Nipissing, Ontario
Encyclopedia
Nipissing is a township
in central Ontario
, Canada
, on Lake Nipissing
in Parry Sound District
. Nipissing was surveyed between 1874 and 1881, and was incorporated in 1888. Among the first settlers in the area were the Chapman and Beatty families. Nipissing village annexed Gurd Township
in 1970. The township also contains a community named Nipissing, which is located on the South River near Chapman's Landing, on the South Bay of Lake Nipissing
.
The township includes the communities of Alsace, Christian Valley, Commanda, Hotham, Nipissing and Wade's Landing.
in 1862. He was looking for land suitable for settlement. To lay claim to the property, he made brush piles, and was granted free land by the Ontario Government. Around 1869 James Chapman and his wife, Phoebe Edwards, built their first house and barn at the top of the chutes. The family farmed and he carried the mail by canoe, dog team and later horse on a route stretching 200 miles (321.9 km) between the villages of Magnetawan
and Mattawa
.
The Chapman Valley and Chapman Township near Magnetawan are named after the family. James and Phoebe are among the pioneers buried in the Nipissing village cemetery. More details about the pioneer families can be found in the Nipissing Township Museum. An Ontario Historical Plaque was erected at the Nipissing Township Museum by the province to commemorate the Rosseau-Nipissing Road's role in Ontario's heritage.
Originally supplies were brought into Nipissing from Pembroke by canoe over the Champlain Trail and up the South River. Nipissing village became the main route for shipping supplies. The township and the life of the village as a key port began to fade.
The Chapman family donated the land to the municipal government, and the landing became a municipal boat launch, public dock and swimming hole for village children.
Around 1875 a colonization road was completed which connected tiny Nipissing village to Rosseau
(near Huntsville) in the south and this created road travel and another route for shipment of supplies. Furthermore, in 1886 a railway connected Gravenhurst to Callander, cutting out Nipissing village from its main route and the life of the village as a key port began to fade. Today the landing is the municipal boat launch, public dock and favourite swimming hole for village children.
The Chapman family still has many connections to the local area.
:
Township (Canada)
The term township generally means the district or area associated with a town. However in some systems no town needs to be involved. The specific use of the term to describe political subdivisions has varied by country, usually to describe a local rural or semi-rural government within the county...
in central 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...
, on Lake Nipissing
Lake Nipissing
Lake Nipissing is a lake in the Canadian province of Ontario. It has a surface area of , a mean elevation of above sea level, and is located between the Ottawa River and Georgian Bay. Excluding the Great Lakes, Lake Nipissing is the fifth-largest lake in Ontario. It is relatively shallow for a...
in Parry Sound District
Parry Sound District, Ontario
Parry Sound District is a census division of the Canadian province of Ontario. Its seat is Parry Sound. Its boundaries are Muskoka to the south, the Sudbury District, the French River and Lake Nipissing in the north, Nipissing District, Ontario and North Bay in the north and east and parts of...
. Nipissing was surveyed between 1874 and 1881, and was incorporated in 1888. Among the first settlers in the area were the Chapman and Beatty families. Nipissing village annexed Gurd Township
Gurd Township, Ontario
Gurd Township is an historical geographical township in central Ontario, Canada in Parry Sound District. It was first surveyed in 1875 and was named after R.S. Gurd, a businessman. In 1976, Gurd was annexed by the incorporated Nipissing Township. The township was shaped like an "L" wrapping around...
in 1970. The township also contains a community named Nipissing, which is located on the South River near Chapman's Landing, on the South Bay of Lake Nipissing
Lake Nipissing
Lake Nipissing is a lake in the Canadian province of Ontario. It has a surface area of , a mean elevation of above sea level, and is located between the Ottawa River and Georgian Bay. Excluding the Great Lakes, Lake Nipissing is the fifth-largest lake in Ontario. It is relatively shallow for a...
.
The township includes the communities of Alsace, Christian Valley, Commanda, Hotham, Nipissing and Wade's Landing.
History
The founder of Nipissing, James Chapman arrived by canoe from PembrokePembroke, Ontario
Pembroke is a city in the province of Ontario, Canada, at the confluence of the Muskrat River and the Ottawa River in the Ottawa Valley...
in 1862. He was looking for land suitable for settlement. To lay claim to the property, he made brush piles, and was granted free land by the Ontario Government. Around 1869 James Chapman and his wife, Phoebe Edwards, built their first house and barn at the top of the chutes. The family farmed and he carried the mail by canoe, dog team and later horse on a route stretching 200 miles (321.9 km) between the villages of Magnetawan
Magnetawan, Ontario
Magnetawan is a township in the Canadian province of Ontario, as well as the name of a community within the former Township of Chapman.Located in the Parry Sound District, the township had a population of 1,610 in the 2006 Canadian census....
and Mattawa
Mattawa, Ontario
Mattawa is a town in northeastern Ontario, Canada, at the confluence of the Mattawa and Ottawa Rivers in Nipissing District. Mattawa means "Meeting of the Waters" in Ojibwa...
.
The Chapman Valley and Chapman Township near Magnetawan are named after the family. James and Phoebe are among the pioneers buried in the Nipissing village cemetery. More details about the pioneer families can be found in the Nipissing Township Museum. An Ontario Historical Plaque was erected at the Nipissing Township Museum by the province to commemorate the Rosseau-Nipissing Road's role in Ontario's heritage.
Originally supplies were brought into Nipissing from Pembroke by canoe over the Champlain Trail and up the South River. Nipissing village became the main route for shipping supplies. The township and the life of the village as a key port began to fade.
The Chapman family donated the land to the municipal government, and the landing became a municipal boat launch, public dock and swimming hole for village children.
Around 1875 a colonization road was completed which connected tiny Nipissing village to Rosseau
Rosseau, Ontario
Rosseau is a community in the District of Parry Sound in Ontario, Canada, located in the township of Seguin. It is situated on the north shore of Lake Rosseau, a popular vacationing area. It is one of the ends of the Rosseau-Nipissing Road, which stretches all the way up to Lake Nipissing, near...
(near Huntsville) in the south and this created road travel and another route for shipment of supplies. Furthermore, in 1886 a railway connected Gravenhurst to Callander, cutting out Nipissing village from its main route and the life of the village as a key port began to fade. Today the landing is the municipal boat launch, public dock and favourite swimming hole for village children.
The Chapman family still has many connections to the local area.
Demographics
According to the Canada 2001 CensusCanada 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...
:
- Population: 1,553
- % Change (1996-2001): 1.9
- Dwellings: 1,071
- Area (km²): 387.40
- Density (persons per km²): 4.0