Parry Sound District is a census division

Census division

Census division is an official term in Canada and the United States. The census divisions of Canada are second-level census geographic unit, below provinces and territories, and above "census subdivisions" and "dissemination areas". In provinces where they exist, the census division may correspond...

 of the Canadian province of Ontario

Ontario

Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....

. Its seat is Parry Sound

Parry Sound, Ontario

Parry Sound is a town in Central Ontario, Canada, located on Parry Sound on the eastern shore of Georgian Bay. Parry Sound is located south of Sudbury and north of Toronto. It is the seat of Parry Sound District, a popular cottage country region for Southern Ontario residents. It is also the...

. Its boundaries are Muskoka

Muskoka District Municipality, Ontario

The District Municipality of Muskoka, more generally referred to as the District of Muskoka, or simply Muskoka, is a Regional Municipality located in Central Ontario, Canada. Muskoka extends from Georgian Bay in the west, to the northern tip of Lake Couchiching in the south, to the western border...

 to the south, the Sudbury District

Sudbury District, Ontario

The Sudbury District is a district in Northeastern Ontario in the Canadian province of Ontario. It was created in 1894 from townships of eastern Algoma District and west Nipissing District....

, the French River

French River (Ontario)

The French River is a river in Central Ontario, Canada. It flows from Lake Nipissing west to Georgian Bay. The river largely follows the boundary between the Parry Sound District and the Sudbury District, and in most contexts is considered the dividing line between Northern Ontario and Southern...

 and Lake Nipissing

Lake Nipissing

Lake Nipissing is a lake in the Canadian province of Ontario. It has a surface area of , a mean elevation of above sea level, and is located between the Ottawa River and Georgian Bay. Excluding the Great Lakes, Lake Nipissing is the fifth-largest lake in Ontario. It is relatively shallow for a...

 in the north, Nipissing District, Ontario

Nipissing District, Ontario

Nipissing District, Ontario is a district in Northeastern Ontario in the Canadian province of Ontario. It was created in 1858. The district seat is North Bay.In 2006, the population was 84,688...

 and North Bay

North Bay, Ontario

North Bay is a city in Northeastern Ontario, Canada. It is the seat of Nipissing District, and takes its name from its position on the shore of Lake Nipissing.-History:...

 in the north and east and parts of Algonquin Park

Algonquin Provincial Park

Algonquin Provincial Park is a provincial park located between Georgian Bay and the Ottawa River in Central Ontario, Canada, mostly within the Unorganized South Part of Nipissing District. Established in 1893, it is the oldest provincial park in Canada. Additions since its creation have increased...

 in the northeast.

In 2006, the population was 40,918. The land area is 9222.04 square kilometres (3,561 sq mi); the population density was 4.4 /km2.

Although geographically in Southern Ontario

Southern Ontario

Southern Ontario is a region of the province of Ontario, Canada that lies south of the French River and Algonquin Park. Depending on the inclusion of the Parry Sound and Muskoka districts, its surface area would cover between 14 to 15% of the province. It is the southernmost region of...

, the Parry Sound District is the only census division

Census divisions of Ontario

In the Canadian province of Ontario, there are three different types of census divisions: single-tier municipalities, upper-tier municipalities and districts...

 in the southern part of the province which does not have an incorporated county, regional municipality

Regional municipality

A regional municipality is a type of Canadian municipal government similar to and at the same municipal government level as a county, although the specific structure and servicing responsibilities may vary from place to place...

 or district municipality

District municipality

A district municipality is a designation for a class of municipalities found in several locations, including Canada, Lithuania, and South Africa.-Usage in British Columbia:...

 level of government, instead serving as a purely territorial division like the districts of Northern Ontario

Northern Ontario

Northern Ontario is a region of the Canadian province of Ontario which lies north of Lake Huron , the French River and Lake Nipissing. The region has a land area of 802,000 km2 and constitutes 87% of the land area of Ontario, although it contains only about 6% of the population...

.

In lieu of an upper tier of municipal administration, all government services in the district are provided either by the local municipalities or by the provincial government itself. Some communities which are not part of any incorporated municipality are served by local services boards. The district is also included in the service area of FedNor

FedNor

The Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario is a program of Industry Canada whose mission is to address the economic development, diversification and job creation in Northern Ontario. FedNor especially aids women, Franco-ontarians, youth, and Aboriginal peoples in Ontario...

 and the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund

Northern Ontario Heritage Fund

The Northern Ontario Heritage Fund is a division of the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry in the Canadian province of Ontario, whose purpose is to provide funding and program support to foster economic development in the economically disadvantaged Northern Ontario region.The NOHF...

. Accordingly, in some contexts the division is grouped with the Northern Ontario

Northern Ontario

Northern Ontario is a region of the Canadian province of Ontario which lies north of Lake Huron , the French River and Lake Nipissing. The region has a land area of 802,000 km2 and constitutes 87% of the land area of Ontario, although it contains only about 6% of the population...

 region instead of Southern Ontario.

Townships

• The Archipelago
  The Archipelago
  The Archipelago is a township in central Ontario, Canada, along the Georgian Bay in the District of Parry Sound.The municipality consists of two non-contiguous parts, separated by Carling Township and the Parry Sound. The northern part includes the village of Pointe au Baril on the mainland and...
  
  
• Armour
  Armour, Ontario
  Armour is a township in the Canadian province of Ontario.Located in the Parry Sound District, the township surrounds but does not include the village of Burk's Falls...
  
  
• Callander
  Callander, Ontario
  The Municipality of Callander is a township in central Ontario, Canada, located at the southeast end of Lake Nipissing in the District of Parry Sound...
  
  
• Carling
  Carling, Ontario
  Carling is a township in Ontario, Canada, located in the District of Parry Sound on Georgian Bay. Killbear Provincial Park is located in the municipality.The CBC Television series The Rez was shot there at Harrison's Landing.-Communities:*Adanac...
  
  
• Joly
  Joly, Ontario
  Joly is a township in the Canadian province of Ontario.Located in the Parry Sound District, the township had a population of 290 in the 2001 Canadian census...
  
  
• Machar
  Machar, Ontario
  Machar is a township in the Canadian province of Ontario.Located in the Parry Sound District, Machar surrounds but does not include the village of South River.The township had a population of 849 in the 2001 Canadian census, and 866 in the 2006 census...
  
  
• Magnetawan
• McDougall
  McDougall, Ontario
  McDougall is a township in central Ontario, Canada, on the Parry Sound in the District of Parry Sound. It was named after William McDougall, one of the Fathers of Confederation....
  
  
• McKellar
  McKellar, Ontario
  McKellar is a township and census subdivision in Parry Sound District, Ontario, Canada. Per the 2001 Census, it has a population of 933.McKellar is named for Archibald McKellar , a member of the legislative assemblies for the province of Canada and Ontario .-Communities:McKellar is also the...
  
  
• McMurrich/Monteith
  McMurrich/Monteith, Ontario
  McMurrich/Monteith is a municipality and census subdivision in Parry Sound District, Ontario, Canada.The municipality was formed in 1998 through an amalgamation of the former Township of McMurrich and the eastern two-thirds of the unincorporated Township of Monteith...
  
  
• Nipissing
  Nipissing, Ontario
  Nipissing is a township in central Ontario, Canada, on Lake Nipissing in Parry Sound District. Nipissing was surveyed between 1874 and 1881, and was incorporated in 1888. Among the first settlers in the area were the Chapman and Beatty families. Nipissing village annexed Gurd Township in 1970...
  
  
• Perry
  Perry, Ontario
  Perry is a township in the Canadian province of Ontario, located in the Parry Sound District.The township had a population of 2,252 in the 2001 Canadian census.-Demographics:Population trend:...
  
  
• Ryerson
  Ryerson, Ontario
  Ryerson is an incorporated township in Parry Sound District in northeastern Ontario, Canada. It had a population of 686 in the 2006 Canadian census...
  
  
• Seguin
  Seguin, Ontario
  Seguin is a township in central Ontario, Canada, in the District of Parry Sound. The township was incorporated on January 1, 1998, by amalgamating the former townships of Humphrey, Foley, Christie, and the western half of Monteith with the village of Rosseau....
  
  
• Strong
  Strong, Ontario
  Strong is a township in the Canadian province of Ontario, as well as the name of a community within the township. Located in the Parry Sound District, the township surrounds but does not include the village of Sundridge....
  
  
• Whitestone
  Whitestone, Ontario
  Whitestone is a township in the Canadian province of Ontario, as well as the name of a community within the township.The township, located in the Parry Sound District, had a population of 853 in the 2001 Canadian census.-History:...
  
  

Villages

• Burk's Falls
• South River
  South River, Ontario
  South River is a village located on Highway 11 near Algonquin Park in the Parry Sound District of Ontario, Canada. It is about a half hour drive south of North Bay or a three hour drive north of Toronto. South River claims to be the second busiest entrance to the Algonquin Park...
  
  
• Sundridge
  Sundridge, Ontario
  Sundridge is a village in central Ontario, Canada, approximately 75 km south of North Bay, Ontario along Highway 11, on the shore of Lake Bernard. Sundridge is a tourist destination in both winter and summer, with boating and snowmobiling providing the main attraction. Algonquin Provincial Park is...
  
  

Unorganized areas

• Centre
  Parry Sound, Unorganized, Centre Part, Ontario
  Small southern exclave...
  
  
• North East

Local services boards in the unorganized areas:

• Britt
  Britt, Ontario
  Britt is a community in the Canadian province of Ontario, located in the unincorporated township of Wallbridge in the Parry Sound District.The community is located on the north shore of the Magnetawan River at Byng Inlet, approximately 5 kilometres west of Highway 69, at the end of Highway 526.Like...
  
   and Byng Inlet
  Byng Inlet, Ontario
  Byng Inlet is a ghost town in Parry Sound District, Ontario. For a period in the nineteenth century it was home to one of largest sawmill operations in Canada. The name of the town came from that of the English Admiral John Byng...
  
  
• Laurier
  Laurier, Ontario
  Laurier is a local services board in the Canadian province of Ontario, consisting of the unincorporated township of Laurier in the Parry Sound District.The township also constitutes the entire unorganized area of Parry Sound, Unorganized, North East Part...
  
  
• Loring, Port Loring and District
  Loring, Port Loring and District, Ontario
  Loring, Port Loring and District is a local services board in the Canadian province of Ontario, located in the Parry Sound District.The board administers services in the geographic townships of Blair, East Mills and Wilson and parts of the geographic townships of Hardy, McConkey and Pringle,...
  
  
• Restoule

First Nations

• Dokis
  Dokis 9, Ontario
  Dokis 9 is a First Nations reserve and community in the Canadian province of Ontario, assigned to the Dokis First Nation. The reserve is located approximately 16 kilometers southwest of central southern Lake Nipissing along the French River. It is divided into two large parts consisting of a north...
  
  
• French River
• Henvey Inlet
• Magnetewan
• Naiscoutaing
• Parry Island or Wasauksing First Nation
  Wasauksing First Nation
  Wasauksing First Nation is an Ojibwa, Odawa and Pottawatomi First Nation located near Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada....
  
  
• Shawanaga

Original Townships

• Armour
  Armour, Ontario
  Armour is a township in the Canadian province of Ontario.Located in the Parry Sound District, the township surrounds but does not include the village of Burk's Falls...
  
   - Still exists.
• Bethune - Annexed by the Town of Killarney
  Killarney, Ontario
  Killarney is a municipality located on the northern shore of Georgian Bay in the Sudbury District of Ontario. It is also the name of the largest community within the municipality...
  
  .
• Blair - Still exists. Never incorporated.
• Brown - Still exists. Never incorporated.
• Burpee - Now part of the Municipality of Whitestone
  Whitestone, Ontario
  Whitestone is a township in the Canadian province of Ontario, as well as the name of a community within the township.The township, located in the Parry Sound District, had a population of 853 in the 2001 Canadian census.-History:...
  
  .
• Burton - Now part of the Municipality of Whitestone.
• Carling
  Carling, Ontario
  Carling is a township in Ontario, Canada, located in the District of Parry Sound on Georgian Bay. Killbear Provincial Park is located in the municipality.The CBC Television series The Rez was shot there at Harrison's Landing.-Communities:*Adanac...
  
   - Still exists.
• Chapman - Became part of the Municipality of Magnetawan
  Magnetawan, Ontario
  Magnetawan is a township in the Canadian province of Ontario, as well as the name of a community within the former Township of Chapman.Located in the Parry Sound District, the township had a population of 1,610 in the 2006 Canadian census....
  
  .
• Christie - Now part of the Municipality of Seguin
  Seguin, Ontario
  Seguin is a township in central Ontario, Canada, in the District of Parry Sound. The township was incorporated on January 1, 1998, by amalgamating the former townships of Humphrey, Foley, Christie, and the western half of Monteith with the village of Rosseau....
  
  .
• Conger - Now part of the Municipality of the Archipelago and a small part is in the Municipality of Seguin.
• Cowper - Now part of the Municipality of the Archipelago.
• Croft - Most became part of the Municipality of Whitestone while a small part became part of the Municipality of Magnetawan.
• East Mills - Still exists. Never incorporated.
• Ferguson - Annexed by McDougall Township.
• Ferrie - Now part of the Municipality of Whitestone.
• Foley - Now part of the Municipality of Seguin.
• Gurd
  Gurd Township, Ontario
  Gurd Township is an historical geographical township in central Ontario, Canada in Parry Sound District. It was first surveyed in 1875 and was named after R.S. Gurd, a businessman. In 1976, Gurd was annexed by the incorporated Nipissing Township. The township was shaped like an "L" wrapping around...
  
   - Annexed by Nipissing Township.
• Hagerman - Now part of the Municipality of Whitestone.
• Hardy - Still exists. Never incorporated.
• Harrison - Still existsalthough most of it became part of the Municipality of the Archipelago
  The Archipelago, Ontario
  The Archipelago is a township in central Ontario, Canada, along the Georgian Bay in the District of Parry Sound.The municipality consists of two non-contiguous parts, separated by Carling Township and the Parry Sound. The northern part includes the village of Pointe au Baril on the mainland and...
  
  . Never incorporated.
• Henvey - Still existsalthough its northern section was transferred to the Town of Killarney
  Killarney, Ontario
  Killarney is a municipality located on the northern shore of Georgian Bay in the Sudbury District of Ontario. It is also the name of the largest community within the municipality...
  
   in Sudbury District
  Sudbury District, Ontario
  The Sudbury District is a district in Northeastern Ontario in the Canadian province of Ontario. It was created in 1894 from townships of eastern Algoma District and west Nipissing District....
  
  . Never incorporated.
• Humphrey - Now part of the Municipality of Seguin.
• Joly
  Joly, Ontario
  Joly is a township in the Canadian province of Ontario.Located in the Parry Sound District, the township had a population of 290 in the 2001 Canadian census...
  
   - Still exists.
• Laurier - Still exists. Never incorporated.
• Lount
  Lount Township, Ontario
  Lount is a geographic township in the Unorganized Centre Part of Parry Sound District in Central Ontario, Canada. The communities of Bummer's Roost, Rye and Wattenwyle are located in the township. It originally was settled by the building of the Rosseau and Nipssing Road which cuts diagonally...
  
   - Still exists. Never incorporated.
• Machar
  Machar, Ontario
  Machar is a township in the Canadian province of Ontario.Located in the Parry Sound District, Machar surrounds but does not include the village of South River.The township had a population of 849 in the 2001 Canadian census, and 866 in the 2006 census...
  
   - Still exists.
• McConkey - Still exists. Never incorporated.
• McDougall
  McDougall, Ontario
  McDougall is a township in central Ontario, Canada, on the Parry Sound in the District of Parry Sound. It was named after William McDougall, one of the Fathers of Confederation....
  
   - Still exists, but is larger having annexed Ferguson Township.
• McKellar
  McKellar, Ontario
  McKellar is a township and census subdivision in Parry Sound District, Ontario, Canada. Per the 2001 Census, it has a population of 933.McKellar is named for Archibald McKellar , a member of the legislative assemblies for the province of Canada and Ontario .-Communities:McKellar is also the...
  
   - Still exists.
• McKenzie - Now part of the Municipality of Whitestone.
• McMurrich - Now part of the Township of McMurrich/Monteith.
• Monteith - Western two thirds became part of the Municipality of Seguin while the eastern third became part of the Township of McMurrich/Monteith
  McMurrich/Monteith, Ontario
  McMurrich/Monteith is a municipality and census subdivision in Parry Sound District, Ontario, Canada.The municipality was formed in 1998 through an amalgamation of the former Township of McMurrich and the eastern two-thirds of the unincorporated Township of Monteith...
  
  .
• Mowat - Still exists although a small section was transferred to the Town of Killarney in Sudbury District. Never incorporated.
• North Himsworth
  Callander, Ontario
  The Municipality of Callander is a township in central Ontario, Canada, located at the southeast end of Lake Nipissing in the District of Parry Sound...
  
   - Changed names to Callander. Now the Municipality of Callander.
• Nipissing
  Nipissing, Ontario
  Nipissing is a township in central Ontario, Canada, on Lake Nipissing in Parry Sound District. Nipissing was surveyed between 1874 and 1881, and was incorporated in 1888. Among the first settlers in the area were the Chapman and Beatty families. Nipissing village annexed Gurd Township in 1970...
  
   - Still exists, but is larger having annexed Gurd Township.
• Patterson
  Patterson Township, Ontario
  Patterson Township is a geographic township in central Ontario, Canada. As it is unincorporated, it is located in the Central Unorganized portion of Parry Sound District. The township is located where the French River flows from Lake Nipissing, and then stretches south until it meets Pringle...
  
   - Still exists. Never incorporated.
• Perry
  Perry, Ontario
  Perry is a township in the Canadian province of Ontario, located in the Parry Sound District.The township had a population of 2,252 in the 2001 Canadian census.-Demographics:Population trend:...
  
   - Still exists.
• Pringle - Still exists. Never incorporated.
• Proudfoot - Annexed by the Town of Kearney
  Kearney, Ontario
  Kearney is a town and municipality in the Parry Sound District of Ontario, Canada. With a landmass of 529 square kilometres and a year round population of 798 in the Canada 2006 Census, Kearney claims to be the "Biggest Little Town in Ontario."-History:...
  
  .
• Ryerson
  Ryerson, Ontario
  Ryerson is an incorporated township in Parry Sound District in northeastern Ontario, Canada. It had a population of 686 in the 2006 Canadian census...
  
   - Still exists.
• Shawanaga - Still exists, although most of it became part of the Municipality of the Archipelago. Never incorporated.
• South Himsworth - Annexed by the Municipality of Powassan
  Powassan, Ontario
  Powassan is a municipality in the Canadian province of Ontario, located near North Bay. Powassan is located in the Parry Sound District, at its easternmost boundary with the Nipissing District....
  
  .
• Spence - Still exists. Never incorporated.
• Strong
  Strong, Ontario
  Strong is a township in the Canadian province of Ontario, as well as the name of a community within the township. Located in the Parry Sound District, the township surrounds but does not include the village of Sundridge....
  
   - Still exists.
• Wallbridge - Still exists. Never incorporated.
• Wilson - Still exists. Never incorporated.

Demographics

• 93.8% White
• 5.5% Aboriginal (3.8% First Nations, 1.5% Métis)
• 0.7% Visible Minorities

Forest fire protection history

The Parry Sound Forest Fire District was founded by Ontario's former Department of Lands and Forests (now the MNR) in 1922 as one of 17 districts to help protect Ontario's forests from fire by early detection from fire towers. The headquarters for the district were housed in the town of Parry Sound. It was the central location for 21 fire tower lookouts, including the Parry Sound fire tower, which was erected in the same location as the modern lookout tower at 17 George Street. The other 20 towers in the district were: Pickerel River CPR, Byng Inlet, Still River, Pointe au Baril, Pakesley, Pickerel River CNR, Key Junction, Ardbeg, Spence, Go Home, Loring, Stormy Lake (Restoule), Nipissing, Boulter, Lount, Laurier, Strong, Proudfoot, Stisted and Draper. When a fire was spotted in the forest a towerman would get the degree bearings from his respective tower and radio back the information to headquarters. When one or more towermen from other towers in the area would also call in their bearings, the forest rangers at headquarters could get a 'triangulation' read and plot the exact location of the fire on their map. This way a team of forest firefighters could be dispatched as soon as possible to get the fire under control. In 1969 there remained only 4 actively manned towers: Ardbeg, Go Home, Stormy Lake, and Boulter. These would all be phased out shortly after when aerial fire fighting techniques were employed in the 1970s.

External links

• The Parry Sound Area Chamber of Commerce
• Parry Sound and Area information
• Map of Parry Sound District showing its municipalities
• Rooted in Stone: Reflections on West Parry Sound's Past
• Almaguin Highlands Ontario East Parry Sound's Almaguin Highlands Regional Portal
• Almaguin Highlands Digital Collection A service of Knowledge Ontario