Port Elgin, Ontario

Port Elgin
Community
Port Elgin is located in Bruce County
Port Elgin
Port Elgin
Port Elgin is located in Southern Ontario
Port Elgin
Port Elgin
Coordinates: 44°26′02″N 81°23′34″W / 44.43389°N 81.39278°W / 44.43389; -81.39278
CountryCanada
ProvinceOntario
CountyBruce County
MunicipalitySaugeen Shores
Area
[1]
 • Total
5.36 km2 (2.07 sq mi)
Population
 (2016)[1]
 • Total
7,862
 [2]
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
Postal codes
N0H 0A0 & N0H 2C0
Area code(s)(519) and (226)

Port Elgin is a community in the town of Saugeen Shores, Ontario, Canada. Its location is in the traditional territory of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation. Originally named Normanton the town was renamed Port Elgin when it was incorporated in 1874, after James Bruce, 8th Earl of Elgin, a former Governor General of the Province of Canada.[3]

Although road signs indicate the name Port Elgin, it is no longer an entity, per se. In 1998, the Town of Southampton, the Town of Port Elgin and Saugeen Township were amalgamated to form the Town of Port Elgin-Saugeen-Southampton. On December 17, 1998, the Province renamed the new municipality as the Town of Saugeen Shores.[4]

Unlike "beach towns" such as Sauble Beach, this is a four seasons community where most businesses are open all year and activities for locals are available most months.[5] The primary employment categories are agriculture, small business, tourism and work at the Bruce Power nuclear power station.[6] Close to MacGregor Point Provincial Park and Southampton, the community has several beaches on Lake Huron.

Although the seasonal population is significantly higher due to the many cottages and campgrounds in the area, the permanent population was 6,880 in 2016 in the town's land area of 5.36 square kilometres according to the most recent Census.[7]

  1. ^ a b "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and population centres, 2011 and 2006 censuses". Statistics Canada, 2006 Census of Population. Retrieved 2013-05-07.
  2. ^ "Census Profile - Port Elgin". Census Canada. Government of Canada. 2016. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  3. ^ "Port Elgin - Saugeen Shores" (PDF). Saugeen Shores. Town of Saugeen Shores. 2010. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  4. ^ "Our History". Town of Saugeen Shores. Town of Saugeen Shores. 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  5. ^ "Upcoming Events". Visit Port Elgin. Tourist Town Online Solutions. Retrieved 1 March 2017. Looking to visit Port Elgin or wondering what events are coming up? Then check our upcoming events and mark your calendar.
  6. ^ "Our History". Town of Saugeen Shores. Town of Saugeen Shores. 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  7. ^ "Census Profile - Port Elgin". Census Canada. Government of Canada. 2016. Retrieved 27 February 2017.