Simcoe County, Ontario

Infobox Settlement
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official_name = Simcoe County
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settlement_type =County
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map_caption = Location of Simcoe County


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = CAN
subdivision_type1 = Province
subdivision_name1 = ONT
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seat_type =County seat
seat =Springwater Township
parts_type =Settlements
parts_style =
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p1 =Municipalities
p2 = Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury
p3=Town of Collingwood
p4= Town of Innisfil
p5=Town of Midland
p6=Town of New Tecumseth
p7=Town of Penetanguishene
p8=Town of Wasaga Beach
p9=Township of Adjala-Tosorontio
p10=Township of Clearview
p11 =Township of Essa
p12= Township of Oro-Medonte
p13=Township of Ramara
p14=Township of Severn
p15=Township of Springwater
p16=Township of Tay
p17=Township of Tiny
p18=
p19=Indian reserves
p20=Christian Island 30
p21 =Christian Island 30A
p22 = Mnjikaning First Nation 32
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established_title = Established
established_date = 1843 as Simcoe District
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unit_pref =Imperial
area_footnotes =cite web |url=http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/profiles/community/Details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CD&Code1=3543&Geo2=PR&Code2=35&Data=Count&SearchText=Simcoe&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=35&B1=All&Custom= |title=Community highlights for Simcoe |accessdate=2007-12-28 |last= |first= |coauthors= |date= |work= |publisher=]
area_total_km2 =
area_land_km2 =4840.56
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area_land_sq_mi =1868.95
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population_as_of =2006
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population_total = 422204
population_density_km2 =87.2
population_density_sq_mi =225.9
timezone = EST
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
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website = [http://www.county.simcoe.on.ca/ www.county.simcoe.on.ca/]
footnotes =

Simcoe is a county located in central Ontario, originally established as "Simcoe District" in 1843 by the Legislature of Upper Canada [http://www.county.simcoe.on.ca/county-government/] . The population currently stands at approximately 266,100 (Source: County of Simcoe 2007 Budget), but Statistics Canada, which includes the separated cities of Barrie and Orillia in its calculations of the Simcoe County census division, gives the population as 422,204.

The land area of the county is convert|1868.95|sqmi|km2|2. It is located between Georgian Bay and Lake Simcoe. The elevated Niagara Escarpment runs through sections of the western part of the county. The county seat is Springwater Township, just outside of Barrie.

History

Simcoe County, in particular the former Wendake area near Nottawasaga Bay, was the site of the earliest non-First Nations exploration and settlement of Ontario. Several historic sites, including Carhagouha and Sainte-Marie among the Hurons, mark the earliest known contacts between the area's traditional Huron population and European missionaries. The Huron capital, Ossossane, was at one time the largest aboriginal settlement in all of North America outside of Mexico.Fact|date=June 2008

Simcoe District was proclaimed on January 11, 1843 (Source: Canada Gazette, No.68, January 14, 1843, p.382). Its original 19 townships (the district also included the islands in Lakes Huron and Simcoe) were:

*Adjala
*Essa
*Flos
*West Gwillimbury
*Innisfil
*Mara
*Matchedash
*Medonte
*Nottawasaga
*Orillia (North Division)
*Orillia (South Division)
*Oro
*Rama
*Sunnidale
*Tay
*Tecumseth
*Tiny
*Tosorontio
*Vespra

"An Act for better defining the limits of the Counties and Districts in Upper Canada, for erecting certain new Townships, for detaching Townships from some Counties and attaching them to others…" was given assent in 1845 (Source: Statutory Chronology of Canada), changing the District's composition to the following 24 townships:

*Adjala
*Artemesia
*Collingwood
*Essa
*Flos
*West Gwillimbury
*Innisfil
*Medonte
*Matchedash
*Mulmur
*Mono
*Nottawasaga
*Osprey
*Oro
*North Orillia
*South Orillia
*Saint Vincent
*Sunnidale
*Tay
*Tecumseth
*Tosorontio
*Tiny
*Uphrasia (sic)
*Vespra

Effective January 1, 1850, "An Act for abolishing the Territorial Divisions of Upper Canada into Districts" abolished Simcoe District in favour of the County of Simcoe, still composed of the Townships noted in the Act of 1845. Other legislation would change the composition of the County over the years.

Government

The Corporation of the County of Simcoe comprises sixteen towns and townships. As an "upper tier" municipality, the County of Simcoe is responsible for municipal services which include social housing, land ambulance and emergency planning, environmental services (solid waste management), a County road system, Ontario Works, children's services, homes for the aged, a library co-operative, museum, archives, County forest management, tourism, a Geographic Information System (computer mapping) and land use policy planning.

The local, or "lower tier" municipalities are responsible for water and sewer services, local roads, public libraries, recreation services, fire and police services, land use development control and licensing and permitting services.

The cities of Barrie and Orillia, although separate politically and administratively from the County, are geographically and economically part of the County and send elected representatives to serve on County committees which provide services to the residents of the cities, including long term care facilities, social services, social housing, archives and Museum. They are counted within the census division.

The municipalities of Simcoe County are:
* Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury
* Town of Collingwood
* Town of Innisfil
* Town of Midland
* Town of New Tecumseth
* Town of Penetanguishene
* Town of Wasaga Beach
* Township of Adjala-Tosorontio
* Township of Clearview
* Township of Essa
* Township of Oro-Medonte
* Township of Ramara
* Township of Severn
* Township of Springwater
* Township of Tay
* Township of Tiny

There are also three indian reserves:
*Christian Island 30
*Christian Island 30A
*Mnjikaning First Nation 32

County Council is composed of the mayors and deputy mayors of each of the sixteen towns and townships which comprise the County of Simcoe. The head of County Council is called the Warden, who is elected for a one-year term by the council members at the Inaugural Meeting, held each December. The Warden for the 2007 term is Tony Guergis, mayor of Springwater Township.

According to the Wasaga Sun, Simcoe County is considering a change in its upper tier structure of government to a regional government, similar to that of York Region. [ [http://www.wasagasun.ca/wasagasun/article/62504 County looking to restructure its council ] ]

Transportation

"See "

Education

Education services for the county are administered by the Simcoe County District School Board and the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board.

Post-secondary education is offered by Georgian College in Barrie.

References

External links

* [http://www.county.simcoe.on.ca/ County of Simcoe]
* [http://www12.statcan.ca/english/Profil01/Details/details1.cfm?SEARCH=BEGINS&ID=180&PSGC=35&SGC=3543&DataType=1&LANG=E&Province=35&PlaceName=simcoe%20county&CMA=&CSDNAME=Simcoe%20County&A=&TypeNameE=Census%20Division&Prov= Statistics Canada - 2001 Community Profile - Simcoe County, Ontario]
* [http://simcoemuskoka.com/Area_attractions/ Simcoe County Area Attractions]
* [http://olivetreegenealogy.com/can/ont/simcoe/ Townships then and now]