Guelph/Eramosa | |
|---|---|
| Township of Guelph/Eramosa | |
 Rockwood Conservation Area | |
  Guelph/Eramosa  Guelph/Eramosa | |
| Coordinates:43°38′N80°13′W / 43.63°N 80.22°W /43.63; -80.22 | |
| Country |  Canada |
| Province |  Ontario |
| County | Wellington |
| Established | 1999 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Township |
| • Mayor | Christopher White[1] |
| • Governing Body | Township of Guelph/Eramosa Council |
| • MP | Mike Chong (Con) |
| • MPP | Ted Arnott (PC) |
| Area | |
| • Land | 291.67 km2 (112.61 sq mi) |
| Population (2016)[2] | |
• Total | 12,854 |
| • Density | 44.1/km2 (114/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| Postal code span | |
| Area code(s) | 519, 226, and 548 |
| Highways |  Highway 7 |
| Website | www |
Guelph/Eramosa (/ˈɡwɛlfˈɛrəˈmɒsə/) is atownship located inWellington County, in midwesternOntario, Canada. It partly encircles the city ofGuelph, surrounding it in a continuous arc from approximately northeast to south-southwest of the city. It is part of the Guelphcensus metropolitan area.
The township was created in 1999 by the merger of the townships of Guelph and Eramosa, as well as parts of Pilkington and Nichol townships. The name Eramosa was derived from the native wordUn-ne-mo-sah (possibly meaning "black dog", "dead dog", or simply "dog").[3]
Eramosa Township was settled primarily by Scots and Irish; in 1841, its population was 935.[4]
The mayor of Guelph/Eramosa in 2022 is Christopher White (who was first elected in 2010). Township councillors are Bruce Dickieson, Corey Woods, Steven Liebig, and Mark Bouwmeester. County councillors are Don McKay and Doug Breen.[5]
Auto parts manufacturerLinamar was started in the village of Ariss in 1964 by Hungarian refugee Frank Hasenfratz, initially in his basement.[6] The company, with a staff of five, was incorporated in 1966 as Linamar Machine Limited. Linamar's first major contract was to manufacture automotive oil pumps forFord.[7] Linamar now operates 22 plants in Guelph.
Prior to European settlement, this area was occupied by theAttawandaron, also known as theNeutrals in the 1600s. They were anIroquoian-speaking people. The territory was later held by theMississaugas of theCredit River; they sold a large tract of land to the government in 1818 and it was first surveyed that year. The nameEramosa was applied to the large parcel of land.
Rockwood is the main community in the township. TodayHighway 7 gives access to Rockwood, located betweenActon and the city ofGuelph. TheEramosa River runs through the centre of the village. Anglo-Europeans settled here because of the river; it provided power for mills, some of the first businesses established. They were integral to industry and became the economic engine of the settlement.
In addition,limestone was extracted for industrial use in those years. The former quarry and mining areas are now protected as the nearbyRockwood Conservation Area. The conservation area is used for such recreation as swimming, hiking, canoeing, picnicking and camping from the last Friday in April to the Sunday following Thanksgiving. It attracts more than 65,000 visitors annually.[8] The conservation area features a small reservoir on the Eramosa River,karst formations, and caves.
The township also includes the smaller communities ofAriss,Brucedale,Centre Inn, Eden Mills, Eramosa, Everton, and Marden. Several former place names connected to 19th-century mills and post offices, such as Armstrong Mills,[9] Birge Mills, Mosborough, and Rockcut, continue to appear on some maps of the area.
Settler Adam Argo named a small area as Eden Mills in 1846 after building a mill there. Over the years, the hamlet had a grist mill, an oatmeal mill, and several saw mills, all powered by the Eramosa River. Other businesses also thrived.
In the 20th century, it had a stop for the Toronto Suburban railway (the station area was later developed as the Edgewood Camp), which ran from Toronto to Guelph. As recently as 1950, two churches and a school (SS#11) operated in the hamlet. The population of the hamlet in early 2019 was 350.[10]
James J. Hill, founder of theGreat Northern Railway, was born in Rockwood in 1838.
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 10,176 | — |
| 2001 | 11,174 | +9.8% |
| 2006 | 12,066 | +8.0% |
| 2011 | 12,380 | +2.6% |
| 2016 | 12,854 | +3.8% |
| [11][12][2] | ||
In the2021 Census of Population conducted byStatistics Canada, Guelph/Eramosa had a population of13,904 living in4,838 of its4,993 total private dwellings, a change of8.2% from its 2016 population of12,854. With a land area of 292.84 km2 (113.07 sq mi), it had a population density of47.5/km2 (123.0/sq mi) in 2021.[13]
| 2021 | 2016 | 2011 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 13,904 (+8.2% from 2016) | 12,854 (+3.8% from 2011) | 12,380 (+2.6% from 2006) |
| Land area | 292.84 km2 (113.07 sq mi) | 291.67 km2 (112.61 sq mi) | 291.71 km2 (112.63 sq mi) |
| Population density | 47.5/km2 (123/sq mi) | 44.1/km2 (114/sq mi) | 42.4/km2 (110/sq mi) |
| Median age | 45.2 (M: 45.2, F: 45.2) | 45.3 (M: 45.0, F: 45.6) | |
| Private dwellings | 4,993 (total) 4,838 (occupied) | 4,604 (total) | 4,334 (total) |
| Median household income | $129,000 | $110,165 |
Guelph/Eramosa is governed by a mayor and four councillors, with one councillor representing each of the four municipal wards. The Mayor of Guelph/Eramosa represents the town on the Wellington County Council. As of the 2022 election, the elected council members are:[17]
Mayor: Chris White
Councillors:
Highway 6 andHighway 7 pass through the township, with Highway 7 passing through Rockwood. The nearest400-series highway isHighway 401, which is to the south and southeast.
TheMetrolinxGuelph Subdivision railway line runs through the southern part of the township. It is used for both passengers and freight (the latter operated by theCanadian National Railway). Despite the line hosting bothGO Transit'sKitchener line andVia Rail'sToronto-Sarnia train, no passenger rail service is available in the township; the nearest passenger rail stations areGuelph Central andActon. Rockwood formerly had a railway station, which was relocated south to theHalton County Radial Railway Museum (technically in the neighbouring town ofMilton) for preservation after the end of service.[18]
Guelph/Eramosa township contains three public elementary schools administered by theUpper Grand District School Board. These are:
TheWellington Catholic District School Board opened its first school in the Township in September 2016:
There is also one private school located in Guelph/Eramosa:
Guelph/Eramosa is covered by local newspapers and television through the following services:
Places adjacent to Guelph/Eramosa | |
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| International | |
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| National | |
