Thorold
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Thorold is a city in Ontario, Canada, located on the Niagara Escarpment. It is also the seat of the Regional Municipality of Niagara. The Welland Canal passes through the city, featuring lock 7 and the Twin Flight Locks.
Key Information
History
[edit]The first survey of Thorold, or Township 9 as it was known then, occurred in 1788. The earliest communities in what is now Thorold emerged at Beaverdams, DeCew Falls and St. Johns.[2] In 1846, the community had a population of about 1,000 and there were three churches or chapels and a post office. Various types of tradesmen worked here. Industry included two grist mills, a cement mill, a brewery and three wagon makers. There were seven taverns.[3] Thorold, located on the brow of the Niagara Escarpment, soon became dominant and was incorporated as a village in 1850.[4] Its formation was linked to the creation of the First Welland Canal.[5] The village experienced population growth as the canal became more developed. In 1875, Thorold became a town.[4]
When the Regional Municipality of Niagara was formed in 1970, the Town of Thorold expanded to include the former Thorold Township. In 1975, the town became incorporated as the City of Thorold.[6]
Thorold is also the location of the War of 1812 battle site, Beaverdams, where, on June 25, 1813, Colonel Charles Boerstler and his American troops were defeated by the British regulars and Caughnawaga Mohawks.[7]
The 2021 Canadian census identified Thorold as the eighth-fastest growing municipality in Canada.[8]
Demographics
[edit]| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1841 | 1,000 | — |
| 1871 | 1,635 | +63.5% |
| 1901 | 1,979 | +21.0% |
| 1911 | 2,273 | +14.9% |
| 1921 | 4,825 | +112.3% |
| 1931 | 5,092 | +5.5% |
| 1941 | 5,284 | +3.8% |
| 1951 | 6,397 | +21.1% |
| 1961 | 8,633 | +35.0% |
| 1971 | 15,065 | +74.5% |
| 1981 | 15,412 | +2.3% |
| 1991 | 17,542 | +13.8% |
| 1996 | 17,883 | +1.9% |
| 2001 | 18,048 | +0.9% |
| 2006 | 18,224 | +1.0% |
| 2011 | 17,931 | −1.6% |
| 2016 | 18,801 | +4.9% |
| 2021 | 23,816 | +26.7% |
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Thorold had a population of 23,816 living in 9,095 of its 9,856 total private dwellings, a change of 26.7% from its 2016 population of 18,801. With a land area of 83.29 km2 (32.16 sq mi), it had a population density of 285.9/km2 (740.6/sq mi) in 2021.[9]
Economy
[edit]
Thorold's economy, like other municipalities in the Niagara Region, has benefitted from the Welland Canal.[10] An estimated 37 million tonnes of freight is handled and shipped there annually.[11]
Thorold South has several industrial and manufacturing businesses.[12]
Arts and culture
[edit]The Thorold Reed Band has been in operation since its formation in 1851. The band has performed every year, with the exception of 2020 and 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario.[13] The Canal Bank Shuffle is an annual musical festival that takes place in Thorold. The event features blues music.[14]
In July 2024, downtown Thorold was used as a filming location for the eighteenth season of Murdoch Mysteries.[15] 11 scenes were filmed in the city.[16] Thorold was chosen due to its proximity to other filming locations and the lack of "contamination" in historical buildings. The setting being filmed for the series was Grimsby.[17]
Attractions
[edit]Parks and trails
[edit]Officially opened in 2002, the Mel Swart Lake Gibson Conservation Park is a 29-acre waterfront park located on Lake Gibson.[18] The park is part of the Niagara Greenbelt.[19] The Short Hills Provincial Park is also partially located in the City of Thorold.[20]
The Welland Canal Parkway Trail is a paved 42 km recreational path along the Welland Canal, from Lake Ontario to Lake Erie.[21]
Historic sites
[edit]There are multiple historic sites in Thorold. These include:
| The Decew House, which was the destination of Laura Secord's journey to warn the British of a planned American attack. Thanks to her warning, FitzGibbon was prepared for the attack, and in the ensuing Battle of Beaver Dams was able to secure the surrender of an American force of approximately 500 men.[22] In 1950, it was destroyed by a fire.[23] | |
| The Old Fire Hall at 12 Albert Street West. It was constructed in 1878 and designed by the architect John Latshaw. The building was repurposed as a design studio.[24] | |
| Thorold's Carnegie Library, which opened in 1912 and closed in 1983.[25] | |
| Chestnut Hall is a historic building that was the home of John McDonagh, who was the mayor of the Village of Thorold.[26] It was then used for the city hall.[27] It is attached to the current Thorold Public Library.[26] | |
| The St. Johns Common School was the first non-denominational free school in Upper Canada, and remained in use until 1844, when a new school was built nearby. The cabin continues to be used for educational purposes, and is the oldest extant public school in Ontario.[28][29][30] | |
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The Keefer Mansion is a building with ten rooms and bathrooms. It is also known as Maplehurst. It is owned by the city and has been leased as an inn.[31] |
| Welland Mills was a flour mill built by Jacob Keefer in 1846-47.[32] | |
| The Beaverdams Church, which opened in 1832.[33] |
Sports
[edit]
The Thorold Blackhawks are a Junior 'B' hockey team in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League. In 2023, the team permanently moved to Port Colborne from Thorold.[34]
Thorold, along with other municipalities in the Niagara Region, hosted events for the 2022 Canada Summer Games. The Canada Games Park was built in Thorold for the event.[35] The facility cost 102.7 million dollars.[36] In 2023, it was determined by a municipal lawyer that the city of Thorold did not own the arena and was instead one of three co-tenants leasing it from Brock University.[37]
Infrastructure
[edit]In 2015, the Ontario government provided money to Thorold under the Small Communities Fund.[38] The city used the 4.6 million dollars in funding to start building an affordable housing complex for seniors. 14.8 million dollars through the National Housing Co-Investment Fund was also used for the project.[39]
Transportation
[edit]
The Thorold Tunnel is an underwater vehicular tunnel, built between 1965 and 1967, which allows Highway 58 to cross the Welland Canal without interrupting shipping. Approximately 24,300 vehicles pass through the tunnel daily.[40]
Niagara Detention Centre
[edit]Thorold is home to the Niagara Detention Centre, a 260-person capacity maximum-security prison. It generally serves people on remand, offenders sentenced to short terms (60 days or less), and offenders awaiting transfer to larger federal or provincial facilities.[41]
Education
[edit]Thorold Secondary School is the only high school in the city. In 2012, District School Board of Niagara trustees voted on whether to close the school and decided to keep it open.[42] Thorold is close in proximity to Brock University and therefore has a large student population.[43] In 2021, four students were arrested after a large street party took place in the city.[44]
Notable people
[edit]- Owen Nolan, professional hockey player[45]
- Joey Martin (ice hockey), professional hockey player[46]
- Sean Bentivoglio, professional hockey player[46]
- Conor Timmins, professional hockey player[47]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b "St. Catharines, Ontario census profile". 2021 Census. Statistics Canada. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
- ^ "History". Archived from the original on January 16, 2018.
- ^ 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. 191. Archived from the original on 2016-04-03. Retrieved 2018-03-11.
- ^ a b Gayler, Hugh. "Thorold". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ "Canals". City of Thorold. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ Gayler, Hugh. "Thorold". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ Collins, Gilbert (2006). Guidebook to the Historic Sites of the War of 1812 (2 ed.). Dundern Press. p. 155. ISBN 9781550029147. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
- ^ Drevfjall, Ludvig. "Welcome to Thorold—Population: 23,816". Thorold Today. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions (municipalities), Ontario". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
- ^ Vallier, Kevin. "Welland Canal was a game changer". The Niagara Independent. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
- ^ Gayler, Hugh; Jackson, John. "Welland Canal". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
- ^ Lansbergen, Bernard. "The man hired to help Thorold's economy grow". Thorold Today. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
- ^ Hutton, Richard. "It's been a long and winding road for the Thorold Reed Band". Thorold Today. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
- ^ "Canal Bank Shuffle latest Covid-19 casualty". Thorold Today. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
- ^ Tymczyszyn, Bob. "Photos: Thorold gets makeover for 'Murdoch Mysteries' filming". St. Catharines Standard. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ "'Murdoch Mysteries' to film in downtown Thorold". Niagara This Week. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ Hutton, Richard. "Making Murdoch: 'The biggest challenge is that it's not 1911'". Pelham Today. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ "Community Parks - City of Thorold". City of Thorold. April 23, 2022. Retrieved April 23, 2022.
- ^ "Community Parks - City of Thorold". City of Thorold. Retrieved April 23, 2022.
- ^ "Short Hills Provincial Park Management Plan". Ontario.ca. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ "Trails". The City of Thorold. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ Collins, Gilbert (2006). Guidebook to the Historic Sites of the War of 1812. Toronto: Dundurn Press Ltd. pp. 153–154. ISBN 1-55002-626-7.
- ^ "DeCew House, Thorold". Brock University. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ Blay, Jeff. "Niagara designer breathes new life into Thorold's old firehall". St. Catharines Standard. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ Pellatier, Cathy. "History of the Thorold Public Library". Thorold Today. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
- ^ a b "Chestnut Hall 'badly showing its age'". Niagara This Week. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ Pelletier, Cathy. "History of the Thorold Public Library". Thorold Today. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
- ^ "St. Johns Village". Niagara Greenbelt. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
- ^ "The Pioneers at St. Johns Short Hills Upper Canada" (PDF). Niagara Catholic District School Board. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
- ^ "St. Johns Common School 1804". Niagara Greenbelt. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
- ^ Walter, Karena. "Thorold's historic Keefer Mansion up for lease". St. Catharines Standard. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ "Welland Mills, The". Ontario Heritage Trust. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ "Beaverdams Church 1832, The". Ontario Heritage Trust. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
- ^ Lansbergen, Bernard. "Why the Blackhawks decided to leave Thorold for good". Thorold Today. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
- ^ Rankin, Christine. "Niagara region gets $29M from feds for 2021 Canada Summer Games". CBC News. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
- ^ Lansbergen, Bernard. "City council closes door on Canada Games Park investigation". Thorold Today. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
- ^ Lansbergen, Bernard. "City Council still debating 'crappy' Canada Games Park deal". Thorold Today. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
- ^ "Ontario Funding Infrastructure in Thorold". Ontario.ca. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
- ^ Lansbergen, Bernard. "Local politicians break ground on affordable housing for seniors". Thorold Today. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
- ^ Gannon, Dennis. "Yesterday and Today: The Thorold Tunnel turns 50". St. Catharines Standard. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
- ^ "Niagara Detention Centre". Niagara Community Information Database. Archived from the original on July 29, 2012.
- ^ "Keeping Thorold high school 'logical' choice". Niagara This Week. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ Camlasaran, Megan. "Why people are flocking to Thorold". Thorold Today. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ Lansbergen, Bernard; Drevfjall, Ludvig. "Rowdy party weekend in Juneberry-area of Thorold leads to 4 arrests and furious neighbours". Thorold Today. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ Blay, Jeff. "Owen Nolan to be inducted into Thorold's Runway of Recognition". Niagara Falls Review. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
- ^ a b Lansbergen, Bernard. "Thorold hockey star enjoying shift to new career". ThoroldToday. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
- ^ Liddycoat, Bob. "NHL dream come true for Timmins". ThoroldToday. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
External links
[edit]Thorold
View on GrokipediaGeography
Location and Topography
Thorold is situated in the Regional Municipality of Niagara, southern Ontario, Canada, at geographic coordinates 43°07′N 79°12′W.[7] The municipality occupies a land area of 83.29 square kilometres.[8] The city's topography is shaped by the Niagara Escarpment, a prominent physiographic feature formed by differential erosion of sedimentary bedrock layers over 450 million years old, primarily limestone and dolomite.[9] This escarpment extends from Queenston Heights near Niagara Falls northwestward through the Niagara Region, including Thorold, to Tobermory on the Bruce Peninsula, producing steep cliffs, pronounced slopes, and rolling hills.[9] Thorold straddles both the upper and lower tiers of the escarpment, with average elevations of approximately 175 metres above sea level and terrain transitioning from relatively level upland plateaus to more dissected lowlands.[10][11] The Welland Canal bisects the municipality, featuring locks that ascend the escarpment's roughly 100-metre height differential between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, influencing local drainage and land use patterns.[9]Climate
Thorold features a humid continental climate classified as Dfb under the Köppen-Geiger system, marked by four distinct seasons, cold and snowy winters moderated somewhat by proximity to Lake Ontario, and warm, humid summers.[12] Average temperatures vary significantly, with the coldest conditions in January recording a mean high of -1°C (31°F) and low of -7°C (20°F), while July, the warmest month, sees a mean high of 26°C (79°F) and low of 18°C (64°F). Over the year, daily highs exceed 23°C (74°F) from late June to early September, and lows drop below -9°C (15°F) from mid-December to mid-March. Extreme lows can reach -15°C (5°F) or below, and highs occasionally surpass 31°C (87°F).[13] Precipitation totals approximately 900 mm (35 inches) annually, distributed relatively evenly but with peaks in summer months like June at around 105 mm (4.1 inches); winter months such as February average 73 mm (2.9 inches), much of it as snow. Average annual snowfall measures about 60 cm (24 inches) in depth, though lake-effect snow from Lake Ontario can increase variability and totals in some years.[13]History
Early Settlement and Indigenous Context
The Niagara Peninsula, including the area now known as Thorold, was prehistorically occupied by Indigenous peoples dating back thousands of years, with evidence of Paleo-Indian and Archaic period artifacts indicating seasonal camps and resource exploitation along waterways and the escarpment.[14] By the early 17th century, the dominant group was the Neutral Nation (Attawandaron), an Iroquoian-speaking confederacy whose territory extended across southern Ontario, including villages in the Grand River floodplain and Niagara region. These semi-sedentary agriculturalists lived in bark-covered longhouses, cultivated corn, beans, squash, and tobacco, and maintained a population density supported by the fertile soils and proximity to trade routes.[15] [16] The Neutral Nation's presence ended abruptly due to intertribal warfare; between 1647 and 1651, they were militarily dispersed and absorbed by the Haudenosaunee (Five Nations Iroquois) Confederacy, resulting in the near-total depopulation of their former lands in the Niagara area.[11] [14] Post-dispersal, the region saw transient use by Anishinaabe groups, including the Mississaugas, who held occupancy rights recognized by British authorities. In 1784, under the Between the Lakes Treaty (Treaty 3), the Mississaugas ceded approximately 3.6 million acres of land in the Niagara Peninsula—including Thorold Township—to the Crown for £1,180 and other considerations, facilitating Loyalist resettlement.[11] Archaeological surveys in Thorold confirm Neutral-era sites through pottery, tools, and village remnants, underscoring the area's long Indigenous occupation prior to European dominance.[17] Euro-Canadian settlement in Thorold Township began in earnest after the 1784 treaty, driven by United Empire Loyalists displaced by the American Revolutionary War, who sought farmland along the Niagara River and escarpment.[18] Initial pioneers established isolated homesteads amid dense forests, relying on log cabins, rudimentary clearings, and hunting for subsistence; by 1799, settlers had formalized township governance under Upper Canada's municipal provisions.[19] The township originally encompassed over 35,000 acres, with early land patents granted for agriculture and milling, though permanent nucleation awaited infrastructure like roads and the Welland Canal. French explorers and Jesuit missionaries had traversed the broader Niagara region in the early 1600s, but sustained settlement remained minimal until British post-war policies.[20] [19]Welland Canal Construction and Early Industrialization
The construction of the First Welland Canal, begun in 1824 with the first sod turned on November 30 by the Welland Canal Company, routed through the Thorold area via Twelve Mile and Dick's Creeks, fostering early settlement and economic activity.[21][22] Completed in 1829 after extensions to 44 km with 40 wooden locks, the canal's ascent of the Niagara Escarpment via a series of locks in Thorold provided hydraulic power that attracted milling operations.[23] George Keefer established a mill in 1827 on his land, which formed the basis of the village known as Thorold by 1828, with the township post office relocated from Beaverdams to support growing commerce.[24][25] A large flour mill was constructed along the canal by 1828, supplemented by two sawmills operational by 1831, capitalizing on water power from the locks and proximity to transportation for grain and lumber.[25] These facilities processed local resources, with the canal enabling efficient shipment of goods to markets, contributing to a population of 370 inhabitants by 1835.[25] The canal also drew marine services and limestone quarrying, as the escarpment's geology supplied materials for construction and industry.[2] The Second Welland Canal, initiated in 1841 and completed in 1845 under government ownership, replaced wooden locks with 27 stone ones and deepened the channel to 2.7 m (later 3.1 m), cutting directly through downtown Thorold to accommodate larger vessels.[24][23] This upgrade enhanced water power availability, spurring further industrialization; Welland Mills, built in 1846-1847 by Jacob Keefer as a substantial limestone structure, became one of Upper Canada's largest flour mills, processing wheat via canal-powered machinery.[26][27] Ontario's first cotton factory emerged in the 1840s, utilizing similar hydraulic resources for textile production, marking diversification beyond primary milling.[25] Locks like those in Thorold continued supplying power to local industries into the mid-20th century, solidifying the canal as an industrial corridor.[28][29]Incorporation and 20th-Century Growth
Thorold was incorporated as a town in 1875, reflecting its expansion driven by the Welland Canal's third iteration and associated milling and quarrying activities.[2] This status upgrade from village incorporation in 1850 formalized municipal governance amid steady population and economic gains from canal-related commerce.[25] The early 20th century marked accelerated industrial development, fueled by inexpensive hydroelectric power harnessed from nearby Niagara Falls starting around 1900, which drew energy-intensive sectors including pulp and paper production, chemicals, and electro-metallurgy.[2] A pivotal establishment was the Ontario Paper Company mill, incorporated in 1912 and producing its inaugural newsprint on September 5, 1913; by 1914, it output 31,707 tons, nearly matching Canada's total annual newsprint volume and employing hundreds in integrated pulp-to-paper operations reliant on imported wood but powered locally.[30] Concurrently, the Welland Ship Canal's construction from 1913 to 1932 modernized shipping infrastructure, elevating freight volumes through Thorold's locks and tunnel alignments, thereby sustaining marine services, limestone quarrying, and ancillary manufacturing.[2] Population reflected this momentum, reaching 1,979 by the 1901 census amid quarry and mill expansions. Industrial booms, including glassworks like those in Windle Village attracting canal-side factories, further diversified employment into the mid-century.[31] By 1975, amid post-war suburbanization and regional amalgamation trends, Thorold achieved city status on July 1, solidifying its role as an industrial node in the Niagara Peninsula.[1]Recent Developments and Population Boom
Thorold's population surged by 26.7% between 2016 and 2021, rising from 18,801 to 23,816 residents according to Statistics Canada data, outpacing provincial averages and marking it as the eighth-fastest-growing municipality in Ontario during that period.[8] [32] This boom reflected broader trends in the Niagara Region, where affordability relative to larger urban centers like Toronto drew families and young professionals, bolstered by proximity to educational institutions such as Brock University and employment in manufacturing and logistics tied to the Welland Canal.[33] Post-2021 estimates confirm sustained expansion, with the population reaching 27,313 in 2024 and an projected 28,775 in 2025, driven by an annual growth rate exceeding 4% in recent years and positioning Thorold as the fastest-growing city in the Niagara Region.[34] [35] [36] Municipal records highlight this as a continuation of pre-census momentum, with a 27% increase noted from 2016 to 2021 alone, straining but also spurring local services like water and transit infrastructure.[37] Key recent developments fueling this growth include provincial and federal investments in brownfield redevelopment and housing infrastructure; for instance, Ontario allocated $2.3 million in 2021 for site remediation in Thorold to enable commercial and residential expansion, matched by federal funds.[38] Additional $135 million in regional water system upgrades since 2023 has supported new housing subdivisions, addressing capacity for incoming residents amid labor shortages in construction.[39] Economic initiatives, such as $530 million in advanced manufacturing support across southern Ontario since 2015—including targeted aid for Thorold businesses—have enhanced job creation in logistics and industrial sectors, further attracting migrants.[6] These efforts, combined with transit expansions like Niagara Region Transit enhancements announced in 2025, underscore a policy focus on accommodating rapid demographic shifts without over-reliance on speculative projections.[40]Demographics
Population Trends
Thorold's population remained modest during its early development in the 19th century, reflecting its status as a small settlement tied to canal construction and local agriculture. A census conducted on August 7, 1835, by Jacob Keefer enumerated 370 residents across 68 families.[41] Growth was gradual through the late 1800s and much of the 20th century, supported by industrialization around the Welland Canal, though specific decadal figures from early federal censuses indicate populations in the low thousands by the early 1900s. The 21st century marked a pronounced acceleration in population growth, driven by spillover development from nearby urban centers like St. Catharines and Niagara Falls, affordable housing relative to the Greater Toronto Area, and economic ties to the Niagara Region. The 2016 Census of Canada recorded 18,801 residents.[42] By the 2021 Census, this had risen to 23,816, a 26.7% increase that ranked Thorold as Canada's eighth-fastest-growing municipality over that period.[43][32] Post-2021 estimates reflect continued expansion, with the population reaching approximately 27,313 by 2024, implying an annual growth rate of about 3.1% from 2022 onward.[34] Regional projections for Niagara suggest sustained increases, though Thorold's rapid pace has strained local infrastructure and housing supply.[36]| Year | Population | % Change (5-year) |
|---|---|---|
| 1835 | 370 | - |
| 2016 | 18,801 | - |
| 2021 | 23,816 | +26.7% |
| 2024 (est) | 27,313 | +14.7% (from 2021) |
