- Amherstburg
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Amherstburg — Town — Sandwich St. at Richmond St
Seal
Coordinates: 42°06′N 83°05′W / 42.1°N 83.083°WCoordinates: 42°06′N 83°05′W / 42.1°N 83.083°W Country 
CanadaProvince 
OntarioCounty Essex Government – Mayor Wayne Hurst – Member of Parliament Jeff Watson (CONS) – Member of Provincial Parliament Vacant (LIB) Area[1] – Land 185.65 km2 (71.7 sq mi) Population (2006)[1] – Town 21,748 – Density 117.1/km2 (303.3/sq mi) – Urban 13,410 Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) – Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4) Postal Code N9V Area code(s) 519 and 226 Website www.amherstburg.ca 
Dalhousie St. between Murray and Richmond Sts.
Amherstburg (2006 population 21,748; UA population 13,410) is a Canadian town near the mouth of the Detroit River in Essex County, Ontario. It is approximately 25 kilometres (16 mi) south of the U.S. city of Detroit, Michigan.
Contents
Communities
In addition to the primary urban area of Amherstburg, the town also includes the smaller communities of Amherst Pointe, Anderdon, Auld, Bar Point, Boblo, Edgewater Beach, Glen Eden, Holiday Beach, Lakewood Beach, Lukerville, Malden Centre, McGregor, North Malden, River Canard, Sunset Beach, Willow Beach and Willowood.
History
Across the Detroit River from the United States, the town was permanently established as a British military fort in 1796. The town was developed by Loyalists, who were granted land in Ontario after the British lost the American Revolutionary War.
During the days of the Underground Railroad before the American Civil War, fugitive African-American slaves often crossed the river to escape to freedom. They entered Canada at the town. Amherstburg was incorporated as a town in 1878.
Weather
Amherstburg has a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfa) with four distinct seasons. The summer brings a warm climate with the noticeable and comfortable breeze that comes from the Detroit River. On average, Amherstburg receives around 1-4 thunderstorms every 2 weeks, and sometimes more (usually during a line of individual storms that passes through the area). Some storms that do arrive are severe, with strong winds, sometimes hail and the average tornado warning. Usually weather is not a threat to the community. During the winter, the town and region receives an average snowfall for the area, usually not higher than 15cm average, although more may arrive during a snow storm or blizzard, which occurs usually 3-7 times per winter season. Temperatures begin to fall noticeably in mid-October into November.
Education
Schools in Amherstburg include: Amherstburg Public Elementary School, Anderdon Public Elementary School, General Amherst High School, St. Bernard Catholic Elementary School, Stella Maris Catholic Elementary School, St. Jean the Baptiste Catholic French Elementary School, St. Theresa Catholic Elementary School, St Joseph Catholic Elementary School, Malden Public School
The local public high school in Amherstburg is General Amherst High School, named after Jeffrey Amherst, 1st Baron Amherst. Although General Amherst High School is located within the town, some teenage residents choose to attend Sandwich Secondary School or St. Thomas of Villanova Catholic Secondary School, located in the neighbouring town of LaSalle, Ontario. Both offer a French Immersion program for those who've attended a French grade school; French students in Amherstburg may also attend Ecole Secondaire E.J. Lajeunesse, located in Windsor, Ontario.
Tourist attractions
Amherstburg is home to several tourist attractions, including Fort Malden and the North American Black Historical Museum. An Ontario Historical Plaque was erected in Amherstburg by the province to commemorate Bellevue House's role in Ontario's heritage. Bellevue House (c. 1816-19) was the home of Catherine Reynold, a landscape painter and her brother Robert Reynolds.[2] Additional tourist activities include the Park House Museum and the charming Navy Yard Park, both of which are located in the heart of old Amherstburg.
An art and history fan would appreciate the charming Gibson Gallery. The Gallery building is a former Michigan Central Railroad Station (circa 1896) which has been fully restored to its original beauty. The gallery operates year-round, featuring exhibits by local artists, the permanent collection of the Art Gallery of Windsor, traveling exhibits from Ontario museums and galleries and student art/photography exhibits. A restored Essex Terminal railway caboose is now a railway museum that represents the nostalgia of Amherstburg's railroad history.[3]
The restored Gordon House is another appreciated attraction of Amherstburg. It was built in 1798 overlooking the Detroit River, and houses a Marine exhibit.[4]
For the outdoors enthusiast, Holiday Beach Conservation Area is one of the best fall birding sites in North America. The 546-acre (2.21 km2) nature reserve contains over 2,000 feet (610 m) of beaches, picnic areas, a 2-kilometre (6,600 ft) trail along the edge of Big Creek Marsh. Holiday Beach is considered North America's premiere spot to view the fall migration of raptors (birds of prey). A 'Festival of Hawks' event takes place in September.
Festivals
In the first week of every August Amherstburg holds a heritage festival consisting of activities at several locations around town. At Fort Malden, for example, they hold a military time-line event where re-enactors depicting eras ranging from the Roman Empire to the Second World War establish camp and perform battle demonstrations.
Since 2006, Amherstburg has held an annual Shores of Erie Wine Festival. Each September, the four day Wine Festival features food, dancing, live entertainment, and wine tasting.
Amherstburg also celebrates Canada Day with a yearly fireworks display and day of family activities.
Art by the River (established in 1967), is an annual two-day arts and craft festival that takes place the weekend before Labour Day weekend on the grounds of the Fort Malden National Historic Site.
Other festivities include:
- Annual Carnival (May)
- Beef In the Burg Barbecue (May - June)
- Firefighters "J Wimpy" Volleyball Tournament (June)
- Verdi Club Festival (July)
- Boblo International Jazz Festival (July)
- Canada Day Celerations (July 1st)
- Ice Cream Festival (July 1st)
- Gone Crazy Car Show (August)
- Ribfest (August)
- Shores of Erie International Wine Festival (September)
- Cancer Walk-a-thon (October)
- Pumpkinville (October)
- Christmas Parade (Late November)
- River Lights (November - December)
Demographics
Census Population 1841 985 1871 1,936 1881 2,672 1891 2,279 1901 2,222 1911 2,560 1921 2,769 1931 2,759 1941 2,853 1951 3,638 1961 4,452 1971 5,169 1981 5,685 1991 8,921 2001 20,339 2006 21,748 Canada census – Amherstburg Community Profile 2006 2001 Population:
Land area:
Population density:
Median age:
Total private dwellings:
Mean household income:21,748 (6.9% from 2001)
185.65 km2 (71.68 sq mi)
117.1 /km2 (303 /sq mi)
38.6 (males: 38.1, females: 39.1)
8346
$73,65320,339 (5.5% from 1996)
185.67 km2 (71.69 sq mi)
109.5 /km2 (284 /sq mi)
36.6 (males: 35.8, females: 37.2)
7667
$65,594Population trend:[7]
- Population in 2006: 21,748
- Population in 2001: 20,339
- Population total in 1996: 19,273
- Amherstburg (town): 10,245
- Anderdon (township): 5730
- Malden (township): 3298
- Population in 1991:
- Amherstburg (town): 8921
- Anderdon (township): 5502
- Malden (township): 3155
References
- ^ a b "Amherstburg community profile". 2006 Census data. Statistics Canada. http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/prof/92-591/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=3537028&Geo2=PR&Code2=35&Data=Count&SearchText=Amherstburg&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom=. Retrieved 2011-04-04.
- ^ ""Bellevue" 1816". OntarioPlaques.com. September 2004. http://www.ontarioplaques.com/Plaques_DEF/Plaque_Essex08.html. Retrieved 2011-04-15.
- ^ "The Gibson Gallery". WorldWeb.com. http://www.essexontario.worldweb.com/Amherstburg/Galleries/AllGalleries/. Retrieved 2011-04-15.
- ^ "Amherstburg Historic Sites & Interpretive Centres". WorldWeb.com. http://www.essexontario.worldweb.com/Amherstburg/SightsAttractions/HistoricSitesInterpretiveCentres/. Retrieved 2011-04-15.
- ^ "2006 Community Profiles". Statistics Canada. Government of Canada. 2009-02-24. http://www12.statcan.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/prof/92-591/index.cfm?Lang=E. Retrieved 2011-04-04.
- ^ "2001 Community Profiles". Statistics Canada. Government of Canada. 2007-02-01. http://www12.statcan.ca/english/profil01/CP01/Index.cfm?Lang=E. Retrieved 2011-04-04.
- ^ Statistics Canada: 1996, 2001, 2006 census
External links
- Town of Amherstburg Official Website
- Black Historical Museum Official Website
- Gibson Gallery Official Website
- Amherstburg Chamber of Commerce Official Website
LaSalle Tecumseh Grosse Ile Township, Michigan / Detroit River 
Essex 
Amherstburg 
Lake Erie Categories:- Municipalities in Essex County, Ontario
- Populated places on the Great Lakes
- Detroit River
- Towns in Ontario
- Underground Railroad locations
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