Durham County, Ontario
Encyclopedia
Durham County is a historic county
in the Canadian
province of Ontario
. It was named from the English County and city.
Durham County was created in 1792. It was composed of the townships
of Cartwright, Manvers, Cavan, Darlington, Clarke and Hope, and portions of what is now Peterborough County
, created in 1838. It was united administratively with Northumberland County
as the United Counties of Northumberland and Durham
from 1800 until Durham County was dissolved on January 1, 1974.
Effective January 1, 1974, about half of Durham County was merged with Ontario County
to create the Regional Municipality of Durham
. The township of Manvers was transferred to Victoria County
, which is now the city of Kawartha Lakes
, Cavan was transferred to Peterborough County
, where it is now part of Cavan-Monaghan, and Hope was transferred to Northumberland County
, where it is now part of the town of Port Hope
.
The townships of Darlington and Clarke were amalgamated with the Town of Bowmanville
and the Village of Newcastle
as the Town of Newcastle, and the township of Cartwright was combined with the Ontario County townships of Scugog and Reach to create a new Township of Scugog
. In 1993, Newcastle was renamed Clarington
.
Source: Province of Ontario -- A History 1615 to 1927 by Jesse Edgar Middletwon & Fred Landon, copyright 1927, Dominion Publishing Company, Toronto.
Source: The Trail Through The Bush - A brief history of Manvers Township. By Sherrell Branton Leetooze. copyright 1998 L.M-J Associates.
Historic counties of Ontario
The Canadian province of Ontario has several historic counties, which are past census divisions that no longer exist today. Most historic counties either merged with other counties, or became regional municipalities or single-tier municipalities...
in the Canadian
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...
province of 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....
. It was named from the English County and city.
Durham County was created in 1792. It was composed of the townships
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...
of Cartwright, Manvers, Cavan, Darlington, Clarke and Hope, and portions of what is now Peterborough County
Peterborough County, Ontario
Peterborough County is located in Southern Ontario, Canada. It is projected to reach a population of 159,840 by 2031, according to the Ontario Ministry of Finance's Ontario Population Projections Update...
, created in 1838. It was united administratively with Northumberland County
Northumberland County, Ontario
Northumberland County is situated on the north shore of Lake Ontario, in central Ontario, Canada. It is located east of Durham County , west of Hastings, southeast of Kawartha Lakes and south of Peterborough County. The county seat is Cobourg...
as the United Counties of Northumberland and Durham
United Counties of Northumberland and Durham, Ontario
The United Counties of Northumberland and Durham was a historic county in the Canadian province of Ontario. The two counties were originally combined in the District of Newcastle formed in 1798, and continued with joint administration until January 1, 1974 when portions Durham County were...
from 1800 until Durham County was dissolved on January 1, 1974.
Effective January 1, 1974, about half of Durham County was merged with Ontario County
Ontario County, Ontario
Ontario County was the name of two historic counties in the Canadian province of Ontario.The original Ontario County existed from 1792 to 1800 as part of the Eastern District, and consisted of the islands in the St. Lawrence River...
to create the Regional Municipality of Durham
Regional Municipality of Durham, Ontario
The Regional Municipality of Durham, informally referred to as Durham Region, is a regional municipality located in Southern Ontario east of Toronto, Ontario. It has an area of approximately 2,500 square kilometres. Durham Region is considered part of the Greater Toronto Area, with the communities...
. The township of Manvers was transferred to Victoria County
Victoria County, Ontario
The County of Victoria, or Victoria County, was a county in the Canadian province of Ontario. It was formed in 1854 as The United Counties of Peterborough and Victoria, and gained independence in 1863. In 2001, the county was dissolved and reformed as the city of Kawartha Lakes...
, which is now the city of Kawartha Lakes
Kawartha Lakes, Ontario
The city of Kawartha Lakes is a unitary municipality in Central Ontario, Canada. Although called a city, Kawartha Lakes is the size of a typical Ontarian county and is mostly rural....
, Cavan was transferred to Peterborough County
Peterborough County, Ontario
Peterborough County is located in Southern Ontario, Canada. It is projected to reach a population of 159,840 by 2031, according to the Ontario Ministry of Finance's Ontario Population Projections Update...
, where it is now part of Cavan-Monaghan, and Hope was transferred to Northumberland County
Northumberland County, Ontario
Northumberland County is situated on the north shore of Lake Ontario, in central Ontario, Canada. It is located east of Durham County , west of Hastings, southeast of Kawartha Lakes and south of Peterborough County. The county seat is Cobourg...
, where it is now part of the town of Port Hope
Port Hope, Ontario
Port Hope is a municipality in Southern Ontario, Canada, about east of Toronto and about west of Kingston. It is located at the mouth of the Ganaraska River on the north shore of Lake Ontario, in the west end of Northumberland County...
.
The townships of Darlington and Clarke were amalgamated with the Town of Bowmanville
Bowmanville, Ontario
Bowmanville is the largest community in the Municipality of Clarington in Durham Region, Ontario, Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario about 75 km east of Toronto and 15 km east of Oshawa along Highway 2...
and the Village of Newcastle
Newcastle, Ontario
Newcastle is a community in the Municipality of Clarington in Durham Region, Ontario, Canada. The Town of Newcastle was also the original name of what is now Clarington....
as the Town of Newcastle, and the township of Cartwright was combined with the Ontario County townships of Scugog and Reach to create a new Township of Scugog
Scugog, Ontario
Scugog is a township in the Regional Municipality of Durham, south-central Ontario, Canada. A smaller Scugog Township was also a historic municipality and geographic township prior to the amalgamation that formed the current municipality.-History:...
. In 1993, Newcastle was renamed Clarington
Clarington, Ontario
Clarington is a municipality in Ontario, Canada in the Regional Municipality of Durham. It took its present name in 1994 after having been known as the Town of Newcastle from 1974-93. The name change was made to alleviate long-standing confusion between the municipality as a whole and the included...
.
Historic townships
- Cartwright - Area 37600 acres (152 km²). Located in the northwest portion of Durham County, touching Lake Scugog. The Township was opened in 1816. The name is in honour of Richard CartwrightRichard Cartwright (Upper Canada politician)The Hon. Richard Cartwright was a businessman, judge and political figure in Upper Canada.-Early life:Born at Albany, New York in 1759, his father, Richard Cartwright, had come there from England in 1742...
. Mostly settled between 1850 to 1858 by Irish immigrants. Community centres: Purple Hill, Caesarea, Scugog. This Township is now in Scugog TownshipScugog, OntarioScugog is a township in the Regional Municipality of Durham, south-central Ontario, Canada. A smaller Scugog Township was also a historic municipality and geographic township prior to the amalgamation that formed the current municipality.-History:... - Cavan - Area 62,296 acers. Settled in 1816. Community centres : Millbrook, Cavan and Carmel. This Township is now in Cavan-Monaghan Township in Peterborough County
- Clarke - Area, 68500 acres (277 km²). Was opened in 1792 and named in honour of General Alured ClarkeAlured ClarkeField-marshal Sir Alured Clarke KB was an officer of the British army, lieutenant governor of the colonial Province of Quebec, and civil administrator of Lower Canada...
. Community centres: Newcastle, Newtonville, Crooked Creek, Morgan's Corners, Orono, Kendall, Leskard. This Township is now in Clarington MunicipalityClarington, OntarioClarington is a municipality in Ontario, Canada in the Regional Municipality of Durham. It took its present name in 1994 after having been known as the Town of Newcastle from 1974-93. The name change was made to alleviate long-standing confusion between the municipality as a whole and the included... - Darlington - Area, 68907 acres (279 km²). Opened in 1792 and named after the ancient English town. Community centres, Bowmanville, Enniskillen, Tyrone, Courtice. (the settlement was mostly Irish). This Township is now in Clarington MunicipalityClarington, OntarioClarington is a municipality in Ontario, Canada in the Regional Municipality of Durham. It took its present name in 1994 after having been known as the Town of Newcastle from 1974-93. The name change was made to alleviate long-standing confusion between the municipality as a whole and the included...
- Hope -Area, 62959 acres (255 km²). First settlement was in the town of Port Hope. The Township as opened in 1792 and named in honour Colonel Henry Hope, a member of the Legislative Council of Canada. The Township is now the Town of Port HopePort Hope, OntarioPort Hope is a municipality in Southern Ontario, Canada, about east of Toronto and about west of Kingston. It is located at the mouth of the Ganaraska River on the north shore of Lake Ontario, in the west end of Northumberland County...
in Northumberland County - ManversManvers Township, OntarioThe Township of Manvers was a municipality in the former Victoria County, now the city of Kawartha Lakes, in the Canadian province of Ontario....
- Area 69923 acres (283 km²). Opened in 1816. Named in honour of Charles Pierrepont, 1st Earl ManversCharles Pierrepont, 1st Earl ManversCharles Pierrepont, 1st Earl Manvers was an English nobleman and naval officer, born Charles Medows, the second son of Philip Medows, deputy ranger of Richmond Park, and Lady Frances, daughter of Evelyn Pierrepont, 1st Duke of Kingston-upon-Hull.Educated at Oxford, he became a midshipman in the...
. Community centres: Pontypool, Manvers Station, Janetville, Yelverton, Bethany, Franklin, Brunswick, Burton, Ballyduff, Lotus, Fleetwood, Lifford. Now in the City of Kawartha LakesKawartha Lakes, OntarioThe city of Kawartha Lakes is a unitary municipality in Central Ontario, Canada. Although called a city, Kawartha Lakes is the size of a typical Ontarian county and is mostly rural....
Source: Province of Ontario -- A History 1615 to 1927 by Jesse Edgar Middletwon & Fred Landon, copyright 1927, Dominion Publishing Company, Toronto.
Source: The Trail Through The Bush - A brief history of Manvers Township. By Sherrell Branton Leetooze. copyright 1998 L.M-J Associates.