Oliver Paipoonge, Ontario

Oliver Paipoonge
Municipality (single-tier)
Municipality of Oliver Paipoonge
Oliver Paipoonge Municipal Hall
Oliver Paipoonge
Coordinates: 48°23′24″N 89°31′12″W / 48.39000°N 89.52000°W / 48.39000; -89.52000Coordinates: 48°23′24″N 89°31′12″W / 48.39000°N 89.52000°W / 48.39000; -89.52000
Country	Canada
Province	Ontario
District	Thunder Bay
CMA	Thunder Bay
Formed	1 January 1998
Government
• Mayor	Lucia Kloosterhuis
• Federal riding	Thunder Bay—Rainy River
• Prov. riding	Thunder Bay—Atikokan
Area
• Land	350.76 km2 (135.43 sq mi)
Population (2011)
• Total	5,732
• Density	16.3/km2 (42/sq mi)
Time zone	EST (UTC-5)
• Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
Postal code	P0T 1W0 Kakabeka Falls P0T 2G0 Murillo
Area code(s)	807
Website	www.oliverpaipoonge.ca

Oliver Paipoonge is a township in the Canadian province of Ontario, located directly west of the city of Thunder Bay. The municipality was formed on January 1, 1998, with the amalgamation of the former Township of Oliver and Township of Paipoonge. It contains several communities within its boundaries, including Baird, Carters Corners, Harstone, Kakabeka Falls, Lee, McCluskeys Corners, Millar, Murillo, Rosslyn, Slate River Valley, Stanley and Twin City. The remainder of the municipality is agricultural or rural.

The municipality is part of Thunder Bay's Census Metropolitan Area.

The geography of Oliver Paipoonge transitions from river valleys in the south, through flat open farmland and rolling hills in the central areas, to the rough Canadian Shield in the north. The most notable geographic feature is Kakabeka Falls, located on the western edge of the municipality in Kakabeka Falls Provincial Park.

Murillo contains a post office, two stores, the Murillo Bakery featuring Rye Breads, a municipal hall, Public Library and a tavern. New commercial enterprises, located in the Rubin Industrial Park, include a well driller, self-storage facility, a forest products manufacturer, and the Rural Roots child care facility. Each year the village hosts the Murillo Fall Fair, which features chariot races.

The village is the location of the government offices for the Municipality of Oliver Paipoonge as well as the Oliver Paipoonge Police and the Lakehead Rural Planning Board.

Murillo was originally a water stop on the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR). The stop was named after the Spanish painter Bartolomé Estéban Murillo, as the CPR was at that time using the names of painters to name the many new communities springing up along its trans-Canadian line.

Rosslyn contains numerous commercial enterprises and is home to approximately 1,000 people and the Paipoonge Museum. A new golf course and housing subdivision, named King George's Park, are currently being developed in a former gravel pit. There is also a skating rink here, and a community centre and Public Library beside it.