84-788: The road network in Windsor, Ontario is a grid system with elongated blocks, generally aligned with the Detroit River , with East-West roads running parallel to it, and North-South streets running perpendicular (90 Degrees) to it. This is an adoption from when French Canadian settlers first built farms and streets in the area. Many streets have French names in result, such as Lauzon Parkway , Marentette Avenue (a quiet residential street), Ouellette Avenue (considered by many Windsorites to be its " Main Street "), and Pelissier Street. The current street system of Windsor (grid with elongated blocks) reflects
168-727: A humid continental climate ( Köppen climate classification Dfa ) with four distinct seasons. Among cities in Ontario, Windsor has the warmest climate. The mean annual temperature is 10.1 °C (50 °F) at the Airport, 10.8 °C (51 °F) Downtown, among the warmest in Canada primarily due to its hot summers. Some locations in coastal and lower mainland British Columbia have a slightly higher mean annual temperature due to milder winter conditions there. The coldest temperature ever recorded in Windsor
252-490: A change of 6% from its 2016 population of 398,953 . With a land area of 1,844.21 km (712.05 sq mi), it had a population density of 229.3/km (593.9/sq mi) in 2021. The County of Essex is governed by a County Council, whose members are the mayors and deputy mayors from the seven lower-tier municipalities of the county. The Head of Council is known as the Warden. The term of office for County Councillors and
336-482: A former spur of Highway 401 and is a limited access freeway between the 401 and Howard Avenue. Just north of Howard Avenue before it becomes Dougall Avenue. There are a few other divided highways / dual carriageways with varying levels of development, access, and intersections, such as Ojibway Parkway , Lauzon Parkway , Ouellette Avenue , and Huron Church Road . These main East-West arterial roads are listed from
420-411: A localized maritime climate from the surrounding Great Lakes. Average winters are wet and cold with a variety of conditions including rain , snow , freezing rain , sleet and fog . Temperatures and conditions change frequently during the winter months, with short periods of both bitter cold or mild weather. Winter storms are common but usually cause minimal disruption. Essex County resides outside of
504-614: A low violent crime rate and one of the lowest murder rates in Canada. In 2017, the Crime Severity Index for the Windsor Metropolitan Area was 71.7, compared to the Canadian national rate of 72.9. Of the five safest communities in Canada, four of them are in the Windsor Metropolitan Area (Amherstburg, LaSalle, Tecumseh, and Lakeshore). Windsor has made national headlines for its lack of homicides. There were no homicides in
588-470: A media solutions company. There are also a few successful startups in area, including Sirved , a tech company that is building a restaurant discovery app; and Hackforge, a tech company that has built an app to compare hospital drive times, and has hosted a variety of tech-focused community events, such as a Misplaced Pages Hackathon. The non-profit WEtech Alliance provides startups and local entrepreneurs with resources to get new technology companies started in
672-534: A population density of 1,572.8/km (4,073.5/sq mi) in 2021. At the census metropolitan area (CMA) level in the 2021 census, the Windsor CMA had a population of 422,630 living in 165,665 of its 174,072 total private dwellings, a change of 6% from its 2016 population of 398,718 . With a land area of 1,803.17 km (696.21 sq mi), it had a population density of 234.4/km (607.0/sq mi) in 2021. Windsor attracts many immigrants from around
756-844: A population of about 300. Two steamboats offered service to Detroit. The barracks were still in operation. There were various tradespeople and other occupations, including bank agencies and post offices. The city's access to the Canada–US border made it an essential stop for refugee enslaved people gaining freedom in the northern United States along the Underground Railroad . Many went across the Detroit River to Windsor to escape pursuit by slave catchers. There were estimated to be 20,000 to 30,000 African-American refugees who settled in Canada, with many settling in Essex County, Ontario . Windsor
840-408: A storm that left 285 millimetres (11.2 in) of rain in 32 hours. As the Canadian city with the highest number of days that experience severe thunderstorms and lightning , Windsor has historically been subject to tornadoes and severe weather. Notably, Windsor is located in the middle of "Tornado Alley". The strongest and deadliest tornado to touch down in Windsor was an F4 in 1946. Windsor
924-565: A strong reliance on the manufacturing sector, Windsor has experienced high levels of poverty and unemployment in a number of its ten wards, including a 33% rate of children living under the poverty line based on Statistics Canada. It has the highest rates in Southwestern Ontario, and one of Windsor's electoral districts, Windsor West, ranks 13th highest in poverty rates amongst the 338 federal ridings of Canada. Wards 2 (Sandwich/University District/West End) and 3 (City Centre) register some of
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#17328559279381008-420: A town in 1915 and a city in 1929. Walkerville was incorporated as a town in 1890. Sandwich was established in 1817 as a town with no municipal status. It was incorporated as a town in 1858 (the same year as neighbouring Windsor). Windsor annexed these three towns in 1935. The nearby villages of Ojibway and Riverside were incorporated in 1913 and 1921, respectively. Both were annexed by Windsor in 1966. During
1092-559: Is Fountain Bleu , when Tecumseh Road was the former city limit with the former Township of Sandwich South until the 1960s. Windsor has two freeways , the E. C. Row Expressway and the Dougall Parkway . Highway 401 skirts the City Limits from Provincial Rd (exit 14). to Cabana West/Todd Lane (exit 6), and enters the city in the far west end to Ojibway Pkwy. (exit 1). Dougall Parkway is
1176-578: Is a 42 km (26 mi) former railway corridor converted into a multi-use recreational trail, underground utility corridor and natural green space. It begins south of Oldcastle and continues south through McGregor, Harrow, Kingsville, and Ruthven. The Greenway is a fine trail for hiking, biking, running, birding, cross-country skiing and, in some areas, horseback riding. It connects natural areas, rich agricultural lands, historically and architecturally significant structures, and award-winning wineries. A separate 5 km (3.1 mi) landscaped trail traverses
1260-679: Is administered by the Greater Essex County District School Board , along with the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board which oversees English-language Catholic education. French-language public and Catholic education are overseen by the Conseil scolaire Viamonde and the Conseil scolaire catholique Providence respectively. The scope of all of these organizations includes both the County and
1344-609: Is also home to the Windsor Salt Mine and the Great Lakes Regional office of the International Joint Commission . There are a few established tech companies that have been in the region for years. Among them are Cypher Systems Group, a computer-based hardware wholesaler and software developer; AlphaKor Group, a technology company that provides IT services, custom software and mobile apps; and Red Piston,
1428-527: Is another popular tourist destination. The Lake Erie North Shore Wine Region in Essex County has enhanced tourism in the region. Both the University of Windsor and St. Clair College are significant local employers and have enjoyed substantial growth and expansion in recent years. A full-program satellite medical school of the University of Western Ontario at the University of Windsor opened in 2008. In 2013,
1512-420: Is divided into ten wards , with one councillor representing each ward. The mayor serves as the city's chief executive officer and functions as its ceremonial head. In August 2009, Windsor City Council approved a 10-ward electoral system for the 2010 civic election, with one councillor elected in each ward. Previously, there were two councillors elected in each ward, and there were only five wards. The plan doubled
1596-505: Is home to Canada's largest wind farm as of June 2012. This is due to both its ideal wind conditions and abundance of available farmland. Essex County has one of Canada's longest growing seasons at 212 days per year. Leamington, a town in Essex County, has also been known for its greenhouses . It now has the largest concentration of commercial greenhouses in all of North America, with nearly 2000 acres of greenhouse vegetable production in
1680-593: Is intermittent throughout the winter; on average, there are 46 days each year with at least some measurable snow falling. There are typically three to five major snowfalls each winter. Summers are very warm to hot and humid, with a July mean temperature of 23.2 °C (74 °F) Airport, 23.8 °C (75 °F) Downtown (with the highest climatological Summer mean temperature average in Canada). The humidex (combined feel of temperature and humidity) reaches 30 °C (86 °F) or higher on over 70 days in an average summer;
1764-478: Is one of Canada's major automobile manufacturing centres and is home to the headquarters of Stellantis Canada . Automotive facilities include the Stellantis Canada minivan assembly plant , two Ford Motor Company engine plants, and several tool and die and automotive parts manufacturers. Windsor has a well-established tourism industry. Caesars Windsor , one of the largest casinos in Canada, ranks as one of
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#17328559279381848-500: Is reflected in French street names such as Ouellette, Drouillard, Pelissier, François, Pierre, Langlois, Marentette, and Lauzon. The current street system (a grid with elongated blocks) reflects the Canadien method of agricultural land division, where the farms were long and narrow, fronting along the river. Today, the name of the north–south street often shows the name of the family that farmed
1932-520: Is responsible for issues that include transportation, community and social services (e.g. homes for the aged, child care, social housing), libraries, planning, emergency management coordination and corporate-wide business such as finance and taxation policies, general corporate policy and labour relations. The County does not have a police force or fire services, for which the seven municipalities are responsible. English-language public education for kindergarten through secondary school grades in Essex County
2016-643: Is testament to this period. Many of the descendants of the fugitives moved back to the United States to support the Northerners ( Union Army ) in the American Civil War , (1861–1865), or to reconnect with family after emancipation . Many families stayed. By the late 19th century Essex County had seen fur trading and logging, land clearing and farming, road building and railway development, saw mills and gristmills, railway stations and water ports. By this time
2100-409: Is why they are so busy. Windsor, Ontario Windsor ( / ˈ w ɪ n d z ər / WIND -zer ) is a city in southwestern Ontario , Canada, on the south bank of the Detroit River directly across from Detroit, Michigan , United States. Geographically located within but administratively independent of Essex County , it is the southernmost city in Canada and marks the southwestern end of
2184-535: The Ambassador Bridge border crossing is the busiest commercial crossing on the Canada–United States border . Windsor is a major contributor to Canada's automotive industry and is culturally diverse. Known as the "Automotive Capital of Canada", Windsor's industrial and manufacturing heritage is responsible for how the city has developed through the years. At the time when the first Europeans arrived in
2268-577: The American Revolution , and the War of 1812 (1812–1815), which also was a confrontation over the northern border, some people continued to migrate north to the area. Settlers also arrived from the east seeking land, traveling by Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River of Lower Canada . Settlers began to move eastward along the north shore of Lake Erie. The colonial government purchased land for development from
2352-517: The French method of agricultural land division where the farms were long and narrow, fronting along the river (this originates from French methods of tax collection , with more taxes being paid by property owners with waterfront properties, thus why riverfront lots were usually narrow). Most of the city is uniform in its grid, but a few neighbourhoods have their own system. Forest Glade and The Villages of Riverside were built recently (in
2436-513: The Great Lakes snowbelt and doesn't experience intense lake-effect snow accumulation like other surrounding areas, although strong westerlies off Lake Michigan can sometimes push snow squalls into the area. Summers are hot and humid with an abundance of sunny weather. Like the surrounding Midwestern United States , thunderstorms and severe weather are more frequent during the spring and summer months. The area that has come to be known as Essex
2520-547: The Quebec City–Windsor Corridor . The city's population was 229,660 at the 2021 census , making it the third-most populated city in Southwestern Ontario, after London and Kitchener . This represents a 5.7 percent increase from Windsor's 2016 population census of 217,188. The Detroit–Windsor urban area is North America's most populous trans-border conurbation . Linking the Great Lakes Megalopolis ,
2604-620: The town in Berkshire, England . The Sandwich neighbourhood on Windsor's west side is home to some of the city's oldest buildings, including Mackenzie Hall, originally built as the Essex County Courthouse in 1855. Today, this building is a community centre. The city's oldest building is the Duff-Baby House , built in 1792. It is owned by Ontario Heritage Trust and houses government offices. The François Baby House in downtown Windsor
List of roads in Windsor, Ontario - Misplaced Pages Continue
2688-419: The " Assumption Settlement ", for the name of its Catholic church. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the French ventured east along the south shore of Lake Saint Clair and settled in the present-day areas of Belle River (Belle-Rivière), Rochester, Tecumseh, Saint-Joachim and Stoney Point (Pointe-aux-Roches). These communities still have a large francophone population. Amherstburg and Sandwich were
2772-618: The 17th century, the Detroit River region was inhabited by the Huron , Odawa , Potawatomi and Iroquois First Nations . The land along the Detroit River was part of the Three Fires Confederacy between the Ojibwe , Potawatomi, and Odawa and was referred to as Wawiiatanong or Wawiiatanong Ziibi meaning "where the river bends" in Anishinaabemowin . A French agricultural settlement
2856-619: The 1840s the Great Famine led to significant immigration. The village of Maidstone was the centre of the Irish community, and an area known as the "Scotch Colony" appeared along the shore of Lake St. Clair to the north. In 1854 the Great Western Railway connected the Detroit frontier with the east, crossing Essex County. The Canadian terminal was in Windsor, which consequently forged ahead of
2940-546: The 1920s, alcohol prohibition was enforced in Michigan while alcohol was legal in Ontario. Rum-running in Windsor was a common practice then. On October 25, 1960, a massive gas explosion destroyed the building housing the Metropolitan Store on Ouellette Avenue. Ten people were killed, and at least one hundred were injured. The Windsor Star commemorated the 45th anniversary of the event on October 25, 2005. Windsor has
3024-400: The 1960s and 1970s, and have circular patterns, while Sandwich has its own grid roughly 45 degrees off from the rest of the city, in a triangle from Huron Church Road and the Detroit River, south to Tecumseh Road and Prince Road. This is due to the river turning southwest-ward just west of the Ambassador Bridge . Another major part of the city where the streets "jog" across Tecumseh Road
3108-669: The City of Windsor. Until 1998 the Essex County Board of Education operated Anglophone secular public schools. Public post-secondary education is available at the University of Windsor , St. Clair College , and more recently Collège Boréal . Essex-Windsor Emergency Medical Services (EMS) provides pre-hospital treatment and transportation to over 45,000 patients per year. The service operates out of 12 bases, and employs over 260 Primary Care Paramedics . Essex-Windsor EMS covers all of Essex County, Windsor, and Pelee Island. Essex County
3192-507: The Detroit River, heading towards the south: These main North-South arteries are listed from west to east: These other North-South routes tend to be short, but busy, as they serve heavily built-up areas in Downtown and other areas: Many of these roads in Windsor pass by Big Three Automaker plants, such as Ford Motor Company of Canada , General Motors Canada and Chrysler Canada , which
3276-534: The Detroit/American side. Landmarks were named for settler LaSalle and the local Ojibway , which continue to be in use. The first road in Ontario was laid out to connect the settlements, which is now over 200 years old and is known as Former King's Highway 18 (now County Road 20). When river frontage along the Petite Côte was occupied, settlement began to extend toward Lake St. Clair , which became known as
3360-472: The Indigenous in the southern half of the current county, located in the four townships formerly known as Gosfield North and South, and Colchester North and South. The British Court made land available for settlement, provided that the colonist complete certain improvements within a year and that it not be used for speculation. This area became known as the "New Settlement" (as compared to the "Old Settlement" of
3444-519: The Township of Pelee are within the Essex census division but are not part of Essex County. The census division had a population of 422,860 as of 2021. Essex County is largely composed of clay-based soils, with sandy soils along the beaches and shores. For the most part, Essex County is flat farmland, with some woodlots . There is a small 30–50 foot (10–15 m) high ridge near Kingsville and Leamington in
List of roads in Windsor, Ontario - Misplaced Pages Continue
3528-676: The US and Upper Canada by the Treaty of Paris of 1783 and the wider set of treaties known as the Peace of Paris , which ended the American Revolution (1775–1783) and overseas European and multi-continental wars. Britain ceded the territory of eastern North America to be the United States . The British built Fort Malden near Amherstburg, opposite Bois Blanc Island , separating the British military presence from
3612-430: The Warden coincides with the frequency of municipal elections in Ontario, in other words a person elected to be Mayor of Leamington, for example, will be a member of County Council for the term that she or he is Mayor. Hilda MacDonald, Mayor of Leamington , was chosen to be Warden at the most recent election. A complete list (from 1853 to present) of the past Wardens of Essex County can be found online. County government
3696-400: The bark, and burned them to clear the way to get to the fertile soils underneath. The fires were so intense, that the reddish glow could be seen from Fort Chicago , 300 miles (500 km) away, as millions of cords of wood burned. Settlement continued southward along the river and was known as Petite Côte (Small Coast), which was a reference to the shorter length of river frontage compared to
3780-513: The city and the federal building on Ouellette Avenue is named after him. Eugene Whelan was a Liberal cabinet minister and one-time Liberal party leadership candidate elected from Essex County from the 1960s to the early 1980s, as well as Mark MacGuigan of Windsor-Walkerville riding, who also served as External Affairs, and later Justice minister in the early 1980s. Deputy Prime Minister Herb Gray represented Windsor as an MP from 1962 through 2003, winning thirteen consecutive elections, making him
3864-567: The city for a 27-month period ending in November 2011. Since 2016, reports of sexual assaults within Windsor, have increased by 20%, reports of robbery by 23%, reports of breaking and entering by 3% and reports of motor vehicle theft by 13%. Windsor's history as an industrial centre has given the New Democratic Party (NDP) a dedicated voting base. During federal and provincial elections, Windsorites have maintained their local representation in
3948-411: The city population compared to 16.6% for Canada. Persons of age 65 years and over accounted for 17.6% of the population in Windsor compared to 16.9% for Canada. The median age in Windsor is 41.4 years compared to 41.2 years for Canada. The population of Windsor is primarily English-speaking, with 88.5% of residents knowing only English and 8.8% of residents knowing both English and French. Windsor has
4032-415: The city's past, its success as a railway centre, and its contributions to World War I and World War II fighting efforts. It also recalled the naming controversy in 1892 when Windsor aimed to become a city. The most popular names listed in the naming controversy were South Detroit , The Ferry (from the ferries that linked Windsor to Detroit), Windsor , and Richmond (the runner-up in popularity). Windsor
4116-426: The city. In 2019, Dan Gilbert and Quicken Loans bought a building in Windsor with a plan to restore it. Once completed, Quicken Loans will employ 50–100 people, mainly in the technology sector. Many are hoping that this is a catalyst for more companies to establish tech business in Windsor. LG and Stellantis have broken ground on a new alternative energy plant called Nextstar Energy. Source: Due to
4200-475: The county after the War of 1812 , the first of which followed Indian trails. Colonel Thomas Talbot contributed to road development, and Talbot Road was named for him. Talbot Road followed a natural ridge of glacial moraine which stretched from Windsor to Point Pelee . The establishment of good roads led to further settlement along the 'Middle Road' and in the area of what is now Leamington . Settlers of this era were often emigrants from Britain and Ireland; in
4284-510: The directional components East and West after their names. Address numbers on east–west roads in Windsor increase by 100 for each block travelled away from Ouellette Avenue and address numbers on north–south roads increase by 100 for each block travelled away from the Detroit River. In areas where the river curves, some numbers on north–south roads are skipped. For consistency across the city, all address numbers on north–south roads reset at either 600 for streets west of Walker Road or 800 for those to
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#17328559279384368-456: The disastrous flooding that occurred. In spring of 2019 Windsor applied for disaster mitigation funding following widespread flooding. A previous state of emergency in Windsor was called in 2013 when a fire broke out at a plastic recycling warehouse. This state of emergency was called due to poor air quality caused by the fire. In 2017, Windsor was noted on Environment Canada's top 10 list of weather events. In late August 2017, Windsor faced
4452-584: The east, where the road crosses Wyandotte Street (which roughly parallels the Detroit River). Windsor's Department of Parks and Recreation maintains 1,200 hectares (3,000 acres) of green space, 180 parks, 64 km (40 mi) of trails, 35 km (22 mi) of sidewalks, 60 parking lots, vacant lands, natural areas and forest cover within the city of Windsor. The largest park is Mic Mac Park, which can accommodate many activities, including baseball, soccer, biking, and sledding. Windsor has numerous bike trails,
4536-474: The eastern part of the city, causing minor damage to nearby buildings, most notably a CUPE union hall . Two tornadoes (an F1 and an F2) touched down in the evening of August 24, 2016, causing damage in parts of Windsor as well as LaSalle. Ouellette Avenue is the historic main commercial street in downtown Windsor. It runs north–south, perpendicular to the Detroit River, and divides the city into east and west sections. Roads that cross Ouellette Avenue include
4620-482: The first towns established in Essex County, both in 1796 after the British finally ceded and evacuated Fort Detroit along the Detroit River under the terms of the " Jay Treaty ". This was negotiated by John Jay , and signed in 1794 following the American Revolutionary War. It was intended to settle the US northern boundary with Canada. It upheld the original boundary lines along the Great Lakes between
4704-469: The forests were being removed to make way for farmland. Also noticeable in some farmers' fields are oil pumps , particularly near Belle River and Leamington , in the northern and eastern parts of the county, respectively. This is from oil shale within the bedrock of the Marcellus Formation . In 1992, discussions began to take place to reduce the number of individual municipalities, which at
4788-440: The general area. Major products of the greenhouse industry, in addition to tomatoes, are peppers , cannabis , cucumbers , roses , and other flowers . Major employers include Highbury Canco, Aphria , FortDearborn, Highline Mushrooms, Elring-Klinger , Nature Fresh Farms, Hub International , Lakeside Produce and AMCO Farms. Essex County is home to 13 VQA wineries that are a part of Ontario's southernmost appellation . At
4872-508: The highest mean temperatures for September, October and November. Precipitation is generally well-distributed throughout the year, on average driest in February, wettest in July. There are 2,261 sunshine average sunshine hours per year, or 52% of possible. Windsor experienced historic flooding in 2016, 2017 and 2019. In 2016, the mayor of Windsor, Drew Dilkens, declared a state of emergency because of
4956-453: The highest poverty rates at 44.65% and 44.94%. Wards 4 (Walkerville) and 8 (East Windsor) also register high poverty rates at 28.78% and 28.74% respectively. In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada , Windsor had a population of 229,660 living in 94,273 of its 99,803 total private dwellings, a change of 5.7% from its 2016 population of 217,188 . With a land area of 146.02 km (56.38 sq mi), it had
5040-520: The highest recorded humidex in Ontario of 52.1 °C (125.8 °F), occurred on June 20, 1953 in Windsor. Thunderstorms are common during summer and occur on average 32 days per year, some of them severe with high winds, heavy rainfall, flooding, intense lightning, hail and less often, tornadic activity Windsor has the highest number of days per year with lightning, haze, and daily maximum humidex over 30 °C (86 °F) of cities in Canada. Windsor has Canada's warmest climatological Fall season, with
5124-466: The land where the street is today. The street system of outlying areas is consistent with the British system for granting land concessions . There is a sizeable French-speaking minority in Windsor and the surrounding area, particularly in the Lakeshore , Tecumseh and LaSalle areas. In 1797, after the American Revolution , the settlement of "Sandwich" was established. It was later renamed Windsor, after
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#17328559279385208-649: The largest being the Ganatchio Trail on the city's far east side. In recent years, the city council has pushed for adding bicycle lanes on city streets to provide links throughout the existing trail network. The Windsor trail network is linked to the LaSalle Trail in the west end and is to eventually be connected to the Chrysler Canada Greenway (part of the Trans Canada Trail ). The current greenway
5292-500: The largest local employers. It has been a significant draw for U.S. visitors since opening in 1994 (as Casino Windsor). Further, the 1,150 km (710 mi) Quebec City – Windsor Corridor contains 18 million people, with 51% of the Canadian population and three out of the five largest metropolitan areas , according to the 2011 Census . The city has an extensive riverfront parks system and fine restaurants, such as those on Erie Street in Windsor's Little Italy, "Via Italia". This
5376-479: The longest-serving MP in Canadian history. A bust of Herb Gray is at the foot of Ouellette Avenue near Dieppe Park in downtown Windsor. The Rt. Hon. Herb Gray Parkway is named after him. The current mayor of Windsor is Drew Dilkens . Windsor is governed under the Council-Manager form of local government and includes the elected City Council , mayor, and an appointed Chief Administrative Officer. The city
5460-585: The more heavily populated area of Sandwich upstream, and positioned strategically to control the entrance of the river from Lake Erie and Lake Huron to the north. The populations of both towns were augmented by people immigrating from the southern United States after the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), including from the new City of Detroit , who chose to remain British subjects , known as " Loyalists " or " United Empire Loyalists ". After
5544-488: The number of wards, which had been unchanged for 30 years. Essex County, Ontario Essex County is a primarily rural county in Southwestern Ontario , Canada comprising seven municipalities: Amherstburg , Kingsville , Lakeshore , LaSalle , Leamington , Tecumseh and the administrative seat, Essex . Essex County is composed of seven municipalities (in order of population): The City of Windsor and
5628-823: The other towns of the county. Other railway lines were built that connected settlements in Kingsville, Harrow, Essex and Leamington. Essex County was also a destination of the Underground Railroad . In the 19th-century Black Americans came to Essex county by way of Pelee's Point , Gosfield (now Kingsville ), Colchester , Sandwich , and Windsor . Those who stayed in the area settled in the communities of Fort Malden , Sandwich , New Canaan , Mersea , and nearby Dawn Settlement (now Dresden ), Buxton (now North Buxton and South Buxton ), Chatham , and Elgin . The major settlement areas were Amherstburg and Windsor . The John Freeman Walls Historic Site in Maidstone ( Lakeshore )
5712-566: The respective legislatures. The Liberal Party of Canada also has a solid electoral history in the city. Canada's 21st Prime Minister, Paul Martin , was born in Windsor. His father, Paul Martin Sr. , a federal cabinet minister in several portfolios through the Liberal governments of the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, was first elected to the House of Commons from a Windsor riding in the 1930s. Martin Sr. practised law in
5796-489: The river. Despite the name, this is not a river as such but rather a strait connecting Lake Huron and the smaller Lake Saint Clair in the north to Lake Erie in the south, as part of the Great Lakes . Lower down the river, lands were occupied by native people known as Wyandot or Huron, around the Jesuit Catholic Mission of Bois Blanc (French for White Wood), opposite the island of the same name. The Mission
5880-592: The riverfront between downtown and the Ambassador Bridge. Part of this trail winds through Windsor Sculpture Park, which displays various modern and post-modern sculptures. Families of elephants (see picture), penguins, horses, and many other themed sculptures are found in the park. Some other popular exhibits include the Chicken and Egg, Consophia, and Eve's Apple. Windsor's economy is primarily based on manufacturing, tourism, education, and government services. The city
5964-494: The southern part of the county, and large marshland near Hillman Marsh Conservation Area, and Point Pelee National Park . Lake St. Clair is located north, the Detroit River to the west, and the western basin of Lake Erie to the south. Essex County hosts some of the warmest summer weather in Canada , given that it is the southernmost part of Canada. It has a humid continental climate ( Köppen Dfa ) with four distinct seasons and
6048-521: The time numbered 21 in the county. This culminated on January 1, 1999, when a Minister's Order by the Ontario Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing was implemented, putting in place the new municipal structure for the County of Essex. Townships: Towns: As a census division in the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada , Essex County had a population of 422,860 living in 165,787 of its 174,446 total private dwellings,
6132-565: The towns of Amherstburg and Sandwich. Settlers in this area included Hessians who fought for the British against the American rebels, (especially known in history at the Battle of Trenton in New Jersey on the morning of December 26, 1776) and Pennsylvania Dutch pacifists (ethnic German Mennonites , many from Pennsylvania ). In 1791, the province of Upper Canada was formed. In 1792, Upper Canada
6216-473: The university completed construction of a $ 112 million (~$ 144 million in 2023) facility for its Faculty of Engineering. Windsor is the headquarters of Hiram Walker & Sons Limited, now owned by Pernod Ricard . Hiram Walker founded its historic distillery in 1858 in what was then Walkerville, Ontario . The diversifying economy is also represented by companies involved in pharmaceuticals , alternative energy, insurance, internet, and software. Windsor
6300-558: The world. In 2016, in the city, 27.7% of the population was foreign-born, while in the metropolitan area, 22.9% was foreign-born; this is the fourth-highest proportion for a Canadian metropolitan area. Visible minorities makeup 25.7% of the population, making it the most diverse city in Ontario outside of the Greater Toronto Area . In 2016, Windsor's population was 48.8% male and 51.2% female. Children under 15 accounted for 16.3% of
6384-470: Was built in 1812 and houses Windsor's Community Museum dedicated to local history. Windsor was the site of a battle during the 1838 Upper Canada Rebellion . It was attacked by a band of 400 Americans and rebels from Detroit who burned a steamboat and two or three houses before being routed by the local militia. Later that year, Windsor also served as a theatre for the Patriot War . In 1846, Windsor had
6468-427: Was chosen to promote the heritage of new English settlers in the city and to recognize Windsor Castle in Berkshire, England. However, Richmond was a popular name used until World War II, mainly by the local post office. Sandwich , Ford City and Walkerville were separate legal entities (towns) until 1935. They are now historic neighbourhoods of Windsor . Ford City was incorporated as a village in 1912; it became
6552-646: Was divided into nineteen counties, of which Essex was the eighteenth and part of the Western District . At that time, the eastern boundary of Essex County extended further east into what is now Kent County . Settlement continued: on January 1, 1800, an Act for the Better Division of the Province established the Townships of Rochester, Mersea, Gosfield, Maidstone, Sandwich and Malden. Longer roads began to appear in
6636-412: Was established at the site of Windsor in 1749. It is the oldest continually inhabited European-founded settlement in Canada west of Montreal . The area was first named la Petite Côte ("Little Coast"—as opposed to the longer coastline on the Detroit side of the river). Later it was called La Côte de Misère ("Poverty Coast") because of the sandy soils near LaSalle . Windsor's French-Canadian heritage
6720-604: Was eventually abandoned and re-established closer to what became Sandwich Township after the British took over the French territory following the Seven Years' War. It was closer to the safety of the British-fortified Fort Detroit . When farmers arrived, they encountered difficulty in trying to clear the extremely thick forests that covered Essex County. The farmers grew to "hate" the trees, and chopped them down, starved them from nourishment by cutting deep gashes in
6804-503: Was incorporated as a village in 1854 (the same year the village was connected to the rest of Canada by the Grand Trunk Railway / Canadian National Railway ), then became a town in 1858, and gained city status in 1892. The Windsor Police Service was established on July 1, 1867. A fire consumed much of Windsor's downtown core on October 12, 1871, destroying over 100 buildings. The Windsor Star Centennial Edition in 1992 covered
6888-528: Was one of the first counties to be settled by non-indigenous people in Upper Canada , later to become Ontario . The settlements were mostly established by French settlers in the mid-18th century. Around 1749, the first permanent settlements began to appear on what is now the south or Canadian side of the Detroit River , across from the French Fort Detroit. They cultivated long, narrow plots of land along
6972-579: Was the only Canadian city to experience a tornado during the 1974 Super Outbreak , an F3 which killed nine people when it destroyed the Windsor Curling Club. The city was grazed by the 1997 Southeast Michigan tornado outbreak , with one tornado (an F1) forming east of the city. Tornadoes have been recorded crossing the Detroit River (in 1946 and 1997), and waterspouts are regularly seen over Lake St. Clair and Lake Erie , especially in autumn. On April 25, 2009, an F0 tornado briefly touched down in
7056-515: Was −32.8 °C (−27.0 °F) on January 29, 1873, and the warmest was 40.2 °C (104.4 °F) on June 25, 1988. Winters in Windsor are cold. The January mean temperature averages −3.6 °C (25.5 °F) Airport, −2.9 °C (26.8 °F) Downtown. Occasional bitter cold outbreaks do occur, often accompanied by wind chills exacerbating the feel to exposed skin, these tend to be short-lived. The city occasionally sees lake-effect snow that originates from distant Lake Michigan. Snow cover
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