| Township of Uxbridge | |||
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| Country | Canada | ||
| Province | Ontario | ||
| Region | Durham Region | ||
| Established | 1973 | ||
| Government | |||
| - Mayor | Bob Shepherd | ||
| - Governing body | Uxbridge Township Council | ||
| Area | |||
| - Total | 420.65 km2 (162.4 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 273 m (896 ft) | ||
| Population (2006)[1] | |||
| - Total | 19,169 | ||
| - Density | 45.6/km2 (118.1/sq mi) | ||
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC−5) | ||
| - Summer (DST) | Eastern (EDT) (UTC−4) | ||
| Website | The official Township of Uxbridge website | ||
Uxbridge is a township in south-central Ontario, in the Regional Municipality of Durham in the Greater Toronto Area, Canada. The main centre in the township is the town of Uxbridge.
Contents |
History
Uxbridge was surveyed in 1805 as part of York County. It was named for Uxbridge, England.
The first settlers in the area were Quakers who started arriving in 1806 from the Catawissa area of Pennsylvania. The community's oldest building, the Uxbridge Friends Meeting House, was built in 1820 and overlooks the town from Quaker Hill, a kilometre to the west.
The Township was incorporated as a municipality in 1850 and became part of the newly-formed Ontario County two years later.
The first passenger carrying narrow gauge railway in North America, the Toronto and Nipissing Railway arrived in Uxbridge in June 1871, and for over a decade Uxbridge was the headquarters of the railway. In 1872, the Village of Uxbridge was separated from the Township and incorporated as a separate entity.
With the creation of the Regional Municipality of Durham in 1974, Uxbridge Township was amalgamated with the Town of Uxbridge and Scott Township to create an expanded Township of Uxbridge.
Uxbridge today
Today, Uxbridge serves as an important community in northern Durham Region. Major manufacturing employers include Pine Valley Packaging (packaging, containers and portable shelters), Koch-Glitsch Canada (mass transfer systems) and Hela Canada (spice and ingredient manufacture). Many residents commute to other centres in Durham and York Regions and beyond.
The 30-bed Uxbridge Cottage Hospital is a site of the Markham Stouffville Hospital Corporation.
Uxbridge is twinned with Catawissa, PA in the United States, from which many of its settlers originated.
Uxbridge has a newspaper: Uxbridge Times Journal
Demographics
According to the 2006 Census, The township has a population of 19,169 over an area of 420.65 km². The population has increased 10.3% since 2001 and has a density of 45.6 people per square kilometre.
Attractions
The Uxbridge-Scott Museum and Archives possesses a number of artifacts, mostly related to the township's agricultural heritage and the genealogy of its residents. The Museum also includes nine heritage buildings as well as heritage herb and flower gardens.
There are also a number of attractions related to the history of the area. Uxbridge's Elgin Park, named after Lord Elgin, was the site of a picnic held by 19th century Prime Minister John A. Macdonald in a re-election bid. In addition, the Thomas Foster Memorial Temple, erected in 1935-36 by the former mayor of Toronto, is situated a short distance north of town. Inspired by Foster's visit to India, the Temple was designed by architects J.H. Craig (1889-1954) and H.H. Madrill (1889-1998). Finally, the former home of famed author Lucy Maud Montgomery of Anne of Green Gables fame is situated in Leaskdale. Montgomery lived in the area from 1911 to 1926, and wrote half of her books at what is now the site of the Leaskdale Manse Museum.
Uxbridge is the northern terminus of the York Durham Heritage Railway, which runs from Stouffville.
The Uxbridge Trail System includes a number of trails that explore the outdoors, connecting residents to the Oak Ridges Trail and the Trans-Canada Trail systems.
Since 1995, the Lions Club has hosted Art in the Park, held the second week in August. Also known as Summerfest, this juried art show attracts artists from across the province.
The Uxbridge Fall Fair is held annually during the second week in September. Events include a tractor pull and a demolition derby. The Uxbridge Studio Tour and Sale is also held in September, giving visitors an opportunity to meet with local artists in their studios and explore the creative process.
Since 1988, Uxbridge has hosted an annual Heritage Christmas Craft Show, held the second Saturday in November. A Santa Claus Parade is also held annually in late November.
Throughout the year, a number of theatrical and musical productions are held at the Music Hall. Movies are shown at a local unique movie theatre, named The Roxy.
Near the end of July the Highlands of Durham Games are held in Elgin Park. These games focus on Celtic traditions and offer a variety of entertainments. Visitors under the age of eighteen are allowed to enter free of charge.
Communities
- Coppins Corners
- Goodwood
- Leaskdale
- Roseville
- Sandford
- Sandy Hook
- Siloam
- Udora
- Uxbridge (town)
- Victoria Corners
- Zephyr
Education
Public Elementary Schools:
- Goodwood Public School
- Joseph Gould Public School
- Quaker Village Public School
- Scott Central Public School
- Uxbridge Public School
Separate Elementary Schools:
- St. Joseph's Catholic School
Independent Schools:
- Uxbridge Montessori School
High Schools:
Colleges:
- Durham College (North Campus Uxbridge)
Historical Figures
- Joseph Gould farmer, businessman and political figure in Ontario, Canada
- Lucy Maud Montgomery Canadian author, best known for a series of novels beginning with Anne of Green Gables, published in 1908.
- Laura Secord Canadian heroine during the War of 1812, was granted 172 acres of land in Uxbridge
Notable residents
- Hayden Christensen, Canadian actor
- Chris Begg, pitched for Canada's baseball team at the 2008 Olympics.
- Ted Barris, Canadian Author and CBC Radio Host.
- Gary Roberts, NHL player who enjoyed success with the Calgary Flames and the Toronto Maple Leafs, plans to move to retire in Uxbridge, announced March 10th, 2009.[2]
- Jeff Beukeboom, NHL player and four-time Stanley Cup winner (1987, 1988, 1990 with the Edmonton Oilers and in 1994 with the New York Rangers) currently resides in Sudbury.
- Mike Holmes, a Canadian professional contractor best known for his television show Holmes on Homes
- Jeff Keeping professional Canadian football defensive tackle and offensive lineman for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League.
In film
- The CBC's Road to Avonlea was shot on location at an exterior village set located in Uxbridge.
- The 1996 film "Christmas in My Hometown," starring Tim Matheson and Melissa Gilbert, was partially filmed in Uxbridge.
- The 1996 film 'The Long Kiss Goodnight' starring Geena Davis and Samuel L. Jackson was partially filmed in Uxbridge.
- The 1996 film 'The Stupids' starring Tom Arnold was partially filmed in Uxbridge.
- The 1999 film 'A Map of the World' starring Sigourney Weaver and Julianne Moore was partially filmed in Uxbridge.
- The 2001 film 'Driven' starring Sylvester Stallone and Burt Reynolds was partially filmed in Uxbridge.
- The 2001 film 'Serendipity' starring John Cusack, Kate Beckinsale, and Jeremy Piven was partially filmed in Uxbridge.
- The 2002 film 'Undercover Brother' starring Eddie Griffin, Denise Richards, and Dave Chappelle was partially filmed in Uxbridge.
- The 2002 film 'Men With Brooms' with Paul Gross, Leslie Nielsen, and Connor Price was partially filmed in Uxbridge
- The 2004 film 'The Prince & Me' starring Julia Stiles was partially filmed in Uxbridge.
- The 2005 film 'A History of Violence' starring Viggo Mortensen was partially filmed in Uxbridge.
- The 2007 film 'Lars and the Real Girl' starring Ryan Gosling was partially filmed in Uxbridge.
References
I believe the 1972 house without a christmas tree was also filmed in uxbridge
External links
- Business Directory, Events and Services in Uxbridge Ontario
- Township of Uxbridge website
- Town of Uxbridge Business Directory
- Uxbridge BIA (Business Improvement Area)
- Uxbridge Town Talk | Free Monthly Community Magazine
Coordinates: 44°06′41″N 79°07′24″W / 44.11137°N 79.12331°W
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Georgina | |
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| East Gwillimbury, Whitchurch-Stouffville |  |
Brock, Scugog | ||
 Uxbridge  |
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