Latchford, Ontario
Encyclopedia
Latchford is a Single-tier municipality
town
in Timiskaming District in Northeastern
Ontario
, Canada
. It is located on Bay Lake on the Montreal River
near the town of Cobalt
and the municipality of Temagami, and is 20 kilometres (13 miles) from the city of Temiskaming Shores. The population of the town in the Canada 2006 Census
was 370. The town's slogan is "The Best Little Town by a Dam Site!"
) was struck. It was decided the railway would cross the Montreal River at the location of what is today Latchford, and a bridge was finished in 1904. Hence, the settlement was known first as Montreal River Station. It was renamed Latchford in 1905 in honour of the provincial commissioner of public works, Francis Robert Latchford, and was incorporated as a town on July 15, 1907. A dam that provided hydroelectric power as well as a vehicle crossing over the river was built in 1910, and Ontario Highway 11 including a bridge over the river was built finished through the town in 1927. Silver mining, forestry, and later tourism, drove Latchford’s economy throughout the 20th century.
In 2006, the boundaries of the town were expanded to include the South Part of geographic Gillies Limit Township. today part of the town of Latchford;
A plaque was erected in 2009 commemorating the founding of the town.
as it passes through the town. Ontario Northland offers a twice-daily bus service north towards Cochrane
and south towards North Bay
.
, which carries Ontario Highway 11, is the town's most recognized symbol. It was named after a World War II
recipient of the Victoria Cross
from Latchford. The bridge failed on a cold day in 2003, but was repaired and is again in service. Latchford is also home to the world's shortest covered bridge
.
Private dwellings occupied by usual residents: 152 (total dwellings: 223)
Mother tongue:
Unitary authority
A unitary authority is a type of local authority that has a single tier and is responsible for all local government functions within its area or performs additional functions which elsewhere in the relevant country are usually performed by national government or a higher level of sub-national...
town
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in Timiskaming District in Northeastern
Northeastern Ontario
Northeastern Ontario is the region within the Canadian province of Ontario which lies north and east of Lakes Superior and Huron.Northeastern Ontario consists of the districts of Algoma, Sudbury, Cochrane, Timiskaming, Nipissing and Manitoulin; and the single-tier municipality of Greater...
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 is located on Bay Lake on the Montreal River
Montreal River (Timiskaming District, Ontario)
The Montreal River is a river in Timiskaming District, Ontario, Canada. It travels from its source at Smoothwater Lake to its mouth at Lake Timiskaming on the Ottawa River. The river is a significant source of hydroelectricity.-Course:...
near the town of Cobalt
Cobalt, Ontario
Cobalt is a town in the district of Timiskaming, province of Ontario, Canada, with a population of 1,223 In 2001 Cobalt was named "Ontario's Most Historic Town" by a panel of judges on the TV Ontario program Studio 2, and in 2002 the area was designated a National Historic Site.-History:Silver was...
and the municipality of Temagami, and is 20 kilometres (13 miles) from the city of Temiskaming Shores. The population of the town in the Canada 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...
was 370. The town's slogan is "The Best Little Town by a Dam Site!"
History
Latchford was first settled in 1902 when the decision to build the Temiskaming and Northern Ontario Railway (now the Ontario Northland RailwayOntario Northland Railway
The Ontario Northland Railway is a Canadian railway operated by the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission, a provincial Crown agency of the government of Ontario....
) was struck. It was decided the railway would cross the Montreal River at the location of what is today Latchford, and a bridge was finished in 1904. Hence, the settlement was known first as Montreal River Station. It was renamed Latchford in 1905 in honour of the provincial commissioner of public works, Francis Robert Latchford, and was incorporated as a town on July 15, 1907. A dam that provided hydroelectric power as well as a vehicle crossing over the river was built in 1910, and Ontario Highway 11 including a bridge over the river was built finished through the town in 1927. Silver mining, forestry, and later tourism, drove Latchford’s economy throughout the 20th century.
In 2006, the boundaries of the town were expanded to include the South Part of geographic Gillies Limit Township. today part of the town of Latchford;
A plaque was erected in 2009 commemorating the founding of the town.
Transportation
Latchford has good road links because of Ontario Highway 11, which is part of the Trans-Canada HighwayTrans-Canada Highway
The Trans-Canada Highway is a federal-provincial highway system that joins the ten provinces of Canada. It is, along with the Trans-Siberian Highway and Australia's Highway 1, one of the world's longest national highways, with the main route spanning 8,030 km...
as it passes through the town. Ontario Northland offers a twice-daily bus service north towards Cochrane
Cochrane, Ontario
Cochrane is a town in northern Ontario, Canada. It is located east of Kapuskasing, northeast of Timmins, south of Moosonee, and north of Iroquois Falls. It is about a one-hour drive from Timmins, the major city of the region. It is the seat of Cochrane District...
and south towards North Bay
North Bay, Ontario
North Bay is a city in Northeastern Ontario, Canada. It is the seat of Nipissing District, and takes its name from its position on the shore of Lake Nipissing.-History:...
.
Bridges
The Sgt. Aubrey Cosens VC Memorial BridgeSgt. Aubrey Cosens VC Memorial Bridge
The Sgt. Aubrey Cosens VC Memorial Bridge is named after Sgt. Aubrey Cosens VC, and is located in Latchford, Ontario where Highway 11 crosses the Montreal River....
, which carries Ontario Highway 11, is the town's most recognized symbol. It was named after a World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
recipient of the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
from Latchford. The bridge failed on a cold day in 2003, but was repaired and is again in service. Latchford is also home to the world's shortest covered bridge
Covered bridge
A covered bridge is a bridge with enclosed sides and a roof, often accommodating only a single lane of traffic. Most covered bridges are wooden; some newer ones are concrete or metal with glass sides...
.
Demographics
Population trend:- Population in 2006: 370 (2001 to 2006 population change: 0.5 %)
- Population in 2001: 363 (or 368 when adjusted to 2006 boundaries)
- Population in 1996: 338
- Population in 1991: 345
Private dwellings occupied by usual residents: 152 (total dwellings: 223)
Mother tongue:
- English as first language: 78.2 %
- French as first language: 12.6 %
- English and French as first language: 2.3%
- Other as first language: 6.9 %