Uxbridge, Ontario
This article is about the township. For the former town, see Uxbridge, Ontario (town).
Uxbridge is a township in south-central Ontario, in the Regional Municipality of Durham in the Greater Toronto Area. The main centre in the township is the town of Uxbridge.
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History
Uxbridge was surveyed in 1805 as part of York County. It was named for Uxbridge, England.
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 Toronto and Nipissing Railroad arrived in Uxbridge in 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 an important 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 26-bed Uxbridge Cottage Hospital is a site of the Markham-Stouffville Hospital Corporation.
Demographics
According to the 2006 Census, The township has a population of 19,169 over an area of 420.65 km². The population has increased 10.3% since 2001 and has a density of 45.6 people per square kilometre.
Attractions
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.
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 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.
Uxbridge is the northern terminus of the York Durham Heritage Railway, which runs from Stouffville.
The Uxbridge Trail System includes a number of trails that explore the outdoors, connecting residents to the Oak Ridges Trail and the Trans-Canada Trail systems.
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.
The Uxbridge Fall Fair is annually during the second week in September. Events include a tractor pull and a demolition derby. 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.
Throughout the year, a number of theatrical and musical productions are held at the Music Hall. Movies are shown at the Roxy, the local movie theatre.
Near the end of July the Highlands of Durham Games are held in Elgin Park. These games focus on Celtic traditions and offer a variety of entertainments. Visitors under the age of eighteen are allowed to enter free of charge.
Communities
- Coppins Corners
- Goodwood
- Leaskdale
- Sandford
- Sandy Hook
- Siloam
- Udora
- Uxbridge (town)
- Zephyr
External links
- Maps and aerial photos for Coordinates:
- Township of Uxbridge website
- Town of Uxbridge Business Directory
- Uxbridge BIA (Business Improvement Area)
Georgina | ||||
East Gwillimbury, Whitchurch-Stouffville | Uxbridge |
Brock, Scugog | ||
Pickering, Whitby |
Municipalities of Durham Region, Ontario |
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Town of Ajax • Township of Brock • Municipality of Clarington • City of Oshawa • City of Pickering • Township of Scugog • Township of Uxbridge • Town of Whitby |
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Largest City: | Toronto | |
Regions: | Durham Region • Halton Region • Peel Region • York Region • City of Hamilton • Niagara Region | |
Cities: | Brampton • Burlington • Mississauga • Niagara Falls • Oshawa • Pickering • Port Colborne • St. Catharines • Thorold • Vaughan • Welland | |
Towns and Major Communities: | Ajax • Aurora • Bolton • Bowmanville • Brock • Buttonville • Caledon • Clarington • Concord • East Gwillimbury • Fort Erie • Georgina • Grimsby • Lincoln • Halton Hills • Keswick • King • Kleinburg • Maple • Markham • Milton • Newmarket • Niagara-on-the-Lake • Oakville • Pelham • Richmond Hill • Scugog • Sutton • Thornhill • Unionville • Uxbridge • Whitby • Whitchurch-Stouffville • Woodbridge |