West Elgin | |
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Municipality (lower-tier) | |
Municipality of West Elgin | |
Municipal office in Rodney
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Location in southern Ontario | |
Coordinates: 42°35′N 81°40′W / 42.583°N 81.667°WCoordinates: 42°35′N 81°40′W / 42.583°N 81.667°W | |
Country | Canada |
Province | Ontario |
County | Elgin |
Formed | January 1, 1998 |
Government | |
• Mayor | Bernhard Wiehle |
• Federal riding | Elgin—Middlesex—London |
• Prov. riding | Elgin—Middlesex—London |
Area | |
• Land | 322.52 km2 (124.53 sq mi) |
Population (2011) | |
• Total | 5,157 |
• Density | 16.0/km2 (41/sq mi) |
Time zone | EST (UTC-5) |
• Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
Postal Code | N0L |
Area code(s) | 519 and 226 |
Website | www |
West Elgin is a municipality in Elgin County, Ontario, Canada. The township was created on January 1, 1998, through the amalgamation of the former township of Aldborough with the village of West Lorne.
The two main population centres within the township are Rodney and West Lorne. Additionally, it also includes the smaller communities of Churchville, Clachan, Crinan, Eagle, Kintyre, New Glasgow, Port Glasgow and Twin Valleys.
Rodney
West Lorne
Clachan
The original township of Aldborough was named in 1792 after Aldeburgh, Suffolk, England.
The community of Rodney was originally named Stewart's Mills after the owner of the first sawmill in the community. From 1840 to 1865, it was called Centreville due to its central location at the intersection of Furnival Road and 7th Concession (now Downie Line). In 1865, the community was renamed Rodney after British naval officer George Brydges Rodney. The centre of the village was relocated three kilometres to the south when the Canada Southern Railway was built in the area in 1872.
The community of West Lorne also had its origins the Canada Southern Railway. Originally named Bismarck after the German chancellor, the community was renamed West Clayton, Dutton, Lorne and finally West Lorne. The name came from the Lorne Mills on the south side of the railway, themselves named for John Campbell, Marquess of Lorne. The station itself was renamed West Lorne in 1907 to avoid confusion with a community named Bismarck in Lincoln County.
The villages of Rodney and West Lorne were incorporated as municipalities in 1907 and 1908 respectively, and separated from the township. Subsequently, Aldborough remained a mainly rural municipality.
In 1994, Aldborough and Rodney amalgamated to form an expanded Township of Aldborough. In 1998, Aldborough amalgamated with West Lorne to form West Elgin.