Warwick, Ontario
Encyclopedia
Warwick is a rural township in Lambton County
, Ontario, Canada, with a population (2006) of 4,025.
Bisected by the Egremont Road that was surveyed to link London
with the Lake Huron
shoreline in 1832, the township began to attract settlers including those helped by charitable organizations, such as Lord Sheffield's Petworth settlers, and retired soldiers from the British Army. A village by the same name was surveyed within the township where Bear Creek crossed the Egremont.
The larger village of Watford was established to the southeast of Warwick Village when the Great Western Railway
was established in the 1850s. Watford became an incorporated village in 1873 while parts of Warwick were removed for municipal purposes when the villages of Forest
and Arkona
were incorporated in the 1870s.
With municipal restructuring in 2001, Watford and Warwick were merged. While agriculture remains a mainstay the township's location between the cities of London and Sarnia
means that increasingly residents find work in these larger centres. Since 2005 a group of volunteers has been actively working to research and write a detailed history of the township and collect a substantial archive of historical materials.
In addition to Warwick and Watford, the township also includes the smaller communities of Birnam and Wisbeach.
. The Great Western Railway
was built in 1856 and caused the settlement to be relocated near the tracks, in its present location. It was incorporated as the village of Watford in 1873. Watford was either named for the Watford
in England, or by Col. Brown for his home town of Watford, Ireland.
There was a great fire in the 1880s on November 5 that destroyed much of the town during a Guy Fawkes Night
celebration.
In 1972 Watford Roof Truss started manufacturing wood trusses for delivery in the Southwestern Ontario and Southern Michigan markets. Watford Roof Truss is still a major employer in the town.
In 2009 they made a deal with Toronto that this small town would get a couple of million dollars every year for holding their garbage.
Lambton County, Ontario
Lambton County is a census division of the Canadian province of Ontario. The county is located in Southwestern Ontario. It is bordered on the north by Lake Huron, which flows into the St. Clair River, the county's western border and part of the Canada-United States border. To the south is Lake...
, Ontario, Canada, with a population (2006) of 4,025.
Bisected by the Egremont Road that was surveyed to link London
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
with the Lake Huron
Lake Huron
Lake Huron is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. Hydrologically, it comprises the larger portion of Lake Michigan-Huron. It is bounded on the east by the Canadian province of Ontario and on the west by the state of Michigan in the United States...
shoreline in 1832, the township began to attract settlers including those helped by charitable organizations, such as Lord Sheffield's Petworth settlers, and retired soldiers from the British Army. A village by the same name was surveyed within the township where Bear Creek crossed the Egremont.
The larger village of Watford was established to the southeast of Warwick Village when the Great Western Railway
Great Western Railway (Ontario)
The Great Western Railway was a historic Canadian railway that operated in Canada West and later the province of Ontario, following Confederation...
was established in the 1850s. Watford became an incorporated village in 1873 while parts of Warwick were removed for municipal purposes when the villages of Forest
Forest, Ontario
Forest is a small town located near Sarnia, Ontario in Canada. It is very close to the shore of Lake Huron and is part of the municipality of Lambton Shores and the county of Lambton.- Population :...
and Arkona
Arkona, Ontario
Arkona is a community located in the municipality of Lambton Shores in southwestern Ontario near the Lambton-Middlesex county line, situated beside the Ausable River, on Former Kings Highway 79 , Arkona is roughly half-way between Thedford, and Watford...
were incorporated in the 1870s.
With municipal restructuring in 2001, Watford and Warwick were merged. While agriculture remains a mainstay the township's location between the cities of London and Sarnia
Sarnia, Ontario
Sarnia is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada . It is the largest city on Lake Huron and is located where the upper Great Lakes empty into the St. Clair River....
means that increasingly residents find work in these larger centres. Since 2005 a group of volunteers has been actively working to research and write a detailed history of the township and collect a substantial archive of historical materials.
In addition to Warwick and Watford, the township also includes the smaller communities of Birnam and Wisbeach.
Watford village
Watford was first settled in 1851 at what was known as Brown's Corners, a stagecoach stop between the village of Warwick and Brooke TownshipBrooke-Alvinston, Ontario
Brooke-Alvinston is a township in the Canadian province of Ontario, located within Lambton County. It was formed on January 1, 2001, when the Township of Brooke was amalgamated with the Village of Alvinston ....
. The Great Western Railway
Great Western Railway (Ontario)
The Great Western Railway was a historic Canadian railway that operated in Canada West and later the province of Ontario, following Confederation...
was built in 1856 and caused the settlement to be relocated near the tracks, in its present location. It was incorporated as the village of Watford in 1873. Watford was either named for the Watford
Watford
Watford is a town and borough in Hertfordshire, England, situated northwest of central London and within the bounds of the M25 motorway. The borough is separated from Greater London to the south by the urbanised parish of Watford Rural in the Three Rivers District.Watford was created as an urban...
in England, or by Col. Brown for his home town of Watford, Ireland.
There was a great fire in the 1880s on November 5 that destroyed much of the town during a Guy Fawkes Night
Guy Fawkes Night
Guy Fawkes Night, also known as Guy Fawkes Day, Bonfire Night and Firework Night, is an annual commemoration observed on 5 November, primarily in England. Its history begins with the events of 5 November 1605, when Guy Fawkes, a member of the Gunpowder Plot, was arrested while guarding...
celebration.
In 1972 Watford Roof Truss started manufacturing wood trusses for delivery in the Southwestern Ontario and Southern Michigan markets. Watford Roof Truss is still a major employer in the town.
In 2009 they made a deal with Toronto that this small town would get a couple of million dollars every year for holding their garbage.
Demographics
Population trend:- Population in 2006: 3945
- Population in 2001: 4025
- Population total in 1996: 4095
- Warwick (township): 2481
- Watford (village): 1660
- Population in 1991:
- Warwick (township): 2519
- Watford (village): 1524