Burk's Falls
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Burk's Falls is an incorporated village in the Almaguin Highlands region of Parry Sound District, Ontario, Canada, located Script error: No such module "convert". north of Toronto and Script error: No such module "convert". south of North Bay. The village, and the waterfall on the site, were named (for himself) by David Francis Burk of Oshawa, after he selected the land surrounding the waterfall in the Free Land Grant Act.[1]
Geography
Located about Script error: No such module "convert". west of Algonquin Provincial Park in picturesque cottage country, Burk's Falls is at the intersection of Ontario Highway 11 and the Magnetawan River.[2] It is an enclave within Armour Township. The area is set amid the fresh-water bodies that make Northern Ontario famous; the largest of which are Horn Lake to the Northwest, Pickerel Lake to the Northeast, Three Mile Lake to the Southeast, and the joined Doe and Little Doe Lakes to the Southwest. The eponymous Burk's Falls are part of the Magnetawan River.
History
The area was opened up for colonization as part of The Free Grants and Homestead Act, which was passed in 1868. This act granted Script error: No such module "convert". of land to any settler willing to clear, cultivate, and live on it. In fall 1875, David Francis Burk was one of the first settlers to arrive, staking his claim near the falls that he named after himself after winning a coin toss for the naming rights with another early settler. The following spring, he returned with his family and built a cabin on his land. Others followed and Burk opened a post office in his cabin.[3]
At that time, the only access to the region was via the Magnetawan River from Georgian Bay, or through the forests of the unsurveyed townships, north of Bracebridge. After 1875 the Rosseau-Nipissing Colonization Road allowed access from Muskoka, to the south. In 1879 steamboat service was established to the foot of the falls, from the village of Magnetawan.[4]
Burk replaced his cabin with a large wooden building, known as The Burk House of Burk Hotel, that served as his home, general store, hotel, post office, and church. Other businesses sprung up along what became known as Ontario Street, the centre of the community, including its first school.[3]
Railway service came to Burk's Falls in 1885, with the opening of Northern and Pacific Junction Railway (absorbed by the Grand Trunk Railway in 1888). The Village of Burk's Falls was incorporated in 1890, when it separated from the Township of Armour. Its first reeve was James Sharpe. At that time, the village consisted of 3 hotels, 2 printers, 5 churches, a school, several general stores, a hardware store, a butcher store, a bakery, several sawmills, and a tannery. There were also carpenters, lawyers, shoemakers, doctors, a harness maker, a tailor, and a surveyor.[3]
In 1908, a large fire swept through Burk's Falls, destroying all buildings and businesses along Ontario Street. A by-law was passed requiring the reconstructed buildings to be made of stone or brick along this street.[3]
A rare swing bridge was completed over the Magnetawan, just west of Burk's Falls.[4]
Growth of the village
This growth has been limited and Burk's Falls has not amalgamated with any nearby towns such as Katrine. The population has remained steady over the last decades, standing around 1000.
Also located in Burk's Falls is the Outward Bound Canadian Base Camp.
Demographics
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Burk's Falls had a population of Script error: No such module "val". living in Script error: No such module "val". of its Script error: No such module "val". total private dwellings, a change of Script error: No such module "Percentage". from its 2016 population of Script error: No such module "val".. With a land area of Script error: No such module "convert"., it had a population density of Template:Pop density in 2021.[5] Template:Canada census
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Transportation
The village is served by provincial highways 11 and 520. Highway 11 was rerouted around the village in 2012 when it expanded as a dual carriageway with an interchange.
Intercity motor coach service to Burk's Falls is provided by Ontario Northland along its Toronto–Barrie–Parry Sound–Sudbury route's local schedule; it is bypassed by express schedules, but still receives twice-daily service northbound and southbound.
References
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- ↑ The Municipality of the Village of Burk's Falls Ontario, Canada
- ↑ Burks Falls, Ontario, Canada — Welcome to our thought-provoking, exciting Village
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External links
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