Tweed, Ontario, a municipality nestled in the heart of Hastings County, is a place where history and nature intertwine. This article explores the rich history, vibrant communities, and notable stories of Tweed, Ontario.
The Municipality of Tweed was incorporated on January 1, 1998, as a lower-tier municipality within the County of Hastings. It is an amalgamation of the former Village of Tweed, Hungerford Township, and Elzevir & Grimsthorpe Townships. The post office, established in 1852, marks the beginning of Tweed's recorded history.
Elzevir Township, the site of a significant gold strike, and Grimsthorpe Township, formed during the local gold rush in 1867, were administered as one entity before their amalgamation into the Municipality of Tweed. As of 2004, the total land area of Tweed was approximately 230,000 acres, with 30% being Crown land. The total 2004 property assessment for the Municipality of Tweed was $309,000,000.
Tweed, Ontario, is more than just the village proper. It comprises several villages and hamlets, including Actinolite, Bogart, Buller, Chapman, Cosy Cove, Coulters Hill, Duff Corners, East Hungerford, Elzevir, Farrell Corners, Hungerford, Larkins, Lime Lake, Lodgeroom Corners, Lost Channel, Marlbank, Moneymore, Otter Creek, Queensborough, Stoco, Sulphide, and Thomasburg.
Approximately 30% of the population resides in the Village of Tweed, the only urban center. The remainder of the Municipality of Tweed consists of a large rural area reaching from Wadsworth Lake in the north to Roslin in the south. The Municipality of Tweed has five hamlets: Actinolite, Marlbank, Queensborough, Stoco, and Thomasburg. The residents of the hamlets and the rural area comprise the other 70% of the population.
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Tweed had a population of 6,067 living in 2,591 of its 3,042 total private dwellings. This was a slight increase of 0.4% from its 2016 population of 6,044. With a land area of 918.61 km2, it had a population density of 6.6/km2 in 2021.
The Tweed Forest Fire District was founded in 1922 by the former Ontario Department of Lands and Forests. It was one of 17 districts established to protect Ontario's forests from fire through early detection from fire towers. However, in the 1970s, all the towers were decommissioned as aerial firefighting techniques were employed.
Tweed made national news in 2010 when Colonel Russell Williams, a resident of Ottawa who had a cottage in Tweed, was arrested and convicted for the murders of Jessica Lloyd and Corporal Marie-France Comeau.
In 2017, a Hydro One helicopter working on a row of transmission towers crashed northeast of Tweed, resulting in the death of all four people on board.
In 2021, a fire destroyed the landmark Tweedsmuir Hotel, a cornerstone of the community since its construction in 1886.
Despite these tragedies, Tweed, Ontario, remains a resilient community, rich in history and natural beauty. Whether you're a history buff, an outdoor enthusiast, or simply looking for a peaceful place to unwind, Tweed, Ontario, has something for everyone.
