Fredericksburg, Ontario
| Delhi, Ontario | |
|---|---|
| Unincorporated hamlet in Norfolk County | |
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 Delhi, Ontario
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| Coordinates: 42°51′9″N 80°29′56″W / 42.85250°N 80.49889°WCoordinates: 42°51′9″N 80°29′56″W / 42.85250°N 80.49889°W | |
| Country |
 Canada
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| Province |
 Ontario
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| Established | 1826 as Sovereen's Corners |
| Incorporated | 1893 |
| Amalgamated into Delhi Township | 1974 (Regional Municipality of Haldimand-Norfolk) |
| Amalgamated into Norfolk County | 2001 (Single-tier municipality) |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Charlie Luke |
| • Governing Body | The Council of The Corporation of Norfolk County |
| • MPs | Diane Finley (Con) |
| • MPPs | Toby Barrett (PC) |
| Area | |
| • Land | 2.97 km2 (1.15 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 210 m (690 ft) |
| Population (2011) | 4,172 |
| • Density | 1,405.4/km2 (3,640/sq mi) |
| Time zone | EST (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| Forward sortation area | N4B |
| Area code(s) | (519), (226) |
| Website | www.norfolkcounty.ca |
Delhi refers to both a former township and unincorporated community located off of the junction of Ontario Highways 59 and 3. Delhi is known as the "Heart of Tobacco Country." Prior to 1880, this community was known for its lumber industry. One of the Communities in Norfolk County, Ontario, Delhi had a population of 4,240 at the time of the 2016 Census.
Founded by Frederick Sovereen (spelled Sovereign by a few sources) the settlement was called Sovereen's Corners or Sovereign's Corners and was located in Middleton Township. Later, the community was renamed Fredericksburg and in 1856, to its present-day name of Delhi. The name is usually attributed locally to a postmaster honouring a major city of the British Empire, Delhi, India.
Frederick Sovereen (or Sovereign) settled here in about 1812. According to some genealogy records, his father, originally from Germany, was called Frederick Zavering, Zafrin or Safrein. The records suggest that the family initially emigrated to New Jersey but moved to Norfolk County in Upper Canada because of the Revolutionary War in the U.S. Joseph Lawson bought land at about the same time as Frederick Sovereen (or Sovereign) Jr. but did not actually build a home in the area for some time. The village was named Fredericksburg after Sovereign until the post office opened as Delhi. Sovereign was a tavern keeper for over 30 years. He also manufactured plug tobacco, growing his own leaves, curing them, and pressing them. He donated the land for the Baptist church and served as deacon for "many, many years".
The population in 1869 was 300 and the village had some manufacturing as well as a lumber mill thanks to the abundant water power. The post office was receiving mail daily. The railway arrived in the 1870's a definite benefit to locals who opened business such as the Delhi Canning Company, established in 1878; the company shipped canned local produce across Canada.
The village initially had a log school house but a new school was built in 1892. By around 1900, the village had an opera house, two tanneries, a railroad station, an Orange Hall and a Mechanics’ Institute as well as a flour mill, the Quance Mills or Sovereen-Quance Mills. At the time, the primary crops in the area were still fruit and vegetables.
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