Manitouwadge, Ontario
|
Manitouwadge Manidoowaazh |
|
|---|---|
| Township (single-tier) | |
| Township of Manitouwadge | |
 |
|
 Manitouwadge
|
|
| Coordinates: 49°08′N 85°50′W / 49.133°N 85.833°WCoordinates: 49°08′N 85°50′W / 49.133°N 85.833°W | |
| Country |
 Canada
|
| Province |
 Ontario
|
| District | Thunder Bay |
| Settled | 1950s |
| Incorporated | 1975 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Andy Major |
| • Federal riding | Thunder Bay-Superior North |
| • Prov. riding | Algoma—Manitoulin |
| Area | |
| • Land | 352.06 km2 (135.93 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 332.20 m (1,089.90 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 2,105 |
| • Density | 6.0/km2 (16/sq mi) |
| Time zone | EST (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| Postal Code | P0T 2C0 |
| Area code(s) | 807 (826 exchange) |
| Website | www.manitouwadge.ca |
Manitouwadge is a township in the Canadian province of Ontario. It is located in the Thunder Bay District, at the north end of Highway 614, 331 kilometres (206 mi) east of Thunder Bay and 378 kilometres (235 mi) north-west of Sault Ste. Marie.
Manitouwadge (Manidoowaazh in Ojibwe, meaning “Cave of the Great Spirit”) was originally part of the range of the nomadic Ojibwe indigenous people. The town itself was founded by Noranda (now part of Xstrata) in the early 1950s to support the company's Geco copper mine. Other mine in Manitouwadge is the Willroy mine, named after two of the "Weekend Prospectors" William Dawidowich and Roy Barker.
From 1954 to 1974 Manitouwadge was classified as an Improvement District. The community became an incorporated township in 1975.
In the early 1980s, gold was discovered at Hemlo, near the intersection of highways 614 and 17, about 50 kilometres (31 mi) south of the town. Noranda acquired the mining rights to a significant portion of the ground in that area, and built the Golden Giant Mine. It offered housing in Manitouwadge to many of the employees of the new mine, and the town boomed.
When the Geco mine closed in 1995, Manitouwadge's population decreased significantly. After peaking at nearly 4000 people in the early 1990s, it decreased to less than 3000 by 2001. With the closing of the Golden Giant Mine in 2006, the population dropped to 2,100 by 2011.
While mining has always been at the forefront of Manitouwadge's economic activity, forestry also plays a significant part in the town's economy. The town is also turning itself into a retirement community, offering some of the lowest housing prices in the country.
Population trend:
Summer is open to many outdoor activities. Hunting, fishing and golf are the main summer attractions open to vacationers and residents. There is a nine-hole golf course. There is a fully equipped gym, a large outside track, and a family pool. Trails for hiking in the summer and trails for snowmobilers in the winter are also abundant. Nine different runs for downhill skiing are present as well as two locations with cross country ski trails managed by the Northern Trails Ski Club. From the top of the ski hill one can see the whole town.
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Wikipedia