Almonte, Ontario

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Almonte
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subdivision_type = Country
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subdivision_name2 = Lanark
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population_total = 4,649
population_density_km2 = 941.1
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timezone = EST
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latd= 45.22629
longd=-76.19452
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postal_code = K0A 1A0
area_code = 613
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Almonte (Pronounced "AL-mont" as opposed to the original Spanish pronunciation of "al-MON-tay) is a Canadian exurb located in eastern Ontario, Canada, in Lanark County. Formerly a separate town, Almonte is now a ward of the town of Mississippi Mills, which was created on January 1, 1998 by the merging of Almonte with Ramsay and Pakenham townships. Almonte is located convert|46|km|mi|0 south-west of downtown Ottawa, at latitude 45.15, longtitude 75.12. Its population as of 2007 is about 5,000.

History

Almonte's first settler was David Shepherd, who in 1819 was given convert|200|acre|km2 by the Crown to build and operate a mill. The site became known as Shepherd's Falls. That name was never official, however, as Shepherd sold his patent after his mill burned down. The buyer of the patent, Daniel Shipman, rebuilt the mill and the settlement became known as Shipman's Mills in 1820.

The majority of Shipman's Mills' early settlers were Scottish. The town grew to encompass thirty stores and forty other businesses. A textile mill town almost from the start, at its peak it boasted seven busy woolen mills. During this time of rapid expansion the town changed its name from Shipman's Mills to Ramsayville and then to Waterford. When in 1855 the newly-created Canadian post office pointed out there was already a Waterford in Ontario, the town needed yet another name change.

Relations between the United States and Great Britain had been antagonistic since the War of 1812. Border skirmishes between Mexico and the United States increased this antagonism. Mexican general General Juan Almonte had fought in these skirmishes, and by 1853 had become Mexico's ambassador to the United States.

Since the people of Waterford mistrusted the U.S., and General Almonte had resisted the U.S., they decided to honour Mexico and the general by renaming the town Almonte. This makes Almonte the only town in Ontario—probably in Canada—named after a Mexican general. The name change appears to have happened in 1856, though the post office didn't record the new name until 1859.

After the last textile mill closed in the early 1980s, Almonte no longer had a dominant industry. It has since turned its attention towards tourism. It offers museums and several historical spots, such as the home of James Naismith, the inventor of basketball, and the Naismith Museum & Hall of Fame. A walk through Almonte is a trip back in history, with many structures from the 19th century still standing. Malcolm Street, for example, contains many excellent 19th century homes, and Daniel Shipman's house still stands on the corner of Bridge and Mill Streets.

21st century

Almonte is home to several festivals and events, including [http://www.puppetsup.ca Puppets Up] , the [http://www.almontehighlandgames.com North Lanark Highland Games] , [http://www.naismithmuseum.com/naismith_programsevents/main_3on3.htm Naismith 3-on-3 Basketball Festival] , [http://www.riveredge.ca/index.php?action=cms.welcome Riveredge Arts Festival] and [http://www.almonteceltfest.com/ CeltFest] .

Almonte is a quiet town and many of its citizens commute to the nearby city of Ottawa. Almonte has three elementary schools: [http://www2.ucdsb.on.ca/rtait/ R. Tait McKenzie Public School] , [http://www.ucdsb.on.ca/Schools/School+Directory/Elementary/NMS/homepage.htm Naismith Memorial Public School] and [http://www.cdsbeo.on.ca/School_Home_Pages/Holy_Name.htm Holy Name of Mary Catholic School] . [http://www.ucdsb.on.ca/Schools/School+Directory/Secondary/ADS/homepage.htm Almonte and District High School] serves the town of Almonte and much of the surrounding rural area.

The Mississippi River which runs through Almonte has no connection with the U.S. river of the same name.

Demographics

Statistics Canada, 2001 Census (selected items)

External links

* [http://almonte.com/images/almonte3_b.jpgAerial photo of Almonte, Ontario]
* [http://almonte.com/ Almonte website]
* [http://travel.canoe.ca/Travel/Canada/Ontario/2005/05/01/1025640-sun.html Destination Almonte (Ottawa Sun): Town Marks 125th Anniversay with 125-day party featuring Mexican namesake]
* [http://almonte.clal.ca/ A Virtual Walking Tour of Almonte]
* [http://www.naismithmuseum.com/ Naismith Museum & Hall of Fame]
* [http://www.almonteartists.ca/ Almonte Artists]
* [http://www.millstreetgallery.ca/ The Mill Street Gallery]
* [http://www.thehumm.com/ theHumm (Ottawa Valley monthly arts paper published in Almonte)]
* [http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/english/exhibits/theatres/theatres/obrien_almonte.htm Former O'Brien Theatre]
* [http://almonte.com/images_hist/map_1863.jpgTown map, 1863 (JPEG)]
* [http://almonte.com/historic/page_0001.html Approx. 370 photos of Almonte from mid-19th to mid-20th centuries (from Michael Dunn)]
* [http://almonte.com/map.html Google maps view of Almonte. Includes main municipal sites, satellite view.]
* [http://www.virtualmuseum.ca/pm.php?id=exhibit_home&fl=0&lg=English&ex=00000091 The Joy of Effort - A History of Physical Activity]