Muskoka Lakes, Ontario

Infobox City
official_name = Township of Muskoka Lakes
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image_caption = A typical lake scene in Muskoka Lakes.


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = Canada
subdivision_type1 = Province
subdivision_name1 = Ontario
subdivision_type2 = Regional Municipality
subdivision_name2 = Muskoka
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government_type = Township
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Susan Pryke
leader_title1 = Governing Body
leader_name1 = Muskoka Lakes Township Council
leader_title2 =MP
leader_name2 =Tony Clement (CPC)
leader_title3 =MPP
leader_name3 =Norm Miller (OPC)
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established_title = Established
established_date = 1971
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area_total_km2 = 781.55
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population_as_of = 2006
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settlement_type = Township
population_total = 6467
population_density_km2 = 8.3
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timezone = EST
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
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postal_code_type = Postal code span
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area_code =705
website = [http://www.township.muskokalakes.on.ca Township of Muskoka Lakes]
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The Township of Muskoka Lakes is an area municipality of the District Municipality of Muskoka, Ontario. It has a year-round population of 6,467 and a summer population of 34,000.

History and government

The area now covered by the township was opened for settlement and organized in 1870 into the following geographic (and sometime municipal) townships of Watt, Cardwell, Humphrey, Christie, Medora and Wood.

In 1971, the current municipal structure took hold when Cardwell Township, Watt Township, Medora and Wood Townships, Bala, Port Carling, Windermere and part of Monck Township were merged.

The municipal offices are located in Port Carling.

Communities

The township contains the communities of Bala, Bala Park, Bardsville, Barlochan, Beaumaris, Bear Cove, Beatrice, Bent River, Brackenrig, Cedar Village, Dee Bank, Dixon's Corners, Dudley, Duffy, Echo Beach, Ferndale, Foot's Bay, Glen Orchard, Gregory, Gull Rock, Hekkla, Inverness Lodge, Juddhaven, Mendora, Milford Bay, Minett, Morinus, Mortimers Point, Park Beach, Port Carling, Port Keewaydin, Port Sandfield, Raymond, Redwood, Roderick, Rossclair, Rosseau Falls, Rostrevor, Shannon Hall, Sunset Beach, Thorel House, Tomelin Bluffs, Torrance, Ufford, Ullswater, Valley Green Beach, Walkers Point, Willow Beach, Whiteside, Windermere, Woodington, Woodward Station and Ziska.

Geography and economy

The township is located on Canadian Shield and thus is marked with outcrops of igneous rock and evergreen trees. Although inland from both Lake Huron's Georgian Bay and Lake Simcoe, the township contains the Muskoka Lakes consisting of Lake Muskoka, Lake Rosseau and Lake Joseph, amongst many other smaller lakes.

Timber was initially the greatest economic attraction for the region. The soil is poor and rocky and consequently is not especially suited to agriculture.

As the resource industries dried up, the area soon latched onto tourism as its economic base based on its proximity to Toronto and the rest of Southern Ontario. For many Ontarians, this is the centre of cottage country.

Demographics

Racial Groups
*97.1% White
*2.0% Aboriginal
*0.3% Chinese
*0.2% Black
*0.4% other

Religious Groups
*58.8% Protestant
*17.4% Roman Catholic
*2.0% other Christian
*21.8% non-religion

External links

* [http://www.township.muskokalakes.on.ca Township of Muskoka Lakes]
* [http://www.mla.on.ca Muskoka Lakes Association] residents' organization
* [http://www.simcoemuskoka.com/area_attractions/muskoka Muskoka Area Attractions]
* [http://www.tmlra.on.ca Township of Muskoka Lakes Ratepayers' Association] organizational site
* [http://www.muskokalakeschamber.com Muskoka Lakes Chamber of Commerce] business site
* [http://www.boatdealers.ca/magazine/Muskoka_Lakes.aspx Boating Muskoka Lakes]