Norwich, Ontario

Norwich
Township (lower-tier)
Township of Norwich
Motto: Beautiful, Agricultural, Historical
Norwich
Coordinates: 42°59′N 80°36′W / 42.983°N 80.600°W / 42.983; -80.600Coordinates: 42°59′N 80°36′W / 42.983°N 80.600°W / 42.983; -80.600
Country  Canada
Province  Ontario
County Oxford
Government
 • Mayor Larry Martin
 • MPs Dave Mackenzie
 • MPPs Ernie Hardeman
Area[1]
 • Land 431.28 km2 (166.52 sq mi)
Population (2011)[1]
 • Total 10,721
 • Density 24.9/km2 (64/sq mi)
Time zone Eastern Standard Time (EST) (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (UTC-4)
Postal Code N0J 1P0, N0J 1P1, N0J 1P2
Area code(s) 519 and 226
Website www.twp.norwich.on.ca

The Township of Norwich is a municipality located in Oxford County in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. The preferred pronunciation of the town name is /ˈnɔːrwɪtʃ/ NOR-wich, which differs from the pronunciation /ˈnɔːrɪdʒ/ NOR-ij used for the city of Norwich, England. The origin of Norwich, Ontario, is more likely Norwich in Upper New York State, the area from which the pioneering families emigrated in the early 19th century, where the community was known as Norwichville.

Oxford County Road 59 (formerly Highway 59) is the major north–south highway through much of the township, including the community of Norwich proper.

The local economy is largely agricultural, based on corn, soybean, and wheat production with dairy farming in the north part of the township and tobacco, vegetable, and ginseng farming to the south. Slowly, ginseng and traditional cash crops are replacing the former cash crop - tobacco, as demand shrinks.

Communities

Formerly East Oxford, North and South Norwich, Townships, Norwich includes the communities of Beaconsfield, Bond's Corners, Brown's Corners, Burgessville, Cornell, Creditville, Curries, Eastwood, Hawtrey, Hink's Corners, Holbrook, Milldale, Muir, Newark, New Durham, Norwich, Oriel, Otterville, Oxford Centre, Rock's Mills, Rosanna, Springford, Summerville, Blows, and Vandecar.

History

In 1793, Abraham Canfield a United Empire Loyalist from Connecticut, settled in the "Township of Oxford on the Thames" (This township was later divided into North, West and East Oxford Townships: East Oxford later became part of the Township of Norwich in 1975.) The site is just east of Oxford Centre on the Old Stage Road.

Norwich was founded by two men: Peter Lossing and Peter De Long. Both were from New York. Peter Lossing's house was the first one in Norwich. It now stands by the old Quaker Meeting House. Both men where Quakers. The town of Norwich commenced as a completely Quaker settlement.

In 1799, the Township of Norwich was laid out by surveyor William Hambly into lines and concessions and 200-acre (0.81 km2) lots.

The Norwich Quaker Settlement

In 1809 Peter Lossing, a member of the Society of Friends from Dutchess County, New York, visited Norwich Township, and in June, 1810, with his brother-in-law, Peter De Long, purchased 15,000 acres (61 km2) of land in this area. That autumn Lossing brought his family to Upper Canada and early in 1811 settled in Norwich Township. The De Long family and nine others, principally from Dutchess County, joined Lossing the same year and by 1820 an additional group of about fifty had settled within the tract. Many were Quakers and a frame meeting house, planned in 1812, was erected in 1817. These resourceful pioneers founded one of the most successful Quaker communities in Upper Canada.

Quaker Cap

The Otterville Mill

Built in 1845 by Edward Bullock, and Herbert Hilliard Cameron Tufford, the mill is run by water power supplied by a dam on the river. The South Norwich Historical Society, on a lease basis, maintains this historic site and offers tours on request. A beautiful setting in the center of the village, the mill and its surrounding meadow is the site of an annual barbecue.

The Tornado of 1979

August 7, 1979 around 7:00 pm one of the largest tornadoes ever to rip across Southern Ontario cut a path of destruction across Norwich Township from Blows to New Durham. Its path of destruction left the village of Oxford Centre in a state of total destruction. Along with all the lovely homes, the General Store, Christ Church - Anglican, and the Community Hall were also levelled. The United Church at the top of the hill had its roof taken completely off and extensive interior damage but all seven stained glass windows left intact. Two people lost their lives that day and one senior succumbed a few months later, never returning from hospital. The same tornado destroyed Christ Church, Oxford Centre Anglican Church. All that was left was the foundation and one door hanging from its frame. Neighbours, even people from miles away were kind enough to return little bits of the original church, which was built in 1867. A silver paten and silver flagon, the communion rail, a credenza and parts of two of the stained glass windows along with a few other artifacts were recovered and are now displayed in the Narthex. The Church was soon rebuilt to the original plans and is thankful for its resurrection. The F4 tornado, which had its beginning north west of Woodstock cut a swath all the way to Waterford ON of approximately 60 km and at its widest point near Oxford Centre was about 400m wide.Woodstock Tornado

The Norwich Tornado of 1998

On the afternoon of June 2, 1998, a severe weather outbreak affected Southern Ontario. At around 3:50 pm, there was a report of a tornado touching down in Holbrook and heading straight for Norwich. The tornado hit Norwich around 4:05 pm, damaging trees, farm equipment, barns, houses, and the wooden Holy Trinity Anglican Church (1867). Three people were injured, and the next day, Environment Canada confirmed that an F2 or F3 tornado had hit the village. Following a decision by the parish, Holy Trinity Anglican Church was not rebuilt as the congregation opted to join with St. John's Anglican Church, Otterville. However, a stone monument commemorating the church continues to mark the site.[2]

Demographics

Canada census – Norwich, Ontario community profile
2011 2006 2001
Population: 10,721 (2.3% from 2006) 10,481 (0.0% from 2001) 10,478 (-0.8% from 1996)
Land area: 431.28 km2 (166.52 sq mi) 431.28 km2 (166.52 sq mi) 431.28 km2 (166.52 sq mi)
Population density: 24.9/km2 (64/sq mi) 24.3/km2 (63/sq mi) 24.3/km2 (63/sq mi)
Median age: 38.8 (M: 35.1, F: 36.5) 35.5 (M: 34.9, F: 36.3) 34.5 (M: 34.0, F: 35.0)
Total private dwellings: 3719 3555 3536
Median household income: $61,810 $54,836
References: 2011[1] 2006[3] 2001[4]

Population trend:[5]

Local government

The township government, Norwich Township Council, consists of four councillors based on wards and a mayor. Larry Martin is the current mayor, elected for a four-year term in November 2014.

The Township offices are located on Airport Road in the Village of Norwich ON and were newly opened in January 2015.

For provincial and federal elections, Norwich is included in the riding of 'Oxford'. Currently, the Federal MP of Oxford is Dave MacKenzie (Conservative), and the Provincial MPP is Ernie Hardeman (Progressive Conservative).

Attractions

Underground Railway Cemetery

Historical landmarks

Historical cemeteries

Quaker St burying ground

Historical churches

Norwich United Church front

Historical schools

Plaques and monuments

Cultural resources

Notable residents

Media

The local newspaper is the Norwich Gazette, published by Sun Media.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Statistics Canada. 2012. Norwich, Ontario (Code 3532002) census profile. 2011 Census.
  2. ↑ Kuhn, Robert J. The Norwich and Elmvale Tornadoes June 2nd, 1998 Storm Canwarn, Ontario region, May 27, 1999
  3. ↑ "2006 Community Profiles". Canada 2006 Census. Statistics Canada. March 30, 2011. Retrieved 2011-02-09.
  4. ↑ "2001 Community Profiles". Canada 2001 Census. Statistics Canada. February 17, 2012.
  5. ↑ Statistics Canada: 1996, 2001, 2006 census
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