the genealogy of its residents. The Museum also includes nine heritage buildings as well as heritage herb and flower gardens. During the annual Heritage Days festival, the museum grounds are host to the "Steam Show" featuring steam-engines and steam-based agricultural machinery, among other attractions.[11]

There are also a number of attractions related to the history of the area. Uxbridge's Elgin Park, named after Lord Elgin, was the site of a picnic held by 19th century Prime Minister John A. Macdonald in a re-election bid. In addition, the Thomas Foster Memorial Temple, erected in 1935-36 by the former mayor of Toronto, is situated a short distance north of town. Inspired by Foster's visit to India, the Temple was designed by architects J.H. Craig (1889–1954) and H.H. Madrill (1889–1998). Finally, the former home of famed author Lucy Maud Montgomery of Anne of Green Gables fame is situated in Leaskdale. Montgomery lived in the area from 1911 to 1926, and wrote half of her books at what is now the site of the Leaskdale Manse Museum.

Since 1995, the Lions Club has hosted Art in the Park, held the second week in August. Also known as Summerfest, this juried art show attracts artists from across the province.

Starting in 1886, the Uxbridge Fall Fair has been held annually and in 2014 will be celebrating its 150th anniversary the weekend after Labour Day in Elgin Park. Attractions include home craft, vegetable and flower exhibits, cattle, goat, sheep, poultry and rabbit shows, the midway, tractor pull, demolition derby, heavy horse pull and barnyard rodeo.

The Uxbridge Studio Tour and Sale is also held in September, giving visitors an opportunity to meet with local artists in their studios and explore the creative process.

Since 1988, Uxbridge has hosted an annual Heritage Christmas Craft Show, held the second Saturday in November. A Santa Claus Parade is also held annually in late November.

Since 2008 there has been an annual Uxbridge Ribfest, usually during a middle weekend of July. It is run by the town branch of the Royal Canadian Legion (Branch 170).[12]

The York Durham Heritage Railway, opened in 1996, is a tourist train operating between Stouffville and Uxbridge. The train is pulled by first generation diesel locomotives which directly replaced the steam locomotives. They have recently purchase 5 Budd RDC railcars from the now defunct Guelph Junction Express.

Throughout the year, a number of theatrical and musical productions are held at the Music Hall. Movies are shown at a local unique movie theatre, named The Roxy.[13]

The Highlands of Durham Games are held in Elgin Park near the end of July. These games focus on Celtic traditions and offer a variety of entertainments.

Transport

Uxbridge station is the northern terminus of the York Durham Heritage Railway, which runs from Stouffville. The Stouffville line of GO Transit is proposed to be extended to Uxbridge (As part of MoveOntario 2020 plan), but is currently served by buses to the GO Transit station at Lincolnville. The expansion is currently unfunded, and could cost as much as $350 million.[14] Durham Region Transit also runs buses through Uxbridge every hour from Route 950 (Uxbridge/Port Perry/UOIT) and limited service via community bus route (Uxbridge East Uxbridge West).

Education

Public elementary schools

  • Joseph Gould Public School
  • Quaker Village Public School
  • Scott Central Public School
  • Uxbridge Public School
  • Goodwood Public School

Separate elementary schools

  • St. Joseph's Catholic School

Independent schools

  • Uxbridge Montessori School

High schools

Colleges

  • Durham College (North Campus Uxbridge on 2 Campbell Drive, an office building next to Uxbridge Cottage Hospital) plus Ontario Employment Services Centre on Brock Street.

Historical figures

Notable residents

Bryan Fumerton Competitive swimming qualified for the Olympic trials ranking 18th in 200 back stroke

In film

[16]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Statistics Canada 2006 Census - Uxbridge community profile
  2. ^ For a complete history of Goodwood, see Eleanor Todd, Burrs and Blackberries from Goodwood (Goodwood, ON: 1980).
  3. ^ Uxbridge, English Place-Name Society database at Nottingham University
  4. ^ a b Cotton 1994, p.8
  5. ^ Sherwood 2007, p.5
  6. ^ [1], Community Profiles from the 2006 Census, Statistics Canada - Census Subdivision
  7. ^ [2], Aboriginal Peoples - Data table
  8. ^ "Statistics Canada - Data Table". Retrieved 5 August 2012.
  9. ^ "Statistics Canada - About". Retrieved 5 August 2012.
  10. ^ "Census Profile for the Census Subvision of Uxbridge (Township), Ontario". Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  11. ^ "40th Annual Heritage Days". Uxbridge Historical Centre. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  12. ^ "The Uxbridge Fall Fair". Retrieved March 7, 2011.
  13. ^ "Roxy Theatres". Retrieved March 7, 2011.
  14. ^ Foran, Tim (July 27, 2001). "Going from Uxbridge to Toronto". Retrieved 5 August 2012.
  15. ^ http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090310.wsptroberts0310/BNStory/Sports/?page=rss&id=wsptroberts0310. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help) [dead link‍]
  16. ^ Uxbridge times journal Cosmos Swim Canada magazine
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Uxbridge, Ontario.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Uxbridge,_Ontario&oldid=632100428"