| Official Name: | City of Niagara Falls, Ontario |
| Nickname: | The Honeymoon Capital of the World |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Type2: | Region |
| Subdivision Name: | Canada |
| Subdivision Name1: | Ontario |
| Subdivision Name2: | Niagara |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Title1: | Governing body |
| Leader Title2: | MP |
| Leader Title3: | MPP |
| Leader Name: | Ted Salci |
| Leader Name1: | Niagara Falls City Council |
| Leader Name2: | Rob Nicholson |
| Leader Name3: | Kim Craitor |
| Established Title: | Incorporated |
| Established Date: | June 12, 1903 |
| Unit Pref: | Metric |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] [2] |
| Area Total Km2: | 209.58 |
| Area Urban Km2: | 382.68 |
| Area Metro Km2: | 1397.50 |
| Population As Of: | 2006 |
| Population Total: | 82181 (Ranked 60th) |
| Population Density Km2: | 392.14 |
| Population Urban: | 308596 (Ranked 12th) |
| Population Density Urban Km2: | 545.02 |
| Population Metro: | 390317 (Ranked 12th) |
| Population Density Metro Km2: | 279.3 |
| Timezone: | EST |
| Utc Offset: | -5 |
| Timezone Dst: | EDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -4 |
| Latd: | 43 |
| Latm: | 07 |
| Latns: | N |
| Longd: | 79 |
| Longm: | 04 |
| Longew: | W |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal Code |
| Postal Code: | L2E-L2J, L0S |
| Area Code: | 905/289 |
| Website: | http://www.niagarafalls.ca |
Niagara Falls is a Canadian city of 82,184 residents[1] on the Niagara River in the Golden Horseshoe region of south-central Ontario. It lies across the river from Niagara Falls, New York, and was incorporated on June 12, 1903.
The city is dominated by Niagara Falls, a world famous set of two large waterfalls on the Niagara River and benefits from the fact that both falls, the American and Horseshoe, can be best seen from the Canadian side of the river, thus presenting the city one of the major tourist attractions of the world. The natural spectacle brings in millions of tourists yearly. The city permitted the development of a tourist area along the falls and the gorge. This area which stretches along the Niagara River parkway and tourist promenade is particularly concentrated at the brink of the falls and, apart from the natural attractions along the river, includes huge parking lots, souvenir shops, observation towers, high-rise-hotels, casinos and theatres, mostly with colourful neon billboards and advertisements. Further to the north or south there are golf courses alongside historic sites from the War of 1812.
The Niagara Falls area has seen continuous settlement since the 17th century, first by the Iroquois and then by Europeans who were drawn to the immense falls. Louis Hennepin, a French priest, is regarded as the first European to visit the area in the 1670s.
Tourism started in the early 19th century and has been a vital part of the local economy since that time. As well as the obvious attractions of the falls, Niagara Falls markets itself as a honeymoon destination and is self-proclaimed as the honeymoon capital of the world. In 1953, Marilyn Monroe filmed Niagara (1953 film), a major event for the city.
In 1963, the city absorbed the surrounding Stamford Township, resulting in a doubling of population.
With the creation of a Niagara regional government in 1970, the city amalgamated with the village of Chippawa, Willoughby Township and part of Crowland Township, creating the present-day municipal boundaries.
The City's Official Historian is Sherman Zavitz, who gives regular radio broadcasts on many aspects of Niagara's history [3] .
Niagara Falls, Ontario is 130 kilometers (81 mi) from Toronto by road. The area of the Niagara Region is 1800 square kilometers (718 sq mi). The city sits at .
The city is built along the Niagara Falls waterfalls and the Niagara Gorge on the Niagara River which flows from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario.
The weather and climate for the Niagara Region of Ontario is humid continental moderated to an extent in all seasons by proximity to water bodies.[4]
| Niagara Falls climate normals from Environment Canada | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg. temp. (°C) | -4.5 | -4.1 | 1 | 7.3 | 14 | 19.1 | 22.3 | 21.4 | 16.9 | 10.6 | 4.7 | -1.4 | 8.9 |
| Avg high temp. (°C) | -1 | -0.5 | 5.1 | 12.2 | 19.3 | 24.2 | 27.2 | 26 | 21.3 | 14.7 | 8 | 1.9 | 13.2 |
| Avg low temp. (°C) | -7.9 | -7.7 | -3.2 | 2.4 | 8.6 | 13.9 | 17.2 | 16.7 | 12.5 | 6.4 | 1.3 | -4.7 | 4.6 |
| Precipitation (millimeters) | 69.5 | 67.4 | 75.5 | 75.5 | 76.5 | 87.5 | 75.4 | 81.6 | 95.2 | 84.3 | 91 | 90.7 | 970.1 |
| Snowfall (centimeters) | 42.4 | 38.9 | 20.0 | 7.3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.6 | 11.6 | 40.1 | 160.9 |
| Ethnic Origin | Population | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| English | 22,880 | 29.32% |
| Italian | 15,425 | 19.77% |
| Scottish | 13,910 | 17.82% |
| Irish | 11,200 | 14.35% |
| French | 8,710 | 11.16% |
| colspan=3 | Source: 2001 Census of Canada[5] |
83.97% of Niagara Falls city residents self-identified with Christian denominations. The largest denominations consist of Catholic (41.99%), Protestant (36.80%), and 5.18% other Christian mostly Orthodox, 14.10% claimed no religious affiliation, while other religions (1.93%) including Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, and Muslim accounted for the rest.[6]
With a plentiful and inexpensive source of hydroelectric power via the waterfalls, many electro-chemical and electro-metallurgical industries located here in the early to mid-20th century.
Industry began moving out of the city in the 1970s and 80s because of recession and increasing global competition in the manufacturing sector. Tourism tightened its grip as the city's most important economic engine. It is a more popular destination than Niagara Falls, New York, in part due to the better view of the falls from the Canadian side. Also, Ontario's drinking age of 19 (compared to the 21 drinking age in the United States) attracts many 19 and 20-year-olds from the United States to the bars on the Canadian side.
In the mid-1990s the Ontario government introduced legal wagering to the local economy with Casino Niagara. The late-1990s witnessed an economic boom as numerous luxury hotels and tourist attractions were built. The first casino was followed in 2004 by the larger Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort. Upon launching, the casino business was successful in attracting American tourists due to the then lower Canadian dollar. However, with a United States Dollar lower than parity, the Seneca Niagara Casino on the American side, and a casino facility coming to Buffalo, New York, as well as impending passport requirements on the American side, the local tourist economy is not without potential problems.
The recent development has been almost completely centred on the Clifton Hill and Fallsview areas. The Niagara Falls downtown is undergoing a major revitalization process, this area is being developed into a arts and culture district. The downtown was a major centre for local commerce and night life up until the 1970s, when the development of the Niagara Square (mall) began to draw away crowds and retailers. In 2006, New York City based developer Aaron Lichtman proposed a major investment in the area to encourage new retail development; the proposal, titled Historic Niagara, remains dependent on government funding of complementary services. Since then Historic Niagara has brought art galleries, boutiques, cafes and bistros to the street and includes the renovation of the Seneca Theatre.
Niagara Falls City Council consists of 8 councilors and 1 Mayor. City elections take place every 4 years with the next election in November 2010. Council is responsible for policy and decision making, monitoring the operation and performance of the city, analyzing and approving budgets and determining spending priorities.
Niagara Falls has two post-secondary institutions as well is served by the District School Board of Niagara and the Niagara Catholic District School Board which operate elementary and secondary schools in the region. There are also numerous private institutions offer alternatives to the traditional education systems.
Niagara Falls is also served by a growing library system composed of four branches, with the main branch located in the downtown area. It is visited by over 10,000 people weekly. The Niagara Falls Public Library system's goals include preserving and indexing public materials relating to the history of Niagara Falls. An extensive online database exists with over 20,000 photographs and art works at Historic Niagara Digital Collections
The Niagara Falls, Ontario tourist district is mainly centred around the waterfalls. Much of the land adjoining the river is parkland under the jurisdiction of the Niagara Parks Commission. Many attractions based on the local natural environment have been created. To prolong visitor stays the city of Niagara Falls has a number of additional attractions in close proximity but not related to the natural features, including casinos and entertainment complexes. One new attraction, located in the Table Rock Center at the brink of the Horseshoe Falls, is called Niagara's Fury and is a representation of how the Falls were created. The attraction creates a simulated ice age environment where the visitor is able to feel rain and snow fall, as well as experience a rapid temperature drop. The Niagara Peninsula is also a significant wine-growing area, with winery tours and festivals becoming a significant area of growth in the local economy.The Canadian side of Niagara Falls has more attractions.
Niagara Falls and Niagara Falls, New York are linked to major highways in Canada and the United States respectively, with the Queen Elizabeth Way acting as a major artery between Toronto, Ontario and Buffalo, New York. Highway 420 (along with Niagara Regional Road 420), the original terminus of the QEW, connects the Rainbow Bridge to the QEW. Niagara Parkway is a road operated under the Niagara Parks Commission which connects Niagara-on-the-Lake to Fort Erie via Niagara Falls.
Shuttle bus services connect the city with all three airports.
Niagara Falls is served by two main local newspapers, three radio stations and a community television channel. All other media is regionally based, as well, from Hamilton, Toronto and nearby Buffalo, New York.
Niagara Falls is considered part of the Toronto television market rather than the Buffalo television market. While Niagara Falls is directly across the Niagara River from the American side of the Buffalo area, Toronto is an hour and a half northwest. However, it is considered part of the Buffalo radio market.
Due to its proximity to Toronto and Buffalo, the local media is dominated by Toronto and Buffalo outlets. Local residents have easy access to the papers like the Toronto Star and the Toronto Sun. The Buffalo News is also widely available.
Local newspapers are:
| -- sorted by date established --> | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Club | League | Sport | Venue | Established | Championships |
| Niagara Falls Canucks | Golden Horseshoe Junior B Hockey League | Hockey | Niagara Falls Memorial Arena | 1979 | 2 |
| Niagara IceDogs | Ontario Hockey League | Hockey | Gatorade Civic Center | 2007 | 2 |