Unorganized West Manitoulin District
Unorganized West Manitoulin District | |
|---|---|
| Manitoulin, Unorganized, West Part | |
 Meldrum Bay | |
  Unorg. West Manitoulin  Unorg. West Manitoulin | |
| Coordinates: 45°52′N 83°00′W / 45.867°N 83.000°W | |
| Country |  Canada |
| Province |  Ontario |
| District | Manitoulin |
| Government | |
| • Federal riding | Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing |
| • Prov. riding | Algoma—Manitoulin |
| Area | |
| • Land | 402.29 km2 (155.33 sq mi) |
| Population (2021)[1] | |
• Total | 219 |
| • Density | 0.5/km2 (1/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| Postal Code | P0P 1R0, P0P 1Y0 |
| Area code | 705 |
Unorganized West Part Manitoulin District is an unorganized area in Manitoulin District in northeastern Ontario, Canada, encompassing the portion of Manitoulin Island which is not part of an incorporated municipality.[2] It comprises the geographic townships of Robinson[3] and Dawson.[4]
Separate local services boards provide services in Robinson and Dawson townships.[5]
Communities
[edit]The division includes the communities of Burnt Island, Cook's Dock, Fernlee, Meldrum Bay, and Silver Water.
Meldrum Bay
[edit]Meldrum Bay (45°55′39″N 83°06′53″W / 45.92750°N 83.11472°W)[6] is located at the western terminus of Highway 540, 72 kilometres (45 mi) west of Gore Bay. Settled in the 1870s by Scottish people from southern Ontario, and named after the namesake bay on which it is located, Meldrum Bay developed as a commercial fishing and lumbering centre. Its first mill opened in 1880. Once the village was home to stores, hotels, blacksmiths, school, and boarding houses, as well as a busy fishing fleet and Great Lakes steamers tied up at the docks.[7]
From the 1920s, steamers of the Owen Sound Transportation Company provided weekly ferry service between Meldrum Bay and Thessalon, on its route between Owen Sound and Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. However, the 1962 opening of the Trans-Canada Highway, and other road improvements, made this service unprofitable. Now during the summer, the docks are busy again, lined with pleasure craft from around the Great Lakes. This area holds some of the best chinook salmon fishing in all of Canada.
Many residents of the area are employed by Lafarge, whose quarry west of Meldrum Bay produces dolomite used in concrete, road construction and metallurgical processing. This Lafarge Canada site opened in the 1980s and is the home of the "largest Canadian marine quarry," with loading docks on the Mississagi Strait.[8]
Silver Water
[edit]Silver Water (45°51′27″N 82°51′26″W / 45.85750°N 82.85722°W)[9] is located on Highway 540 approximately 42 kilometres (26 mi) west of Gore Bay. It has a year-round population of approximately 62 families, which almost doubles during the summer months. It is a vibrant rural community, with the majority of the population being retired seniors. The community contains a well equipped community center as well as a popular country-style diner, both of which are well used community gathering sites. Silver Water has an all volunteer fire department, servicing the Robinson geographic township, consisting of 1 pumper and 2 tankers. This helps in keeping the residents homeowners insurance rates down. Silver Water also has a very active membership in the local United Church.
Demographics
[edit]| 2021 | 2016 | 2011 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 219 (+29.6% from 2016) | 169 (+5.6% from 2011) | 160 (-27.9% from 2006) |
| Land area | 402.29 km2 (155.33 sq mi) | 407.67 km2 (157.40 sq mi) | 407.54 km2 (157.35 sq mi) |
| Population density | 0.5/km2 (1.3/sq mi) | 0.4/km2 (1.0/sq mi) | 0.4/km2 (1.0/sq mi) |
| Median age | 63.2 (M: 62.4, F: 65.0) | 65.9 (M: 67.3, F: 64.4) | |
| Private dwellings | 367 (total) 123 (occupied) | 332 (total) 102 (occupied) | 360 (total) |
| Median household income | $.n/a | $44,672 |
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| Population counts are not adjusted for boundary changes. Source: Statistics Canada[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Unorganized West Manitoulin District (Code 3551094) Census Profile". 2021 census. Government of Canada - Statistics Canada. Retrieved 2025-02-24.
- ^ GeoSearch 2006
- ^ "Robinson". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved 2011-07-21.
- ^ "Dawson". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved 2011-07-21.
- ^ Local Services Boards, R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 737. Canadian Legal Information Institute.
- ^ "Meldrum Bay". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved 24 February 2025.
- ^ Isobel Harry. "The Net Shed". www.exploremanitoulin.com. Explore Manitoulin. Retrieved 24 February 2025.
- ^ Louiseize, Kelly (1 November 2005). "Island quarry has become largest in Canada". www.thefreelibrary.com. Northern Ontario Business. Retrieved 24 February 2025.
- ^ "Silver Water". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved 24 February 2025.
- ^ "2021 Community Profiles". 2021 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. February 4, 2022. Retrieved 2025-02-24.
- ^ "2016 Community Profiles". 2016 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. August 12, 2021. Retrieved 2025-02-24.
- ^ "2011 Community Profiles". 2011 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. March 21, 2019. Retrieved 2012-02-22.
External links
[edit]
Media related to Unorganized Manitoulin, West Part at Wikimedia Commons
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