O'Connor, Ontario

O'Connor is a township in the Canadian province of Ontario, located 32 kilometres (20 mi) west of the city of Thunder Bay. The municipality was formed on January 1, 1907. The township serves as a bedroom community of Thunder Bay, with some agriculture, and is part of Thunder Bay's Census Metropolitan Area.

See also: O'Connor (disambiguation)
O'Connor
Township (single-tier)
Township of O'Connor
Motto(s): 
Country Living at its Best
O'Connor
Coordinates: 48°22′N 89°42′W
CountryCanada
ProvinceOntario
DistrictThunder Bay
CMAThunder Bay
Settled1887
Incorporated1907
Government
 • MayorJim Vezina
 • Federal ridingThunder Bay—Rainy River
 • Prov. ridingThunder Bay—Atikokan
Area
 • Land108.78 km2 (42.00 sq mi)
Population
 (2016)[1]
 • Total663
 • Density6.1/km2 (16/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
Postal code
P0T 1W0
Area code(s)807
Websitewww.oconnortownship.ca

The township was opened to settlement in 1887 because of the silver mining boom, and named by the Ontario government after Port Arthur businessman, alderman and police magistrate James Joseph O'Connor (1857–1930).[2]

The current mayor of O'Connor is Jim Vezina. The township has four councillors, Chantal Alkins, Kevin Foekens, Jerry Loan, and Bishop Racicot.[3]

The township maintains a disposal site, a skating rink, basketball court, and a fire station staffed by volunteer fire fighters. The township produces and distributes a newsletter called The Cornerstone.

O'Connor's primary industry is agriculture. Many residents commute to work either to Thunder Bay or the surrounding woodlands.

Geography

The geography of O'Connor is mainly flat open farmland and rolling hills, with the Whitefish River Valley dominating the southeast corner of the township. The township contains many creeks and rivers. The most notable geographic feature is Kakabeka Falls, located in the northeastern corner of the municipality near the community of Kakabeka Falls, Ontario.

Transportation

The municipality is served by highways 590 and 595, which intersect in the northern half of the municipality. Highway 590 connects the community to the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 11/17) at Kakabeka Falls in neighbouring Oliver Paipoonge.

Population and demographics
O'Connor, Ontario Historical populations
YearPop.±%
1996739—    
2001724−2.0%
2006720−0.6%
2011685−4.9%
2016663−3.2%
[4][1]
Canada census – O'Connor, Ontario community profile
2016 2011 2006
Population: 663 (-3.2% from 2011) 685 (-4.9% from 2006) 720 (-0.6% from 2001)
Land area: 108.78 km2 (42.00 sq mi) 108.65 km2 (41.95 sq mi) 108.58 km2 (41.92 sq mi)
Population density: 6.1/km2 (16/sq mi) 6.3/km2 (16/sq mi) 6.6/km2 (17/sq mi)
Median age: 44.7 (M: 45.4, F: 43.9) 42.4 (M: 43.1, F: 41.4) 40.1 (M: 41.1, F: 39.1)
Total private dwellings: 272 274 280
Median household income: $89,856 $74,233
References: 2016[5] 2011[6] 2006[7] earlier[8]

According to the 2016 census, there were 663 people residing in O'Connor, of whom 51.1% were male and 48.9% were female. Children under five accounted for approximately 4.5% of the resident population of O'Connor. This compares with 5.2% in Ontario as a whole.

In mid-2006, 9.0% of the resident population in O'Connor were of retirement age (65 and over for males and females) compared with 13.7% in Canada. The average age was 40.8 years of age comparing to 39.5 years of age for all of Canada.

In the five years between 2001 and 1996, the population of O'Connor declined by 0.6% compared with an increase of 6.6% for Ontario province as a whole. Population density of O'Connor averaged 6.6 people per square kilometre, compared with an average of 13.4 for Ontario altogether.[9]

Municipal office of O'Connor Township

Media

The township receives good quality radio from Thunder Bay. Some radio stations from Thunder Bay do not reach this township, such as CILU-FM, The Lakehead University campus radio, and Magic 99.9 FM. Major radio 105.3 The Giant and Rock 94 reach the township with good reception.

See also

References
  1. "Census Profile, 2016 Census: O'Connor, Township". Statistics Canada. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
  2. F.B. Scollie, Thunder Bay Mayors & Councillors 1873-1945 (Thunder Bay Historical Museum Society, 2000), 121-122
  3. O'Connor Township.com directory. Retrieved on 23 September 2007.
  4. Statistics Canada: 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011 census
  5. "2016 Community Profiles". 2016 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. February 21, 2017. Retrieved 2019-07-12.
  6. "2011 Community Profiles". 2011 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. July 5, 2013. Retrieved 2012-03-29.
  7. "2006 Community Profiles". 2006 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. March 30, 2011. Retrieved 2012-03-29.
  8. "2001 Community Profiles". 2001 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. February 17, 2012.
  9. "O'Connor community profile". 2006 Census data. Statistics Canada. Retrieved 2011-04-28.
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