Smithville, Ontario, is a vibrant community nestled in the township of West Lincoln, Niagara Region, Canada. Situated on Highway 20 between Hamilton and Niagara Falls, Smithville serves as the largest population and governing centre of West Lincoln.
Smithville's history dates back to 1787 when it was first settled by Richard Griffin and his family, United Empire Loyalists from Nine Partners, New York. The settlement, initially known as Griffintown, was later renamed Smithville after Mrs. Griffin, whose maiden name was Mary Smith.
Edward "Ned" Griffin, one of Richard Griffin's sons, is often credited as the founder of the village. He was the first to fell a tree, clear land, build a house, and spend his entire life in the village. His brother, Smith Griffin, built a treadwheel in 1810, which was later replaced by a dam and mill on the Twenty Mile Creek.
By 1849, Smithville had grown to a population of about 150 and had been granted a post office with twice-weekly delivery. The settlement boasted a grist mill, a saw mill, a carding machine and cloth factory, four stores, one machine shop, one tannery, two blacksmiths, two tailors, and two shoemakers.
Smithville first became a police village in 1887, but it was not until 1914 that it was reorganized into a police village on a more permanent basis. On January 1, 1970, Smithville, along with the remainder of South Grimsby Township, was amalgamated into the newly formed Township of West Lincoln.
Smithville has seen steady population growth over the years. The population in 2016 was 5489, up from 4391 in 2011, 4122 in 2006, and 3317 in 2001. English is the first language for 92.2% of the population, while 0.6% have French as their first language. Other languages account for 7.2% of the population.
Smithville is known for its vibrant arts and culture scene. Until 2017, the community held an annual agricultural festival called PoultryFest. The Smithville Fair, historically held at the West Lincoln Mixed Use Recreation Site, was moved to the nearby West Niagara Fairgrounds after the Smithville Agricultural Society merged with the Lincoln Agricultural Society in 2012.
Smithville boasts several parks, including the Smithville Conservation Area and the Mixed Use Recreational Site (MURS). The Murgatroyd Parkette, located at the corner of Griffin and St. Catharines Street, features the town clock from the original post offices mounted on a pedestal.
The Smithville Branch of the West Lincoln Public Library, located at the West Lincoln Community Complex and Arena on West St., is open six days a week. The Kiwanis of West Lincoln, chartered in May 2018, meets at the Smithville Legion every Tuesday at 7 pm.
Smithville is conveniently located on two regional roads. Regional Road 20, formerly King's Highway 20, connects Smithville with Niagara Falls and Hamilton. Regional Road 14 links Smithville to Grimsby and the Queen Elizabeth Way in the north, and Highway 3 in the south.
Smithville is also located on the Canadian Pacific's Hamilton Subdivision, the mainline of the former Toronto, Hamilton and Buffalo Railway. Although passenger service was discontinued in 1981, the former station, built in 1903, serves as a local landmark and the headquarters of the West Lincoln Historical Society.
