The city of Thorold, Ontario, has a rich history dating back to its first survey in 1788, when it was known as Township 9. The earliest communities, Beaverdams, DeCew Falls, and St. Johns, were eventually overshadowed by the new canal villages of Thorold, Allanburg, and Port Robinson following the opening of the First Welland Canal in 1829.
By 1846, Thorold had grown to a population of about 1,000, boasting three churches, a post office, and various tradesmen. The industry was thriving with two grist mills, a cement mill, a brewery, and three wagon makers. The town was incorporated as a village in 1850 and as a town in 1870.
In 1970, the formation of the Regional Municipality of Niagara led to the expansion of Thorold to include the former Thorold Township. Five years later, the town was incorporated as the City of Thorold.
Thorold is also home to the War of 1812 battle site, Beaverdams, where British regulars and Caughnawaga Mohawks defeated Colonel Charles Boerstler and his American troops on June 25, 1813.
Thorold, Ontario, is home to several neighborhoods including Allanburg, Beaverdams, Confederation Heights, Port Robinson, St. Johns, Rolling Meadows, Thorold South, and Turner's Corners.
St. Johns, one of the first areas in the interior of Niagara Peninsula to be settled by Europeans, was established around 1792. The community grew to include a woollen factory, a tannery, a foundry, stores, and several mills. However, as industry in surrounding towns grew, St. Johns' affluence declined.
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Thorold, Ontario, had a population of 23,816 living in 9,095 of its 9,856 total private dwellings. This was a significant increase of 26.7% from its 2016 population of 18,801. With a land area of 83.29 km2, it had a population density of 285.9/km2 in 2021.
Thorold, Ontario, is a hub of arts and culture, hosting several festivals and annual events. These include the Mountain Top Ceremony, marking the opening of the Welland Canal shipping season, and the Canal Bank Shuffle, a three-day annual festival of music and dance.
The city was also home to the Can-View 4, a drive-in theatre complex located near Highway 20. The Thorold Reed Band, Canada's oldest, continually running band of any kind, was established in 1851.
Thorold, Ontario, offers a variety of recreational trails and parks. The Welland Canal Parkway Trail, a paved recreational path, has three sections located within Thorold.
The Mel Swart Lake Gibson Conservation Park, officially opened in 2002, is a 29-acre waterfront park located on Lake Gibson. The park features trails and a suspended boardwalk along the shore of the lake. Short Hills Provincial Park is also partially located in the City of Thorold.
The Thorold Tunnel, an underwater vehicular tunnel built between 1965 and 1967, allows Highway 58 to cross the Welland Canal without interrupting shipping. Approximately 24,300 vehicles pass through the tunnel daily.
Thorold, Ontario, is home to the Niagara Detention Centre, a 260-person capacity maximum-security prison. It serves people on remand, offenders sentenced to short terms, and offenders awaiting transfer to larger federal or provincial facilities. The centre is located between the neighbourhoods of Thorold South and Allanburg.
