Elmira, Ontario
| Elmira | |
|---|---|
| Unincorporated community | |
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 Elmira
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| Coordinates: 43°35′36″N 80°33′45″W / 43.59333°N 80.56250°WCoordinates: 43°35′36″N 80°33′45″W / 43.59333°N 80.56250°W | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Ontario |
| Regional municipality | Waterloo |
| Township | Woolwich |
| Settled | 1798 |
| Time zone | EST (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| Forward sortation area | N3B |
| Area code(s) | 519 and 226 |
| NTS Map | 040P10 |
| GNBC Code | FEHOW |
Elmira is the largest community within the Township of Woolwich originally in Waterloo County, Ontario but now in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo. It is is located 15 kilometres (9 mi) to the north of the city of Waterloo. The community was listed in the Canada 2016 Census with a population of 10,161 at that time.
Waterloo Region is still home to the largest population of Old Order Mennonites in Canada, particularly in the areas around St Jacobs and Elmira. They are often seen on the local roads using their traditional horse and buggy transportation; many also use horses to pull the implements in their farm fields.
While the land comprising Woolwich Township originally belonged to the Huron Nation followed by the Mohawk Nation, the first settlers arrived in Woolwich Township in the late 18th century. In 1798, William Wallace was one of the first settlers after he was deeded 86,078 acres (348 km2) of land on the Grand River for a cost of $16,364. Originally Block three of Indian Lands, this area now comprises a large part of Woolwich Township. The parcel of land called "Woolwich' was named after a town in Kent, England.. The early settlers were primarily from England or Ireland until about 1830.
In 1806, Wallace sold the major portion of his tract to Mennonites from Pennsylvania, the so-called Pennsylvania Dutch (actually Deitsch or German). The buyers were Augustus Jones and brothers John and Jacob Erb, trustees for the German Company, who were among the first settlers from Pennsylvania. Wallace sold 45,185 acres (183 km2) of land to the German Company at $1.00 an acre.
The village was first settled in 1832 by Henry Christman and Edward Bristow. In 1834, Edward Bristow from Sussex, England became one of Elmira's first settlers when he purchased 53 acres (210,000 m2) of land at this location for 50 cents per acre. He started the first store, tavern and potashery. A community by the name of Bristow's Corners was already in existence in 1839 when a post office was assigned there. Local merchant Samuel Weber had been visiting New York State in the early 1850s and was apparently impressed with Elmira, New York. This may have been a factor in the decision of Woolwich Township council on February 22, 1853 to rename the community Elmira.
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