Peterborough, Ontario
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| City nickname: "The Electric City" | |||
| Area¹ - Total - Water | 58.61 km˛ ? km² ?% | ||
| Population (2004)¹ | 74,600 | ||
| *% Change (1996 – 2001): | 2.4 | ||
| Population density¹ | 1218.9/km˛ | ||
| Latitude and longitude | Template:Coor d1. | ||
| Dwellings: | 30,804¹ | ||
| Postal code: | K9H, K9J, K9K, K9L | ||
| Area code: | 705 | ||
| Altitude: | ? m | ||
| External link: http://www.city.peterborough.on.ca/ | |||
| ¹ According to the 2001 Statistics Canada census | |||
Peterborough (2004 population 74,600) is a city (incoporated in 1905) on the Otonabee River in central-eastern Ontario, Canada. Distance from Toronto is exactly 125 km NE. It is also the seat of Peterborough County.
Peterborough is known to be in "cottage country", a large recreational region of the province. Manufacturing is the biggest local industry, with General Electric and Quaker Oats maintaining large operations in Peterborough. The city is also a 'bedroom' community for workers of General Motors and other major factories in Oshawa. The Oshawa automotive factory is actually the largest employer of Peterborough citizens.
The Trent-Severn Waterway passes through Peterborough, and there utilizes one of the first lift-locks ever implemented (Peterborough Lift Lock, which is still the world's largest hydraulic lift-lock.
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History
In the early 1600's Samuel de Champlain traveled through the area and stays for a brief period of time just north of the future city.
In 1818, Adam Scott settled on the bank of the Otonobee River. The following year he begins construction on a sawmill and grist establishing the area as "Scott's Plains".
1825 marks the arrival of thousands of Irish immigrants from the city of Cork Ireland. This was the result of the actions of Peter Robinson, at the time a York (Toronto) politician. In honour of his achievement in boosting the population of "Scott's Plains" the area is renamed "Peterborough".
In 1845 Sandford Fleming (inventor of Standard Time) moves to city to live with Dr. John Hutchison and his family until 1847. Dr. John Hutchison was one of Peterborough's first resident doctors.
In the mid-1800's the canoe manufacturing industry began to florish in the region with several firms operating. Canoe manufacturing was actually a huge industry for the town up until the 1960's. In 1893 the Peterborough Canoe Company was founded, with the factory being built on the site of the original Adam Scott Mill. The company employed over 50 highly skilled workers.
Peterborough would also see extensive industrial growth as the city was one of the first places in the country to begin generating hydro electrical power (even before Niagara). Companies like Canadian General Electric, open to take advantage of this new cheap resource.
Peterborough was incorporated as a town in 1850 and as a city in 1905.
Economy
The Peterborough economy has changed drasticly since its inception. Once known as an industrial town has seen its primary industry shift to more service sector businesses.
Manufacturing from companies like General Electric, Outboard Marine, and their high paying jobs had a major impact on the growth of the city. Aging facilities and more expensive labour compared with the developing world worked against the city. The NAFTA agreement of the early 90's saw a major shift in trading paterns for many Canadian companies. Other innovations like just in time delivery and pressure on delivering ever cheaper goods all reduced the competitive advantage of cities like Peterborough. In comparision cities like Oshawa and Markham with their excellent connections to trade routes to America have flurished.
Demographics
Racial make-up
- White: 94.8%
- Aboriginal: 1.9%
- South Asian: 1.0%
Media and Journalism
Television station
The transmitter tower for Peterborough is on Television Hill on the east side of the city.
Radio Stations
AM Stations
- 980 KRUZ
- 1420 CKPT - oldies station, used to play variety
FM Stations
- 92.7 CFFF FM - Trent Radio, a university radio station featuring student broadcasting
- 93.3 STAR
- 98.7 CBC Radio One
- 99.5 KAOS
- 101.5 The WOLF
- 103.1 CFMX-FM
- 103.9 CBC Radio Two
- 105.1 Country 105
Internet Stations
- Radio Free Peterborough - online station featuring all Peterborough music, all the time
Newspaper
Education
College and Universities
Social Services
Sports Teams
Communities
- Cold Springs
- Peterborough
| North: Smith-Ennismore-Lakefield | ||
| West: Cavan-Millbrook-North Monaghan | Peterborough | East: Douro-Dummer |
| South West Oshawa | South: Otonabee-South Monaghan |
External Links
- City of Peterborough homepage (http://www.city.peterborough.on.ca)
- Hutchinson House Museum (http://www.nexicom.net/~history/SITEMAP.html)
- Canadian Canoe Museum (http://www.canoemuseum.net/)af:Peterborough