Fergus, Ontario
Encyclopedia
Fergus is the largest community in Centre Wellington, a township within Wellington County
in Ontario
, Canada
. It lies on the Grand River
about 25 km north of Guelph
.
. Along with a half dozen other men, Pierpoint was granted land in Garafraxa Township somewhere around what is now Scotland Street in Fergus.
In 1833, just a quarter mile from the Pierpoint settlement, Little Falls was established by Adam Fergusson. Along with fellow Scot James Webster
, he purchased 7000 acre (2,832.8 ha) (28 km²) of uncleared land in Nichol Township and laid out the town of Fergus. Webster took up residence here and supervised the settlement's early development.
The first house of this predominantly Scottish community was erected in 1833. A hotel was built in 1834 and a sawmill, grist mill, church and school followed in 1835.
They soon established a vibrant economy, using the waterfalls on the Grand River as power for local industry. The Scots built solid stone houses, factories and other buildings which have characterized Fergus to this day. Many of the houses and factories built by these early settlers are still in use today—occasionally occupied by descendents of the original owners.
Originally Fergus was known as Little Falls, because of the scenic (water) falls downtown, between the Public Library and the Fergus Market. Other names that (parts of) Fergus have been known as include Nichol Township, Aboyne, Garafraxa Township and Pierpoint Settlement.
and sits on the Grand River. It is near many natural settings such as the Elora Gorge
and Conservation Area, and Belwood Lake.
The 2001 Census
was the last Canadian census to record demographic statistics for Fergus as a separate community. In the 2006 Census
, statistics were published only for Centre Wellington.
For 2001 census:
administers Catholic education in Guelph and Wellington County, operating St. Joseph's Catholic Elementary School (JK-8). The Upper Grand District School Board
administers to the area surrounding the upper Grand River operating in Fergus, J. D. Hogarth Public School (7-8), John Black Public School, James McQueen Public School (K-6), Victoria Terrace Public School (K-6).
Print
Fergus is best known for the annual Scottish Festival and Highland Games
, held in August. The games represent the largest gathering of clans in the world. Competitions are held for music, dancing and 'heavy' events such as the caber toss. A 10 km (6.21 mi) run is also contested.
It also is home to North America's largest truck-show that is held every July, and the Fergus fall fair in September.
Fergus is also home to the Fergus Highland Rugby Football Club. The club plays in the Ontario Rugby Union, and has two Men's teams, two Women's teams and a strong and growing junior program.
St Andrew Street runs parallel to the Grand River on the north side and is the heart of downtown. On the south side of the river is Queen Street where the newly renovated Fergus Market can be found.
The Wellington County Museum and Archives and the Wellington County library are in nearby Aboyne, halfway between Fergus and Elora. The County Museum and Archives are located in a two-storey Italianate
-style stone building on a former working farm. The building is the oldest known state-supported poorhouse
or almshouse
in Canada, and was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1995.
A community complex was completed in fall 2006. It includes a 25 metre indoor swimming pool and a second ice rink to complement the previously existing ice facilities.
, Scotland
Pleasanton, California
, USA Cowansville, Quebec
, Canada
Wellington County, Ontario
Wellington County is a county located in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. The county seat is Guelph, a city which is politically independent, but Guelph's status as the seat means it houses the county's administrative offices...
in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It lies on the Grand River
Grand River (Ontario)
The Grand River is a large river in southwestern Ontario, Canada. From its source, it flows south through Grand Valley, Fergus, Elora, Waterloo, Kitchener, Cambridge, Paris, Brantford, Caledonia, and Cayuga before emptying into the north shore of Lake Erie south of Dunnville at Port Maitland...
about 25 km north of Guelph
Guelph
Guelph is a city in Ontario, Canada.Guelph may also refer to:* Guelph , consisting of the City of Guelph, Ontario* Guelph , as the above* University of Guelph, in the same city...
.
History
The first settlers to this area were freed slaves who formed what was known as the Pierpoint Settlement, named after their leader, Richard PierpointRichard Pierpoint
Richard Pierpoint , also known as Black Dick and Captain Dick, was born about 1744 in Bondu, Senegal. When he was about sixteen he was captured and sold as a slave. He survived the crossing of the Atlantic and was sold in New York to a British officer named Pierpoint. It was common for the slaves...
. Along with a half dozen other men, Pierpoint was granted land in Garafraxa Township somewhere around what is now Scotland Street in Fergus.
In 1833, just a quarter mile from the Pierpoint settlement, Little Falls was established by Adam Fergusson. Along with fellow Scot James Webster
James Webster (Canada West politician)
James Webster was a Scottish-born political figure in Canada West. He represented West Halton and then Waterloo in the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada from 1844 to 1848 as a Conservative....
, he purchased 7000 acre (2,832.8 ha) (28 km²) of uncleared land in Nichol Township and laid out the town of Fergus. Webster took up residence here and supervised the settlement's early development.
They soon established a vibrant economy, using the waterfalls on the Grand River as power for local industry. The Scots built solid stone houses, factories and other buildings which have characterized Fergus to this day. Many of the houses and factories built by these early settlers are still in use today—occasionally occupied by descendents of the original owners.
Originally Fergus was known as Little Falls, because of the scenic (water) falls downtown, between the Public Library and the Fergus Market. Other names that (parts of) Fergus have been known as include Nichol Township, Aboyne, Garafraxa Township and Pierpoint Settlement.
Geography
Fergus is located north of GuelphGuelph
Guelph is a city in Ontario, Canada.Guelph may also refer to:* Guelph , consisting of the City of Guelph, Ontario* Guelph , as the above* University of Guelph, in the same city...
and sits on the Grand River. It is near many natural settings such as the Elora Gorge
Elora Gorge
-External links:* * ** * *...
and Conservation Area, and Belwood Lake.
Economy
Fergus and Centre Wellington in general are home to many industries, manufacturers, retailers and trades people.Demographics
| Census | Population |
|---|---|
| 1841 | 184 |
| 1871 | 1,666 |
| 1901 | 1,396 |
| 1911 | 1,534 |
| 1921 | 1,796 |
| 1931 | 2,594 |
| 1941 | 2,832 |
| 1951 | 3,387 |
| 1961 | 3,831 |
| 1971 | 5,433 |
| 1981 | 6,064 |
| 1991 | 7,940 |
| 2001 | 10,017 |
| 2006 | 18,211 |
The 2001 Census
Canada 2001 Census
The Canada 2001 Census was a detailed enumeration of the Canadian population. Census day was May 15, 2001. On that day, Statistics Canada attempted to count every person in Canada. The total population count of Canada was 30,007,094. This was a 4% increase over 1996 Census of 28,846,761. In...
was the last Canadian census to record demographic statistics for Fergus as a separate community. In the 2006 Census
Canada 2006 Census
The Canada 2006 Census was a detailed enumeration of the Canadian population. Census day was May 16, 2006. The next census following will be the 2011 Census. Canada's total population enumerated by the 2006 census was 31,612,897...
, statistics were published only for Centre Wellington.
For 2001 census:
| Population: | 10,017 (-12.8% from 1996) |
| Land area: | 7.23 km² |
| Population density: | 1,383.4 people/km² |
| Median age: | 35.2 (males: 34.2, females: 36.0) |
| Total private dwellings: | 3,764 |
| Mean household income: | $53,115 |
Education
Fergus and Centre Wellington have two major school boards that operate inside the municipality at a public level. The Wellington Catholic District School BoardWellington Catholic District School Board
The Wellington Catholic District School Board is a school board in Ontario, Canada, serving the students of the City of Guelph and Wellington County...
administers Catholic education in Guelph and Wellington County, operating St. Joseph's Catholic Elementary School (JK-8). The Upper Grand District School Board
Upper Grand District School Board
The Upper Grand District School Board is a school board in Ontario, Canada. It spans an area of 4211 km² and covers the regions of Dufferin County, Wellington County and the City of Guelph, in the region to the west and north of Toronto....
administers to the area surrounding the upper Grand River operating in Fergus, J. D. Hogarth Public School (7-8), John Black Public School, James McQueen Public School (K-6), Victoria Terrace Public School (K-6).
High Schools
- Centre Wellington District High SchoolCentre Wellington District High SchoolCentre Wellington District High School, or CWDHS, is a fully composite high school located in Fergus, Ontario.The school was originally called Fergus High School and was constructed in 1928. Later, two additions were built, but eventually, the number of students exceeded the capacity of the...
(C.W.D.H.S.) is located in the newer suburbs on the south-east edge of the town. It is home to the Falcons and has a student population of roughly 1500. - Emmanuel Christian High School (E.C.H.S) is a private Canadian Reformed Christian school located on the east side of Fergus and has a student population of roughly 200.
- Fergus Elora News Express
- Guelph MercuryGuelph MercuryThe Guelph Mercury is an English language newspaper published in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. It publishes a mix of community, national and international news and is owned by the Torstar Corporation. The newspaper, in many incarnations, has been a part of the community since 1854...
- serves Guelph and Wellington County - Wellington Advertiser - serves Wellington County
Attractions
Highland games
Highland games are events held throughout the &Highland games are events held throughout the &Highland games are events held throughout the &(-è_çà in Scotland and other countries as a way of celebrating Scottish and Celtic culture and heritage, especially that of the Scottish Highlands. Certain...
, held in August. The games represent the largest gathering of clans in the world. Competitions are held for music, dancing and 'heavy' events such as the caber toss. A 10 km (6.21 mi) run is also contested.
It also is home to North America's largest truck-show that is held every July, and the Fergus fall fair in September.
Fergus is also home to the Fergus Highland Rugby Football Club. The club plays in the Ontario Rugby Union, and has two Men's teams, two Women's teams and a strong and growing junior program.
St Andrew Street runs parallel to the Grand River on the north side and is the heart of downtown. On the south side of the river is Queen Street where the newly renovated Fergus Market can be found.
The Wellington County Museum and Archives and the Wellington County library are in nearby Aboyne, halfway between Fergus and Elora. The County Museum and Archives are located in a two-storey Italianate
Italianate architecture
The Italianate style of architecture was a distinct 19th-century phase in the history of Classical architecture. In the Italianate style, the models and architectural vocabulary of 16th-century Italian Renaissance architecture, which had served as inspiration for both Palladianism and...
-style stone building on a former working farm. The building is the oldest known state-supported poorhouse
Poorhouse
A poorhouse or workhouse was a government-run facility in the past for the support and housing of dependent or needy persons, typically run by a local government entity such as a county or municipality....
or almshouse
Almshouse
Almshouses are charitable housing provided to enable people to live in a particular community...
in Canada, and was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1995.
A community complex was completed in fall 2006. It includes a 25 metre indoor swimming pool and a second ice rink to complement the previously existing ice facilities.
Notable Fergusites
- Craig NorrisCraig NorrisCraig Norris is a Canadian rock singer and radio personality. He is the lead singer for The Kramdens, and is also a host on CBC Radio 3, including the network's weekly record chart show The R3-30, as well as the CBC Radio One program Laugh Out Loud...
, lead singer of The KramdensThe KramdensThe Kramdens are a Canadian Indie rock band formed in 1990 from Guelph, Ontario, Canada.-History:Craig Norris , Robert Leader , Michael T Plater Findlay , Steve Knox and Will Kee have been together sixteen years and throughout that time have...
, Host of The Craig Norris Hour and The R3-30The R3-30The R3-30 is a weekly record chart show on CBC Radio 3, which counts down the week's top indie rock singles as determined by airplay , listener feedback , and other criteria . The show, hosted by Craig Norris and produced by Pedro Mendes, airs at 11 a.m Eastern time The R3-30 is a weekly record...
on CBC Radio 3CBC Radio 3CBC Radio 3 is a radio station that consists of two parts devoted to Canadian arts and music: a radio service which is available on Sirius Satellite Radio and streaming audio, and several daily and weekly podcasts from the CBC Radio 3 website...
and Laugh Out Loud on CBC Radio OneCBC Radio OneCBC Radio One is the English language news and information radio network of the publicly-owned Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. It is commercial free and offers both local and national programming...
. - Patrick Anderson, wheelchair basketballWheelchair basketballWheelchair basketball is basketball played by people in wheelchairs and is considered one of the major disabled sports practiced. The International Wheelchair Basketball Federation is the governing body for this sport. It is recognized by the International Paralympic Committee as the sole...
er and paralympicParalympic GamesThe Paralympic Games are a major international multi-sport event where athletes with a physical disability compete; this includes athletes with mobility disabilities, amputations, blindness, and Cerebral Palsy. There are Winter and Summer Paralympic Games, which are held immediately following their...
gold medalist. - Lori BowdenLori BowdenLori Bowden is a professional triathlete from Canada.Bowden competes at the Ironman distance in the sport, her first win coming at Ironman Canada in Penticton in 1997. She went on to record a number of other victories and won the Ironman Triathlon World Championships in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii in...
, professional triathlete, Ironman Triathlon World Champion. - Ed ChadwickEd ChadwickEdwin Walter Chadwick is a retired Canadian ice hockey goaltender who played in the National Hockey League during the Original Six era for the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Boston Bruins.-Playing career:...
, former National Hockey LeagueNational Hockey LeagueThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
goalie who played most notably with the Toronto Maple LeafsToronto Maple LeafsThe Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
. - Ryan LairdRyan LairdRyan Laird is a Canadian singer-songwriter who performs country.He received recognition and media attention across The United States and Canada in December 2008 after putting up a billboard on Nashville, Tennessee's famed music row asking Taylor Swift to produce his album...
, country musician. - Bucko McDonald, former Member of ParliamentMember of ParliamentA Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
and NHL defenceman who won three Stanley CupStanley CupThe Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
s. - Jamie McGinnJamie McGinnJames Robert "Ginner" McGinn IV is a Canadian professional ice hockey player currently playing for the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
, current member of the NHL's San Jose SharksSan Jose SharksThe San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
. - Tye McGinn, OHL Player of the Ottawa 67'sOttawa 67'sThe Ottawa 67’s are a junior ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario. They have played in the Ontario Hockey League since 1967, Canada's centennial year. The current coach is Chris Byrne.-History:...
and Gatineau OlympiquesGatineau OlympiquesThe Gatineau Olympiques are a major junior ice hockey team playing in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League out of Gatineau, Quebec. The Olympiques play out of the Robert Guertin Centre. The club, then known as the Hull Festivals, was granted membership in the QMJHL in 1973. The Olympiques have...
of the QMJHL. - Brock McGinn, OHL Player of the Guelph StormGuelph StormThe Guelph Storm is a major junior ice hockey team based in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. They have played in the OHL since the 1991–92 season. The team plays home games at the Sleeman Centre.-History:...
. - Ariel WallerAriel WallerAriel Waller is a Canadian child actress who started acting at age six. Her first major role was as James J. Braddock's daughter Rosemarie in Cinderella Man in 2005. She is best known for having starred as Martina "Marti" Venturi in the Canadian TV series Life With Derek.- Filmography :- External...
, actress(Life with DerekLife with DerekLife with Derek is a Canadian television sitcom that aired on Family and VRAK.TV in Canada and on Disney Channel in the United States. The series premiered on Family on September 18, 2005 and ran for four seasons ending on March 25, 2009. The series starred Michael Seater and Ashley Leggat as the...
). - Pat Mestern, author, (Clara, Anna, Child of the Poor House, Rachael's Legacy, Magdalena's Song, No Choice But Freedom, GraniteGraniteGranite is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, felsic, igneous rock. Granite usually has a medium- to coarse-grained texture. Occasionally some individual crystals are larger than the groundmass, in which case the texture is known as porphyritic. A granitic rock with a porphyritic...
, Fergus, A Scottish Town By Birthright, Stonehome Cookery). - Abraham Groves (1847-1935) a pioneering surgeon who was first to use modern aseptic technique in 1873.
Twin cities
Blairgowrie and RattrayBlairgowrie and Rattray
Blairgowrie and Rattray and Raitear is possibly from an English language cognate of Gaelic ràth, meaning fortress + a Pictish term cognate with Welsh tref, meaning settlement) is a twin burgh in Perth and Kinross, Scotland. Amongst locals, the town is colloquially known simply as "Blair"...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
Pleasanton, California
Pleasanton, California
Pleasanton is a city in Alameda County, California, incorporated in 1894. It is a suburb in the San Francisco Bay Area located about east of Oakland, and west of Livermore. The population was 70,285 at the 2010 census. In 2005 and 2007, Pleasanton was ranked the wealthiest middle-sized city in...
, USA Cowansville, Quebec
Cowansville, Quebec
Cowansville is a town in south-central Quebec, Canada, located on Lac Davignon north of the U.S. border. It is the seat of Brome-Missisquoi, a regional county municipality...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
External links
- Wellington Guelph Community Portal
- Township of Centre Wellington
- Centre Wellington Chamber of Commerce -- The Champion of Business in Centre Wellington. We can help grow your business!
- Fergus & Elora Tourism -- What to do, where to stay, where to eat, and where to shop.
- Fergus & Elora Business Directory
- Fergus Elora District Soccer (FEDS)
- Highland Rugby Club
- Printable Coupons for Fergus & Elora businesses
- Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games
- Pleasanton - Blairgowrie - Fergus Sister City Organization
- Fergus Truck Show
- Wellington County News
- Wellington Advertiser
- joint Wellington County Halton Region riding news
- Fergus interactive News with Follow Up Comments
- Fergus at Geographical Names of Canada