Tiverton, Ontario is a charming community nestled in the Municipality of Kincardine, Bruce County, Canada. Located near the serene shore of Lake Huron on Highway 21, Tiverton lies between the towns of Port Elgin and Kincardine.
The name 'Tiverton' traces its roots back to a town in Devon, England. The story goes that when Norman McInnis and other petitioners applied for a post-office, they initially suggested the name "St. Andrews." However, the department rejected this proposal due to the existence of another post-office with the same name. Among several names proposed, "Tiverton" was chosen. This name was inspired by the borough for which Lord Palmerston, the English Prime Minister, sat in Parliament, which likely influenced the final decision.
The first settler, Timothy Allan, entered the primeval forest that covered the present site of Tiverton in the fall of 1850. The north part of Kincardine Township had just been surveyed, but the survey of the part of Bruce Township where Tiverton now stands had not yet begun. The clearing of the bush continued for several years before the idea of a village at that spot was conceived.
In 1857, Norman McInnis opened a store, marking the year Tiverton began to take shape. However, it wasn't until 1860 that the village was officially named "Tiverton," coinciding with the opening of the post-office. McInnis, who is often considered the founder of the village, was naturally appointed as the postmaster.
McInnis also launched the first manufacturing industry in Tiverton, a pot and pearl-ash factory, in September 1860. This was followed by a wool-carding mill run by A. McBain, which later passed into the hands of James McLeod. By the end of the 1860s, a grist mill and a second store, opened by John Dewar, were added to the village's growing list of industries.
Over the next decade, Tiverton evolved into a bustling market. The grain purchased there was delivered at one of the warehouses at Inverhuron. However, this business ceased with the burning of these warehouses in 1882. During these years, the village reached its peak as a business center, with new industries such as a sawmill, a planing-mill, and machine shop emerging. The most prominent among these was John McDonald's tannery, which employed about twenty-five hands and produced about $20,000 worth of leather per annum.
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Tiverton had a population of 717, living in 313 of its 382 total private dwellings. This represented a slight decrease of -1.1% from its 2016 population of 725. With a land area of 2.26 km2 (0.87 sq mi), Tiverton had a population density of 317.3/km2 (821.7/sq mi) in 2021.
Tiverton, Ontario, with its rich history and vibrant community, offers a unique blend of past and present. Whether you're a history enthusiast or a nature lover, Tiverton promises an unforgettable experience.
