Brussels, Ontario is a charming community nestled within the Municipality of Huron East in Huron County, Canada. Once a village prior to 2001, Brussels now boasts a population of approximately 993 residents as of 2021.
The settlement of Brussels dates back to 1854 when William Ainley purchased 200 acres of land along the Maitland River. Initially named Ainleyville after its founder, the settlement was incorporated as Brussels in 1872. The Ronald Streamer, a significant piece of firefighting equipment, was manufactured in Brussels. Under the governance of former Premier Mike Harris, Brussels was amalgamated into the Municipality of Huron East on January 1, 2001.
Brussels is situated on the municipal border of the Municipality of Huron East and the Municipality of Morris-Turnberry, both located in Huron County, Ontario. The town is divided by two Huron County roads; 12 and 16. The Maitland River, which runs through the town from south to north, has led to the construction of a dam in the community. This river and the low-land areas of the dam typically flood every spring due to increased rainfall and snowmelt.
Brussels is surrounded by farmland on all sides, with scattered bushes amongst the fields, reflecting its rural character. The town is 85 km north of London, 69 km west of Kitchener, and 39 km east of the coastal community of Goderich on the shores of Lake Huron.
Brussels experiences a humid continental climate with four distinct seasons, generally falling into the Dfb climate subtype.
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Brussels had a population of 993 living in 422 of its 444 total private dwellings. This represented a change of -14.2% from its 2016 population of 1,158. With a land area of 0.87 km2, Brussels had a population density of 1,141.4/km2 in 2021.
