| Coordinates | 45°45′N 79°24′W |
|---|---|
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Ontario |
| District | Parry Sound |
| Settled | 1876 |
| Incorporated | 1877 |
| Mayor | Tim Bryson |
| Fed. riding | Parry Sound-Muskoka |
| Prov. riding | Parry Sound—Muskoka |
| Area land | 158.88 km² |
| Population as of | 2021 |
| Population total | 1566 |
| Population density | 9.9 km² |
| Time zone | EST (UTC-5) |
| Time zone (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| Postal Code | P0A |
| Area codes | 705, 249 |
Strong is a township in the Canadian province of Ontario, as well as the name of a community within the township. Located in the Almaguin Highlands region of Parry Sound District, the township surrounds but does not include the village of Sundridge.
The township includes the communities of Hartfell, Kennedys, Lake Bernard, Pevensey, Stirling Falls, and Strong. It is home to Lake Bernard.
Strong Township is accessible via Highway 11 and Highway 124. It is bisected by the CN railway.[1]
History
Settlement of the township began after The Free Grants and Homestead Act of 1868, with the first settlers arriving in 1876. The Township of Strong was incorporated the following year.[1]
In 1885, the Northern and Pacific Junction Railway (now CN) was built through the township. In 1889, the village of Sundridge split off from the township to form a separate village municipality.[2]
Demographics
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Strong had a population of 1,566 living in 660 of its 953 total private dwellings, a change of 8.83% from its 2016 population of 1,439. With a land area of 158.88 km2 (61.34 sq mi), it had a population density of in 2021.[3]
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1881 | 1,744 | — |
| 1891 | 1,500 | −14.0% |
| 1901 | 768 | −48.8% |
| 1911 | 659 | −14.2% |
| 1921 | 632 | −4.1% |
| 1931 | 665 | +5.2% |
| 1941 | 688 | +3.5% |
| 1951 | 676 | −1.7% |
| 1956 | 709 | +4.9% |
| 1961 | 733 | +3.4% |
| 1966 | 846 | +15.4% |
| 1971 | 972 | +14.9% |
| 1976 | 1,244 | +28.0% |
| 1981 | 1,278 | +2.7% |
| 1986 | 1,250 | −2.2% |
| 1991 | 1,377 | +10.2% |
| 1996 | 1,393 | +1.2% |
| 2001 | 1,369 | −1.7% |
| 2006 | 1,327 | −3.1% |
| 2011 | 1,341 | +1.1% |
| 2016 | 1,439 | +7.3% |
| 2021 | 1,566 | +8.8% |
Population counts are not adjusted for boundary changes.
Mother tongue (2021):[3]
- English as first language: 95.8%
- French as first language: 0.6%
- English and French as first languages: 0%
- Other as first language: 3.5%
See also
References
- ^ "Community Profile". www.strongtownship.com. Township of Strong. 2025. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
- ^ "History and Heritage". www.sundridge.ca. Village of Sundridge. 2025. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
- ^
Further reading
- Patricia Lee, Alice May Robins (ed.), The Lake in the Hills, Strong Township and Sundridge 1875-1925. White Mountain Publications. ISBN 0-88954-327-5