St. Joseph Island (Ontario)

St. Joseph Island
Native name:
Anipich or Payentanassin (Ojibwe)[1]
Nickname: St. Joe
Map
St. Joseph Island is located in Canada
St. Joseph Island
St. Joseph Island
Geography
LocationLake Huron, east of the mouth of the St. Marys River.
Coordinates46°13′11″N 83°56′47″W / 46.21972°N 83.94639°W / 46.21972; -83.94639[2]
ArchipelagoManitoulin archipelago
Area365 km2 (141 sq mi)
Length30 km (19 mi)
Width20 km (12 mi)
Coastline145 km (90.1 mi)
Highest elevation335 m (1099 ft)
Highest pointCarterton
Administration
Canada
ProvinceOntario
DistrictAlgoma District
Largest settlementRichards Landing (Township of St. Joseph)
Demographics
DemonymSt. Joseph Islander
Population2,320[3] (2021)
Pop. density6.36/km2 (16.47/sq mi)
Additional information
Time zone
 • Summer (DST)
Postal codeP0R 1G0, P0R 1J0
Area code(s)705

St. Joseph Island is in the northwestern part of Lake Huron. It is part of the Canadian province of Ontario. At 365 km2 (141 sq mi) in area, it is the sixth largest lake island in the world; the second largest island on Lake Huron, following Manitoulin Island; and the third largest of all the islands on the Great Lakes, trailing Manitoulin and Lake Superior's Isle Royale.

The island lies approximately 45 km (28 mi) south east of the city of Sault Ste. Marie and 225 km (140 mi) south west of Sudbury.

The island is the largest centre of maple syrup production in Ontario, with nearly 30 companies producing 18 per cent of the province's maple syrup.[4] Its location on the Great Lakes, ease of reach by road and boat and the availability of local services have made it a destination for tourists and cottagers in northeastern Ontario.

St. Joseph Island played an important role for First Nations and Europeans in the early fur trade and as a staging point for the first victory for British North America in the War of 1812. The island is the subject of one of the Upper Canada Land Surrender treaties conducted by the British government and First Nations in the period between the end of the American Revolution and Confederation.

  1. ^ St. Joseph Island. "The Canadian Encyclopedia". Historica Foundation of Canada. Archived from the original on April 11, 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  2. ^ "The Atlas of Canada". Retrieved 2012-10-04.
  3. ^ "Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population Select from a list of geographies, Ontario". Statistics Canada. 9 February 2022. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  4. ^ Bot, Heather (19 March 2014). "Learn why St. Joseph Island is Home to the Best Maple Syrup". Destination Northern Ontario. Retrieved 13 February 2021.