Smithville, Ontario

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Smithville
nickname = "The Hub of the Niagara Penninsula", "The Chicken Capital of Canada"

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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = Canada
subdivision_type1 = Province
subdivision_name1 = Ontario
established = Founded
established_date = 1787
area_total_km2 = 4.61
population_as_of = 2006
population_total = 3769

timezone = EST
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT

Smithville is a community in the township of West Lincoln. It is located on Highway 20 between Hamilton and Niagara Falls in the Niagara Region of Ontario, Canada.

Nicknames

A sign just outside of the town would suggest that Smithville is known as "The Hub of the Niagara Peninsula," and some marketers would have you suggest the town is "The New Capital of Canada."

Annual Events

Although small, it is quite well-known for the annual festival known as Poultry Fest. Held annually in June.

Smithville continues to hold an agricultural fair on the Labour Day weekend every year. There are lots of agricultural competitions, demolition derbies and entertainment for all ages.

Businesses

Retail establishments in Smithville are congregated amongst two major nodes: the downtown core, and the Village Square Mall.

Major businesses downtown include Bert Vis Flooring and Cabinets, Foodland, The Royal Bank, The CIBC, Hodgkins True Value Hardware, the IDA, and Niagara Grain and Feed (associated with Maple Lodge). It is also the location of several real estate, doctor, and financial adviser offices. Located just a short drive from downtown Smithville is the newly renovated Dresser Drawer, an upscale women's boutique.

Notable commercial establishments in the Village Square Mall include, a Giant Tiger, Home Hardware, Subway, Almatay's Restaurant, Gino's Pizza, Tim Hortons, Beer Store. On certain days of the week, this plaza and area can be quite busy. A new addition to the plaza is Touchdown Willy's Tap that Grill.

On the outskirts of the town, there is an Esso gas station.

Following the building of an addition to the plaza, Canada Post moved its outlet to the rear of the plaza, closing the downtown location.

Some of the businesses that have opened this year (2008) are the Sweet Spot, a bakery, The Guitar Loft Music Studio and Impact Martial Arts Studio.

Smithville also has a Farmers Market that runs every Saturday morning in the summer. The market features a carefully selected variety of vendors showcasing local produce, preserves, meat, honey, flowers and baking.

Smithville is constantly expanding, new subdivisions come every year.

Churches

Smithville has a remarkable number of churches for a population of less than 5,000. There are a Pentecostal Church, a Roman Catholic Church, a Lutheran Church, an Anglican Church, a Presbyterian Church, a Church of Christ, a Christian Reformed Church, a Mennonite Brethren Church, and a Canadian Reformed Church, as well as a United Church of Canada.

Education

Smithville has six schools: four elementary and two secondary.

The elementary schools are: College Street, St. Martins, John Calvin, and Covenant Christian Schools.

South Lincoln High School is a public school, while Smithville District Christian High School is a private school.

Government

In some ways Smithville acts as the "administrative centre" of the Township of West Lincoln. The council chambers and the largest branch of the municipal library are located in town, as well as the major fire station. The public works yard is also centralized in a Smithville location.

Smithville falls into two municipal wards. The area north of Townline Road is part of Ward 3, the former Township of South Grimsby. Development south of Townline is part of Ward 2, the former Township of Gainsborough.

The Mayor of West Lincoln serves as the local representative on regional council.

Federally and provincially (as of October 2008), Smithville is located in the Niagara West-Glanbrook riding.

Population

In 2006, Smithville was reported to have a population of 3,769 (Statistics Canada).

Recreation

Parks in Smithville include the Smithville Conservation Area, and the Smithville Fairgrounds and West Lincoln Arena.

The "Murgatroyd Parkette" is at the corner of Griffin and St. Catharines Street. It has trees and benches, and features the town clock (from the original post offices) mounted on a pedestal.

Transportation

The major artery in Smithville, and West Lincoln as a whole, continues to be Highway 20. Highway 20 runs along West Street, Griffin Street North and St. Catharines Street through the town.

The major arteries include the aforementioned Griffin (downtown), St. Catharines (Highway 20 east of Griffin), and West (Highway 20 west of Griffin) streets. Canborough Street and Station Street, the southern and northern extensions of Griffin Street, are designated as part of Regional Road 14. Townline Road is the major artery in the southern portion of town, and is also known as Smithville Road west of town. It is also designated as part of 14, up to the intersection with Canborough.

Smithville is located on Canadian Pacific's Hamilton Subdivision, and was formerly the location of a junction with the railroad's Dunnville spur. The latter was abandoned in 2003, and has subsequently been removed (as far as Attercliffe). The former railroad station is a local landmark, and is the headquarters of the West Lincoln Historical Society.

Smithville is also along the Twenty Mile Creek, a waterway which was important to its early settlement and development.