St. Catharines, Ontario

St. Catharines (2001 population 129,170; metropolitan population 377,009) is the largest city in the Regional Municipality of Niagara in southern Ontario, Canada. It carries the name of The Garden City due to its 1,000 acres (4 km²) of meticulously groomed parks, gardens and trails. It is the northern entrance of the Welland Canal.

History

The city was first settled by Loyalists in the 1780s. The first settlers, Sergeant Jacob Dittrick and Private John Hainer of Butler's Rangers, came to the area where Dick's Creek met Twelve Mile Creek. This eventually became the centre of town. Native trails were used as travel routes, resulting in present day radial road pattern from the city centre.

Related Topics:
Loyalists - Butler's Rangers

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The first business, a goods strehouse owned by Robert Hamilton, was established around 1783. The first mill, Crown Mills, was opened in 1786.

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The surrounding land was surveyed, and townships created, between 1787 and 1789. The small settlement was known at the time as "The Twelve".

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In 1797, the first inn was built by Thomas Adams, located on the east side of Ontario Street next to what is now St. Paul Street. It became a community meeting place and stagecoach rest stop. In 1798, The Twelve became known as Shipman's Corner, after the inn's new owner, Paul Shipman. (St. Paul street was apparently named after him as well.)

Related Topics:
Inn - 1798

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As Shipman's corner, this was a town visited by Laura Secord in the war of 1812 en route to warn James Fitzgibbon of the advancing americans. Travelling with her niece Elizabeth Secord, Elizabeth was exhausted at that point and ceased her journey there. Laura Secord continued on to warn Fitzgibbon successfully.

Related Topics:
Laura Secord - James Fitzgibbon

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In 1808, the first name "St. Catharines" appeared for the first time on a survey. (The city was named after Robert Hamilton's wife, Catharine Hamilton.) In 1817, the post office was established with the name "St. Catherines" (sic). But by 1821, the name was officially "St. Catharines". The Town of St. Catharines was incorporated in 1845. St. Catharines was incorporated as a city in 1876.

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More historical information is available at Tour St. Catharines

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