Goderich, Ontario, a charming town in the Canadian province of Ontario, is the county seat of Huron County. Founded in 1827 by John Galt and William "Tiger" Dunlop of the Canada Company, Goderich is a town steeped in history and natural beauty. With a population of 7,628 as per the Canada 2016 Census, Goderich is a small town with a big heart.
The Canada Company acquired the Huron Tract, a vast amount of land, in 1826. The following year, under Superintendent John Galt, the company established its base in what would become Goderich. By 1850, the community was incorporated as a town with a population of about 1,000.
The town's location was based on coastal surveys completed in 1824 by Captain Bayfield. The Huron Tract had been acquired by the government from the Chippewa First Nation. A log cabin, later referred to as "The Castle", was erected at the top of the hill overlooking the harbour in 1827. This building was the home of Dr. William "Tiger" Dunlop, an important figure in the development of the Huron Tract and the founding of Goderich.
Goderich's downtown features an octagonal roundabout known as 'The Square'. The county courthouse stands in the middle of The Square, a site of historical significance. The Square was formally listed in the Register of Historic Place by the Government of Canada in May 2007. The Town had already recognized the value of the area in 1982, under the Ontario Heritage Act.
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Goderich had a population of 7,881 living in 3,667 of its 3,899 total private dwellings, a change of 3.3% from its 2016 population of 7,628. With a land area of 8.54 km2 (3.30 sq mi), it had a population density of 922.8/km2 (2,390.1/sq mi) in 2021.
Goderich has its own official flag, which was adopted in 1977 for the town's 150th birthday celebration. The flag shows the royal crown centred in an octagon (representing the 1/4 mile octagonal 3-lane town square) with 3 waves at the bottom on a blue background representing Lake Huron and the Port of Goderich.
Goderich boasts a community airport with three runways: two are paved, with runway lighting, and one is grass. The airport, known unofficially as Sky Harbour Airport, is located directly north of the town. Goderich Harbour, owned by the town but operated under contract by Goderich Port Management Corporation, is an industrial harbour, used primarily to load salt from the Sifto salt mines onto lake and ocean freighters.
The Goderich-Exeter Railway currently operates freight service to Goderich. The line was built by the Buffalo and Lake Huron Railway in 1859 and was soon taken over by the Grand Trunk Railway, later CN. In 1992, the line was sold to the GEXR.
Goderich, Ontario, is a town that beautifully blends history, culture, and natural beauty. Whether you're a history buff, a nature lover, or just looking for a charming town to explore, Goderich has something for everyone.
