Everything about Fort Erie Ontario totally explained
Fort Erie (
2006 population 29,925) is a
town on the
Niagara River in the
Niagara Region,
Ontario,
Canada. It is located directly across the river from
Buffalo, New York.
Fort Erie is one of the fastest growing communities in Niagara, and has experienced a high level of residential and commercial development in the past few years. Garrison Road (
Highway 3) is the town's commercial corridor, stretching east to west through Fort Erie.
Fort Erie is also home to a number of other commercial core areas (Bridgeburg, Ridgeway, Stevensville and Crystal Beach) as a result of the 1970 amalgamation of the latter three municipalities with Fort Erie proper.
Geography
The town's beaches on
Lake Erie, most notably
Crystal Beach and Bay Beach, are considered the best in the area and draw many weekend recreationists from the Toronto and Buffalo areas. While summers are enjoyable, winters can occasionally be fierce, with many snowstorms, whiteouts and winds whipping off Lake Erie.
History
Modern settlement of the area was established when a British
military fort,
Fort Erie, was constructed in
1764. During the
American Revolution it was used as a supply depot for British troops. When the
War of 1812 started, the troops stationed at Fort Erie were caught off guard due to the fort being in the middle of rebuilding. The Americans held it for a time, fending off two British attacks. Later they destroyed Fort Erie and returned to Buffalo in the winter of
1814. The ruins remained until they were rebuilt through a depression era "work program" project, as a tourist attraction in
1939.
The current "Dolls House Museum", located on the Niagara River near downtown Fort Erie (Bridgeburg Station), was a supposed hiding place on the Underground Railroad for fugitive slaves in the 1800s.
On
August 7,
1927 the
Peace Bridge was opened between Fort Erie and Buffalo.
The historic Point Abino
lighthouse was built by the Canadian government in
1918. The lighthouse was automated in
1989. Since its decommissioning in
1995, the Point Abino Lighthouse was designated as a
National Historic Site. The lighthouse is now owned by the Town of Fort Erie and is available for tours while renovations are ongoing.
Transportation
Public transit is provided by the
Town of Fort Erie Transit System, which operates 2 buses in the town.
Fort Erie has been the Niagara terminus of the
Queen Elizabeth Way since the 1950s. Highway 3 cuts through the town east to west, and is a regional road between Rosehill Road and Central Avenue. Highway 3C (today's Dominion Road) existed until 1970, when it was downloaded to the newly-formed Regional Municipality of Niagara to become Niagara Road 1.
Demographics
The recently released 2006 Census of Canada indicates a current population of 29,925 for Fort Erie. This is a 6.3% increase over the last Census (2001), and makes Fort Erie the fastest growing municipality in the St. Catharines-Niagara CMA (Census Metropolitan Area), and the third fastest growing municipality in the Region of Niagara.
According to the
2001 census, the population was 28,143, broken down as follows: 92.8%
White, 3.2%
Aboriginal, 1.4%
Chinese, 0.9%
Black, and a very small percentage of
Asian,
Arab, and
Hispanic populations.
Sports
Fort Erie Race Track has hosted live thoroughbred racing since 1897. Widely regarded as one of North America's most picturesque tracks, it has been home to the second jewel in Canada's Triple Crown of Racing since 1959.
Religious Groups
Communities
In addition to the primary urban core of Fort Erie, the town also contains the neighbourhoods of Amigari Downs, Bay Beach, Black Creek, Bridgeburg/North End, Buffalo Heights, Crescent Park,
Crystal Beach, Douglastown, Edgewood Park, Erie Beach, Garrison Village, Mulgrave, Oakhill Forest, Point Abino, Ridgemount, Ridgeway, Ridgewood, Rose Hill Estates, Snyder, Stevensville, Thunder Bay, Walden, Wavecrest and Waverly Beach.
Erie Beach is a
designated place in Canadian census data, which had a population of 199 in 2006.
Culture and Events
Rods and Relics Car Show
An annual car show hosted by the
Rods and Relics Car Club of Fort Erie that's usually held on a Sunday in the middle of June. The show always has an excellent turn-out and the proceeds support local charities. The event takes place on the south-east grounds of the
Fort Erie Race Track.
Friendship Festival
The
Friendship Festival is a week-long international celebration of the culture and heritage shared by Canada and the USA. The Friendship Festival occurs during the first week of July and celebrates both
Canada Day and
Independence Day. The events held both in Fort Erie, ON and in Buffalo, NY include free concerts and a spectacular fireworks display on July 1st highlighting the two national holidays. Other activities include crafts, children's entertainment, heritage and cultural displays, and a midway.
Siege of Fort Erie
The Siege of
Fort Erie is a historical re-enactment of the famous 1814 battle, which takes place during the second weekend of August. This siege was the bloodiest battle fought on Canadian soil and is vividly recreated every year.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Fort Erie Ontario'.
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