Stratford, Ontario

Stratford
City of lights
City (single-tier)
City of Stratford
City Hall
City Hall
Official logo of Stratford
Logo
Nickname: 
Festival City
Motto(s): 
Industria et Ars ("Industry and Art")
Stratford is located in Perth County
Stratford
Stratford
Stratford is located in Southern Ontario
Stratford
Stratford
Stratford is located in Ontario
Stratford
Stratford
Stratford is located in Canada
Stratford
Stratford
Coordinates: 43°22′15″N 80°58′55″W / 43.37083°N 80.98194°W / 43.37083; -80.98194
CountryCanada
ProvinceOntario
CountyPerth
Settled1832
Incorporated1858 (town)
Incorporated1886 (city)
Named forStratford-upon-Avon, England
Government
 • MayorMartin Ritsma
 • CouncilStratford City Council
 • MPsJohn Nater (C)
 • MPPsMatthew Rae (PC)
Area
[1]
 • Land30.02 km2 (11.59 sq mi)
Elevation
[2]
345 m (1,132 ft)
Population
 (2021)
 • Total
33,232
 • Density1,107/km2 (2,870/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC−5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Forward sortation area
N4Z, N5A
Area code(s)519, 226, and 548
Websitewww.stratfordcanada.ca
Perth County Court House, Stratford, Ontario

Stratford is a city on the Avon River within Perth County in southwestern Ontario, Canada, with a 2021[3] population of 33,232 in a land area of 30.02 square kilometres (11.59 sq mi).[4] Stratford is the seat of Perth County, which was settled by English, Irish, Scottish and German immigrants, in almost equal numbers, starting in the 1820s but primarily in the 1830s and 1840s. Most became farmers; even today, the area around Stratford is known for mixed farming, dairying and hog production.[5]

The area was settled by Europeans in 1832, and the town and river were named after Stratford-upon-Avon, England. Stratford was incorporated as a town in 1859 and as a city in 1886.[6] The first mayor was John Corry Wilson Daly. The swan has become a symbol of the city. Each year, twenty-four white swans are released into the Avon River. The town is noted for the Stratford Festival, which performs Shakespearean plays and other genres from May to October.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference cp2011 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference envcan was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Focus on Geography Series, 2021 Census of Population - Stratford, City". Statistics Canada. 13 July 2022. Retrieved 2023-05-26.
  4. ^ "Profile table, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Stratford, City (CY) [Census subdivision], Ontario". Statistics Canada. 2022-02-09. Retrieved 2023-05-26.
  5. ^ "About Perth County". Perth County. 2016. Archived from the original on 2017-02-25. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
  6. ^ "Know Your City - History". City Life. City of Stratford. Archived from the original on 24 November 2012. Retrieved 17 November 2012.