Goderich, Ontario

Goderich
Town of Goderich
Motto: 
Canada's Prettiest Town
Goderich is located in Huron County
Goderich
Goderich
Goderich is located in Southern Ontario
Goderich
Goderich
Coordinates: 43°44′N 81°42′W / 43.733°N 81.700°W / 43.733; -81.700
CountryCanada
ProvinceOntario
CountyHuron
Founded1827
Incorporated1850
Government
 • MayorTrevor Bazinet
 • Deputy MayorLeah Noel
 • Federal ridingHuron—Bruce
 • Prov. ridingHuron—Bruce
Area
 • Total
8.64 km2 (3.34 sq mi)
Elevation
213 m (699 ft)
Population
 (2016)[1]
 • Total
7,628
 • Density882.8/km2 (2,286/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
Forward sortation area
Area code(s)519 and 226
Websitewww.goderich.ca

Goderich (/ˈɡɒdrɪ, ˈɡɒdərɪ/ GOD-rich or GOD-ə-rich) is a town in the Canadian province of Ontario and is the county seat of Huron County. The town was founded by John Galt and William "Tiger" Dunlop of the Canada Company in 1827.[2] First laid out in 1828, the town is named after Frederick John Robinson, 1st Viscount Goderich,[2] who was prime minister of the United Kingdom at the time. It was incorporated as a town in 1850.

As of the Canada 2016 Census, the population is 7,628 in a land area of 8.64 square kilometres.[1]

Located on the eastern shore of Lake Huron at the mouth of the Maitland River, Goderich faces the lake to the west and is notable for its sunsets. Some claim that Queen Elizabeth II once commented that Goderich was "the prettiest town in Canada" although no reigning monarch has ever visited Goderich.[3] The town indicates that tourism is among its important industries.[4] It has been named one of Ontario's best small towns by Comfort Life, a website for retirement living in Canada.[5]

The town participates yearly in the Communities in Bloom competition; and has won awards in many categories. In 2012, Goderich was a National Finalist in the competition,[6] and was also part of the Circle of excellence.[7]

  1. ^ a b c "Goderich, 2016 Census". StatsCan. 2016. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  2. ^ a b "The Founding of Goderich". ontarioplaques.com. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
  3. ^ "Huron Stewardship Council". Stewardship Network of Ontario. Archived from the original on May 9, 2008. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  4. ^ "Statistics on Goderich". Town of Goderich. Archived from the original on 2008-04-30. Retrieved 2008-05-04.
  5. ^ "Best Small Towns, Ontario".
  6. ^ "Communities in Bloom 2012 Winners". Communities In Bloom. Archived from the original on 2013-04-10.
  7. ^ "Enhancing Green Spaces in Communities 2012". Communities In Bloom. Archived from the original on 2013-07-27.