Simcoe County is informally split into two subregions, “South Simcoe” and “North Simcoe”. The dividing line between these two areas is Simcoe County Road 90 (Mill St.).
South Simcoe municipalities are situated at the northern boundary of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and therefore generally have a closer socio-economic association with the GTA. South Simcoe is also within the Toronto commuter belt as it is home to a relatively high proportion of people commuting to the GTA. South Simcoe is home to five municipalities, including: the Town of Innisfil, the Township of Adjala-Tosorontio, the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury, the Township of Essa and the Town of New Tecumseth (which includes: Alliston, Beeton and Tottenham).
North Simcoe is less connected to the GTA due to its more removed geographic location, is generally less industrial than South Simcoe, and generally has a closer socio-economic association with the Muskoka area, located immediately north. However, North Simcoe hosts two GO Transit train stations that provide daily commuter rail service to Toronto. North Simcoe includes the Township of Clearview, the Township of Oro-Medonte, the Township of Ramara, the Township of Severn, the Township of Springwater, the Township of Tay and the Township of Tiny, the Town of Collingwood, the Town of Midland, the Town of Penetanguishene and the Town of Wasaga Beach. The cities of Barrie and Orillia are geographically within North Simcoe, but both are politically independent single-tier municipalities.
History
Simcoe County, in particular the former Wendake area near Nottawasaga Bay, was the site of the earliest French exploration and settlement of Ontario; they were the first Europeans in the area. Several historic sites, including Carhagouha and Sainte-Marie among the Hurons, mark the earliest known contacts between the area's traditional Huron population and French missionaries. The Huron capital, Ossossané, was at one time the largest aboriginal settlement in all of North America outside Mexico.[citation needed]
...Matchedash, Gloucester, or Penetanguishene, together with Prince William Henry's Island,[3] and all the land lying between the Midland District and a line produced due north from a certain fixed boundary (at the distance of about fifty miles north-west from the outlet of Burlington Bay) till it intersects the northern limits of the Province...
At its beginning, the County existed only for purposes of military enlistment.[4] In 1823, it became a separate constituency for elections to the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada,[4] but, as eligibility to vote was dependent upon having title to property, and Simcoe's first registrar of deeds was not appointed until 1826,[4] it did not send a separate member to the Assembly until the election of John Cawthra in 1828.[4] It was withdrawn from the Home District in 1837,[5] with its territory divided as follows:
Townships of Simcoe County in 1837 (before reorganization)
1850 Tallis Map of West Canada - Simcoe County highlighted in red
Between 1837 and 1841 several acts were passed by the Legislature of Upper Canada which set apart Simcoe District. These acts named the townships that the County would encompass and authorized the levying of taxes for the purpose of constructing a jail and court house. On January 11, 1843, the jail and court house having been duly erected, the Governor General proclaimed the County of Simcoe to be a separate and distinct District. The province of Canada also appointed James R. Gowan as the first judge of the District of Simcoe.[6]
The District was restructured in 1845,[7] changing its 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, Simcoe District was abolished, and Simcoe County was organized for municipal purposes.[8]
Between 1845 and 1851, there had been a campaign to have the part of West Gwillimbury south of the Holland River annexed to York County. The County Council finally agreed to this action in 1851, subject to arbitration as to the division of liabilities.[9] It was implemented by an Act of the Parliament of the Province of Canada later that year.[10]
On January 1, 1852, after transferring its five western townships to Grey County, the County was defined as including the following townships:[11]
The unorganized territory, some of which had been surveyed into townships, together with parts of Victoria County and Nipissing District, was withdrawn in 1868-1869 to form the new District of Muskoka and District of Parry Sound.[13] However, any municipalities established in them still formed part of the original counties for municipal purposes,[14] and they were still responsible for the administration of justice, which proved to be problematic.[15] The portions of the districts that were not part of Simcoe County were transferred to it in 1877.[16] This lasted until 1888, when the territory contained within the districts was separated from Simcoe County.[17]
Mono and Mulmur Townships were withdrawn from Simcoe County in 1881 and transferred to the newly formed Dufferin County.[18]
Mara and Rama Townships were transferred to Simcoe County following the dissolution of Ontario County in 1974.
Restructuring (1994)
Map of Simcoe County, its component municipalities, Separated municipalities and CFB Borden.
In 1994, the County was restructured into 16 local municipalities:[19]
As a census division in the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Simcoe County had a population of 533,169 living in 202,824 of its 225,087 total private dwellings, a change of 11.2% from its 2016 population of 479,635. With a land area of 4,818.93km2 (1,860.60sqmi), it had a population density of 110.6/km2 (286.6/sqmi) in 2021.[1]
Canada census – Simcoe County (census division) community profile
Note: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses
Government
The Corporation of the County of Simcoe comprises 16 local municipalities. 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 paramedic services, long term care facilities, social services, social housing, archives and Museum. They are counted within the census division.
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 and is elected for a one-year term by the council members at the Inaugural Meeting, held each December.
Though once a consideration according to the Wasaga Sun,[30] Simcoe County has elected not to restructure itself as a regional municipality.[31]
The Midland Police Service, which served the Town of Midland, was disbanded in February 2018. The OPP assumed policing responsibilities in Midland afterwards.[34][35]
The local public agency for the county, the cities of Barrie and Orillia, and the neighbouring District Municipality of Muskoka is the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit. It is responsible for delivering public health programs and services, enforcing public health regulations, and advising local officials and local governments on health issues.
Agri-business is a diverse, multi-faceted industry and farmland in the region is among the best in all of Canada, including a section of the Holland Marsh in Bradford.
Tourism is a vital industry in Simcoe County, providing a diversity of jobs and economic impact in a variety of sectors including accommodation, restaurants, destinations, events and retail. Simcoe County plays host to over eight million visitors annually that contributes more than 570 million dollars in spending to its economy.
Transportation
Road
The road network in Simcoe County is based on a grid pattern, with most roads running north–south or east–west. The topography of the land has permitted roads to be set in predominantly straight lines.
Lake Simcoe Regional Airport is a registered airport located almost midway between Barrie and Orillia, in the township of Oro-Medonte. The airport is owned jointly by the City of Barrie (10%), and the County (90%). The airport is equipped to accommodate propeller and jet aircraft, and is classified as an airport of entry by Nav Canada and is staffed by the Canada Border Services Agency. The County is also served by the Orillia Ramara Regional Airport in Ramara, 12km northeast of Orillia. The closest major airport, however, is Toronto Pearson International Airport.
The County has operated an intercommunity regional bus service, LINX, since 2018. It also operates a subsidiary paratransit service called LINX+. The LINX system connects population centres in the area such as Barrie, Orillia, Midland, Penetanguishene, Wasaga Beach, and Collingwood, and acts as an intermediate transit layer between local community bus services and higher-order regional transit, such as GO Transit and Ontario Northland. Planned future routes would connect Alliston with Bradford West Gwillimbury, and Midland with Orillia.[36]
Hunter, Andrew F. (1909). A History of Simcoe County. Vol.I: Its Public Affairs. Barrie: Simcoe County Council.
Hunter, Andrew F. (1909). A History of Simcoe County. Vol.II: Its Pioneers. Barrie: Simcoe County Council.
Notes
↑ Statistic includes all persons that did not make up part of a visible minority or an indigenous identity.
↑ Statistic includes total responses of "Filipino" and "Southeast Asian" under visible minority section on census.
↑ Statistic includes total responses of "Chinese", "Korean", and "Japanese" under visible minority section on census.
↑ Statistic includes total responses of "West Asian" and "Arab" under visible minority section on census.
↑ Statistic includes total responses of "Visible minority, n.i.e." and "Multiple visible minorities" under visible minority section on census.
Related Research Articles
Bradford West Gwillimbury is a town in south-central Ontario, Canada, in Simcoe County in the Toronto Census Metropolitan Area on the Holland River. West Gwillimbury takes its name from the family of Elizabeth Simcoe, née Gwillim.
Innisfil is a town in Ontario, Canada, located on the western shore of Lake Simcoe in Simcoe County, immediately south of Barrie and 80 kilometres (50 mi) north of Toronto. It has historically been a rural area, but since it is geographically sandwiched between the high-growth areas of Barrie and the York Region, there has been growing residential development in Innisfil.
Oro-Medonte is a township in south-central Ontario, Canada, on the northwestern shores of Lake Simcoe in Simcoe County.
Springwater is a township in central Ontario, Canada, in Simcoe County, near Barrie. It is the county seat of Simcoe County.
Clearview is a rural incorporated township in Simcoe County in Central Ontario, Canada, west of Barrie and south of Collingwood and Wasaga Beach in Simcoe County.
Barrie was a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada that was represented in the House of Commons of Canada from 2004 to 2015. It consisted of the City of Barrie in the County of Simcoe. It was created in 2003 when its predecessor, Barrie—Simcoe—Bradford, was redistributed. Barrie—Simcoe—Bradford consisted of the City of Barrie and the towns of Bradford West Gwillimbury and Innisfil. It had been formed in 1996 as Barrie—Simcoe from Simcoe Centre and York—Simcoe ridings, but its name was changed before an election was held.
Simcoe North is a federal electoral district in central Ontario, Canada. It was established as a federal riding in 1867, and is the only electoral district in Ontario, and one of four in Canada, that has continually existed since Confederation.
Simcoe—Grey is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the House of Commons of Canada since 1997.
York—Simcoe is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the House of Commons of Canada from 1968 to 1979, from 1988 to 1997 and since 2004.
Lake Simcoe Regional Airport, formerly the Oro Barrie Orillia Regional Airport, is a registered aerodrome that operates as a regional airport located near Highway 11 in the township of Oro-Medonte, Ontario, Canada. The airport is operated by Lake Simcoe Regional Airport Inc., a municipal service corporation jointly owned by the County of Simcoe (90%) and the City of Barrie (10%).
Simcoe South was a federal electoral district represented in the House of Commons of Canada from 1867 to 1925, and from 1979 to 1988. It was located north of Toronto in the province of Ontario. It was initially created by the British North America Act of 1867 when the County of Simcoe was divided into two ridings, to be called the South and North Ridings in the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada.
Simcoe East was a federal electoral district in the province of Ontario, Canada, that was represented in the House of Commons of Canada from 1882 to 1968. This riding was created in 1882 from parts of Muskoka riding.
Simcoe—Grey is a provincial electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario since 1999.
Fierté Simcoe Pride is an annual festival held in Simcoe County, Ontario, during the end of July and beginning of August each year. It is a celebration of the diversity of the LGBT community in Simcoe County. It is one of the larger regional gay pride festivals in Canada, featuring flag raisings and proclamations from across the county, educational events, artistic and cultural events, and a large closing event. Since forming, the organisation has expanded gradually, involving more year-round events. In 2016, the organisation celebrated its fifth anniversary Pride.
Douglas Richard Downey KC is a Canadian politician who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario during the 2018 general election. He represents the riding of Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, and is a member of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario. Downey was named Parliamentary Assistant to Finance Minister Vic Fedeli shortly after the government was sworn in. He was appointed to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs on July 26, 2018, vice-chair of the Select Committee on Financial Transparency on October 3, 2018; deputy government whip on November 5, 2018 and Attorney General on June 20, 2019.
Elections were held in Simcoe County, Ontario on October 22, 2018 in conjunction with municipal elections across the province.
Simcoe County LINX is a public transport service managed by Simcoe County and operated by First Student Canada, which is responsible for inter-community regional bus service throughout Simcoe County, connecting rural towns and townships to cities in the county such as Barrie and Orillia. Service began in 2018 with a single trial route, operating with a mixed fleet of low-floor midibuses and accessible paratransit vehicles. In August 2019, service was expanded to four routes, five routes in 2020 and six routes in August 2021.
Simcoe was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly of the Parliament of the Province of Canada, in Canada West. It was created in 1841, upon the establishment of the Province of Canada by the union of Upper Canada and Lower Canada. Simcoe was represented by one member in the Legislative Assembly. It was abolished in the redistribution of 1853, when it was split into Simcoe North and Simcoe South.
The 2022 Barrie municipal election was a municipal election held on October 24, 2022, to elect the mayor of Barrie, Barrie City Councillors and the Simcoe County District School Board, Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board, Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir and Conseil scolaire Viamonde members. The election was held on the same day as elections in every other municipality in Ontario.
Elections were held in Simcoe County, Ontario on October 24, 2022 in conjunction with municipal elections across the province.
↑ "1971 Census of Canada - Population Census Subdivisions (Historical)". Catalogue 92-702 Vol I, part 1 (Bulletin 1.1-2). Statistics Canada: 76, 139. July 1973.
↑ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2021-10-27). "Census Profile, 2016 Census". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-02-27.
↑ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2015-11-27). "NHS Profile". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-02-27.
↑ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2019-08-20). "2006 Community Profiles". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-02-27.
↑ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2019-07-02). "2001 Community Profiles". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-02-27.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
Canada
Ontario 
