Goderich (Ontario)

Goderich
	Motto : Canada's Prettiest Town
Location in Ontario
	Goderich
	Goderich
State :	Canada
Province :	Ontario
County :	Huron County
Coordinates :	43 ° 45 ′ N , 81 ° 42 ′ W Coordinates: 43 ° 45 ′ N , 81 ° 42 ′ W
Height :	213 m
Area :	8.64 km²
Residents :	7628 (as of 2016)
Population density :	882.9 inhabitants / km²
Time zone :	Eastern Time ( UTC − 5 )
Postal code :	N7A
Area code :	+1 519 and 226
Foundation :	1850
Mayor :	Kevin Morrison
Website :	www.goderich.ca/en

Goderich is a city in the Canadian province of Ontario with 7628 inhabitants (2016). It is located in Huron County and is also its administrative seat.

geography

Goderich is located on the east bank of Lake Huron at the mouth of the Maitland River . The cities of London and Cambridge are 95 kilometers to the south and 120 kilometers to the southeast, respectively. Goderich opens Ontario Highway 8 in the Ontario Highway 21 .

history

Frederick John Robinson,
1st Earl of Ripon, 1st Viscount Goderich

The city of Goderich was created as an indirect consequence of the war of 1812 . During this war, the settlers living on Lake Ontario and Erie had lost much of their belongings to both soldiers and invaders. To compensate, they were offered land in the area of today's Goderich. The name of the place is based on Frederick John Robinson, 1st Earl of Ripon, 1st Viscount Goderich . The city was officially founded in 1850, and a railway line reached the site in 1858. The former station is now listed in the Canadian Register of Historic Places . Many other historically valuable buildings were built at the end of the 19th century , including the Huron County Gaol , a former prison in which Steven Truscott was temporarily incarcerated.

A salt mine in Goderich, which is 1,800 ft (550 m) below Lake Huron, is one of the largest underground salt mines in the world. It has been in operation since 1959 and has been operated by Compass Minerals since 1990 . The rock salt produced in the mine is primarily used to keep the roads free of snow and ice. The salt is shipped to many communities around the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River .

On the afternoon of August 21, 2011, a tornado marked F3 on the Fujita scale reached the city. The devastating storm destroyed power lines, tore roofs off houses, and left cars and trees strewn across the city streets. Hundred-year-old trees surrounding Goderich's courthouse were uprooted in seconds. One person was killed and many people injured. The reconstruction of the destroyed buildings began as soon as possible and most of the damage was repaired after only a year.

Due to the architectural features as well as the natural beauties of the area and the location on Lake Huron, tourism is becoming increasingly important. Water sports activities as well as observation of animals and the sunset are very attractive for visitors. To promote the city, Goderich is named Canada's Prettiest Tow and is also listed as one of the prettiest small towns in Ontario.