Northumberland County, Ontario

Northumberland County is an upper-tier municipality situated on the north shore of Lake Ontario, east of Toronto in Central Ontario. The Northumberland County headquarters are located in Cobourg.

Northumberland County
County of Northumberland
Clockwise from top: Downtown Campbellford from the Trent River, farmland in the Municipality of Trent Hills, downtown Port Hope from the Ganaraska River, downtown Colborne.
Location of Northumberland County within Ontario
Location of Northumberland County within Ontario
Coordinates: 44°07′N 78°02′W / 44.117°N 78.033°W / 44.117; -78.033
Country Canada
Province Ontario
County seatCobourg
Municipalities
List
Government
 • TypeUpper-tier municipal government
 • WardenMandy Martin[1]
 • Governing bodyNorthumberland County Council
Area
 • Total1,905.15 km2 (735.58 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
 • Total89,365
 • Density47.78/km2 (123.7/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC−05:00 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−05:00 (EDT)
Websitewww.northumberlandcounty.ca

Municipalities

Northumberland County consists of seven municipalities:

MunicipalityPopulation (2021)[2]Area[2]Population density[2]Major population centres
Town of Cobourg20,51922.41915.7
Municipality of Port Hope17,294278.862.0Port Hope
Municipality of Trent Hills13,861513.8527.0Campbellford, Warkworth, Hastings
Municipality of Brighton12,108223.2454.2Brighton
Township of Hamilton11,059256.0343.2
Township of Alnwick/Haldimand7,473398.2518.8
Township of Cramahe6,509202.2232.2Colborne

The Alderville First Nation is geographically located within the County and is a part of the Northumberland census division, but, as an Indian reserve, it is independent of county administration.

History

The County was first established in 1792, and was organized alongside neighbouring Durham County into the Newcastle District of Upper Canada in 1802.[3] The County was initially settled by a mix of Irish, Scottish, and English immigrants, as well as by Americans immigrating north from New England.[3]

In 1850, the Newcastle District was reorganized into the United Counties of Northumberland and Durham, an arrangement which lasted until 1973. Effective January 1, 1974, the majority of Durham County was amalgamated with Ontario County to create the Regional Municipality of Durham. The Township of Hope and the Town of Port Hope were transferred to Northumberland, which reverted to a standalone county.

Recreation

The Ranney Suspension Bridge in Ferris Provincial Park.

There are two provincial parks in Northumberland County: Presqu'ile Provincial Park in Brighton, and Ferris Provincial Park in Campbellford.[4] There are also several other protected natural areas and forests, including Ganaraska Forest,[5] Northumberland County Forest, Goodrich-Loomis Conservation Area, and Peter's Woods. Waterfront campsites and cottages are located along Lake Ontario and Rice Lake.

Northumberland County has various cycling, hiking and other outdoor trails. The Waterfront Trail along Lake Ontario passes through Northumberland County,[6] as does the Trans-Canada Trail.[7] The Northumberland portion of the Trans-Canada Trail spans from Hastings to Hoard's Station in Campbellford, following an abandoned rail line. Halfway through Campbellford, the trail joins the 6 km long Rotary Trail situated alongside the Trent River. There are five signed bike routes: Glorious Ganaraska, Rice Lake Ramble, Shelter Valley, Presqu’ile Promise and Trent River Truckin'.[8] The Northumberland County Forest offers various trails available for hiking, cycling, horseback riding, ATVing, off-road motorcycling, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing[9] as well as a 3.2 km, accessible Universal Trail.[10] The Ganaraska Hiking Trail starts in Port Hope and goes north towards the Bruce Trail.[11]

There are three theatres in Northumberland County: Westben in Campbellford, the Capitol Theatre in Port Hope, and the Park Theatre & Performing Arts Centre in Cobourg.[12] Festivals in Northumberland include the Warkworth Maple Syrup and Float Your Fanny Down the Ganny festivals in early spring, the Cobourg Sandcastle Festival and Incredible Edibles Festival in the summer, and the Cultivate Food and Vintage Film Festivals in the fall.[13]

Demographics

As a census division in the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Northumberland County had a population of 89,365 living in 37,328 of its 40,638 total private dwellings, a change of 4.4% from its 2016 population of 85,598. With a land area of 1,907.4 km2 (736.5 sq mi), it had a population density of 46.9/km2 (121.3/sq mi) in 2021.[14]

Canada census – Northumberland community profile
202120162011
Population89,365 (+4.4% from 2016)85,598 (4.2% from 2011)82,126 (1.4% from 2006)
Land area1,907.40 km2 (736.45 sq mi)1,905.15 km2 (735.58 sq mi)1,905.34 km2 (735.66 sq mi)
Population density46.9/km2 (121/sq mi)44.9/km2 (116/sq mi)43.1/km2 (112/sq mi)
Median age52.4 (M: 50.8, F: 54)51.4 (M: 50.3, F: 52.4)
Private dwellings37,330 (total)  39,032 (total)  37,226 (total) 
Median household income$70,208
References: 2021[15] 2016[16] 2011[17] earlier[18][19]
Northumberland County population history
YearPop.±%
199674,437—    
200177,497+4.1%
200680,963+4.5%
201182,126+1.4%
201685,598+4.2%
202189,365+4.4%
[20][19][21][22]
1996 population adjusted to 2001 boundaries
Panethnic groups in Northumberland County (2001−2021)
Panethnic
group
2021[23]2016[24]2011[25]2006[26]2001[27]
Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%
European[a]80,30592.01%78,21593.82%75,83595.23%75,71095.75%73,21096.41%
Indigenous3,0953.55%2,2752.73%1,8852.37%1,6302.06%1,4201.87%
African9251.06%8351%3550.45%3800.48%3800.5%
East Asian[b]8100.93%6900.83%4600.58%4950.63%5400.71%
South Asian7150.82%4950.59%4000.5%3100.39%1000.13%
Southeast Asian[c]5450.62%3200.38%2500.31%1950.25%650.09%
Latin American2450.28%2000.24%1500.19%1050.13%850.11%
Middle Eastern[d]2400.27%800.1%850.11%950.12%650.09%
Other[e]4000.46%2500.3%2100.26%1450.18%650.09%
Total responses87,28097.67%83,36597.39%79,63596.97%79,07097.66%75,94097.99%
Total population89,365100%85,598100%82,126100%80,963100%77,497100%
Note: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses

See also

Notes

References

External links