Fort Erie, Ontario

This article is about the town in Ontario. For the nearby fort and historic site, see Fort Erie.

Fort Erie
—  Town  —
The Peace Bridge between Fort Erie and Buffalo.
Location of Fort Erie within Niagara Region
Fort Erie Location in Ontario
Coordinates: 42°54′N 78°55′W / 42.9°N 78.917°W / 42.9; -78.917
Country	Canada
Province	Ontario
Regional Municipality	Niagara
Established
Government
– Type	Town
– Mayor	Douglas G. Martin
– Governing Body	Town of Fort Erie Council
– MP	Rob Nicholson (CPC)
– MPP	Kim Craitor (OLP)
Area[1]
– Land	166.35 km2 (64.2 sq mi)
Population (2006)[1]
– Total	29,925
– Density	179.9/km2 (465.9/sq mi)
Time zone	EST (UTC-5)
– Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
Postal code span	L2A, L0S- 1B0, 1N0, 1S0
Area code(s)	905, 289, 365
Website	www.town.forterie.ca

Fort Erie (2006 population 29,925) is a town on the Niagara River in the Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada. It is located directly across the river from Buffalo, New York.

Fort Erie is one of the fastest growing communities in Niagara, and has experienced a high level of residential and commercial development in the past few years. Garrison Road (Niagara Regional Road 3) is the town's commercial corridor, stretching east to west through Fort Erie.

Fort Erie is also home to a number of other commercial core areas (Bridgeburg, Ridgeway, Stevensville and Crystal Beach) as a result of the 1970 amalgamation of the latter three municipalities with Fort Erie proper.

Geography

The town's beaches on Lake Erie, most notably Crystal Beach and Bay Beach, are considered the best in the area and draw many weekend recreationists from the Toronto and Buffalo areas. While summers are enjoyable, winters can occasionally be fierce, with many snowstorms, whiteouts and winds whipping off Lake Erie.

History

The reconstructed Fort Erie

Modern settlement of the area was established when a British military fort, Fort Erie, was constructed in 1764. During the American Revolution it was used as a supply depot for British troops. When the War of 1812 started, the troops stationed at Fort Erie were caught off guard due to the fort being in the middle of rebuilding. The Americans held it for a time, fending off two British attacks. Later they destroyed Fort Erie and returned to Buffalo in the winter of 1814. The ruins remained until they were rebuilt through a depression era "work program" project, as a tourist attraction in 1939.

The former "Dolls House Museum", located on the Niagara River near downtown Fort Erie (Bridgeburg Station), was a supposed hiding place on the Underground Railroad for fugitive slaves in the 1800s. In 1866, the Battle of Ridgeway was fought here between invading Irish-Americans and the Canadian defenders.

On August 7, 1927 the Peace Bridge was opened between Fort Erie and Buffalo.

The historic Point Abino Lighthouse was built by the Canadian government in 1918. The lighthouse was automated in 1989. Since its decommissioning in 1995, the Point Abino Lighthouse was designated as a National Historic Site. The lighthouse is now owned by the Town of Fort Erie and is available for weekend tours in the summer.

The city was also site of the Niagara Movement meeting at the Fort Erie Hotel in 1905. The movement later led to the founding of the NAACP.

Transportation

Public transit is provided by the Town of Fort Erie Transit System, which operates 2 buses in the town.

Fort Erie has been the Niagara terminus of the Queen Elizabeth Way since the 1950s. Highway 3 cuts through the town east to west, and is a regional road between Rosehill Road and Central Avenue. Highway 3C (Dominion Road) existed until 1970, when it was downloaded to the newly-formed Regional Municipality of Niagara to become Niagara Road 1.

Demographics

Census	Population
1871	835
1901	890
1911	1,146
1921	1,546
1931	2,383
1941	6,566
1951	7,572
1961	9,027
1971	23,113
1981	24,096
1991	26,006
2001	28,143
2006	29,925

The recently released 2006 Census of Canada indicates a current population of 29,925 for Fort Erie. This is a 6.3% increase over the last Census (2001), and makes Fort Erie the fastest growing municipality in the St. Catharines-Niagara CMA (Census Metropolitan Area), and the third fastest growing municipality in the Region of Niagara. The median household income in 2005 for Fort Erie was $47,485.00, which is below the Ontario provincial average of $60,455.00.^[2]

According to the 2001 census, the population was 28,143, broken down as follows: 92.8% White, 3.2% Aboriginal, 1.4% Chinese, 0.9% Black, and a very small percentage of Asian, Arab, and Hispanic populations.

Communities

In addition to the primary urban core of Fort Erie, the town also contains the neighbourhoods of Black Creek, Bridgeburg/NorthEnd/Victoria, Crescent Park, Crystal Beach, Point Abino, Ridgeway, Snyder, and Stevensville. Smaller and historical neighbourhoods include Amigari Downs, Bay Beach, Buffalo Heights, Douglastown, Edgewood Park, Erie Beach, Garrison Village, Mulgrave, Oakhill Forest, Ridgemount, Ridgewood, Rose Hill Estates, Thunder Bay, Walden, Wavecrest and Waverly Beach.

Erie Beach is a designated place in Canadian census data; it had a population of 199 in 2006.

Fort Erie Secondary School and Ridgeway-Crystal Beach High School are the two public high schools serving Fort Erie and area communities.

Culture

Horse racing

Fort Erie Race Track has hosted live thoroughbred racing since 1897. Widely regarded as one of North America's most picturesque tracks, it has been home to the Prince of Wales stakes- the second jewel in Canada's Triple Crown of Racing since 1959.

Rods and Relics Car Show

An annual car show hosted by the Rods and Relics Car Club of Fort Erie that is usually held on a Sunday in the middle of June. The show always has an excellent turn-out and the proceeds support local charities. The event takes place on the south-east grounds of the Fort Erie Race Track.

Friendship Festival

The Friendship Festival is a week-long international celebration of the culture and heritage shared by Canada and the USA. The Friendship Festival occurs during the first week of July and celebrates both Canada Day and Independence Day. The events held both in Fort Erie, ON and in Buffalo, NY include free concerts and a spectacular fireworks display on July 1 highlighting the two national holidays. Other activities include arts, crafts, children's entertainment, heritage and cultural displays, and a midway.

Village of Ridgeway

Within the Town of Fort Erie, the Village of Ridgeway [www.ridgewayont.ca] offers Victorian charm to visitors and residents alike. The Ridgeway Summer Festival is held every year on the second weekend in July. The streets are closed off, and thousands of visitors stroll the historical downtown enjoying music, food, vendors, shows, and friendly atmosphere. An event called Spirit of Christmas is held on the first weekend in December, Friday evening and Saturday only, featuring horse-drawn carriage rides, school choirs singing outdoors, Victorian carollers, strolling Santa, food and more.

Bridgeburg Car and Bike Show

The Bridgeburg Car and Bike Show is held annually on the last Sunday in May. A strategic effort combining commercial revitalization, membership drive and fund raising, the event raises money for charitable disbursements by and moral supports for fire fighters at Fire Company #2 at Bridgeburg Station. Certain proceeds and all non-perishable food donations are raised directly for Community Outreach Program Erie (COPE), a referral agency and resource centre providing advocacy and emergency services such as food, clothing, diapers, prescriptions, and resume preparation. The event aims to introduce local residents and returning visitors to the variety of businesses at Bridgeburg Station. Open businesses, vendors, kids zone, nostalgia and modern flare make this a something-for-everyone event designed for family fun.

Siege of Fort Erie

The Siege of Fort Erie is a historical re-enactment of the famous 1814 battle, which takes place during the second weekend of August. This battlefield was the bloodiest on Canadian soil due to the various sieges that took place throughout the War of 1812. The Siege of 1814 is vividly recreated every year.

Canadian Motor Speedway

Fort Erie is the location of the proposed Canadian Motor Speedway development. This large mixed-use development, located adjacent the QEW, will feature a 65,000 seat motor speedway and road course.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Fort Erie 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=3526003&Geo2=PR&Code2=35&Data=Count&SearchText=Fort%20Erie&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom=. Retrieved 2011-02-04. 
2. ^ "Fort Erie, Ontario - Detailed City Profile". http://www12.statcan.ca:80/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/prof/92-591/details/page.cfm?B1=All&Code1=3526003&Code2=35&Custom=&Data=Count&Geo1=CSD&Geo2=PR&Lang=E&SearchPR=01&SearchText=Fort+Erie&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom=. Retrieved 2009-09-20. 

External links

• Town of Fort Erie