Burk's Falls

Burk's Falls is an incorporated village in the Almaguin Highlands region of Parry Sound District, Ontario, Canada, located 265 kilometres (165 mi) north of Toronto and 90 kilometres (56 mi) south of North Bay, Ontario. The village, and the waterfall on the site, were named (for himself) by David Francis Burk of Oshawa, after he selected the land surrounding the waterfall in the Free Land Grant Act.[4] Burk's Falls is part of the Magnetawan River waterway.

Burk's Falls
Village (single-tier)
Village of Burk's Falls
Burk's Falls is located in Southern Ontario
Burk's Falls
Burk's Falls
Coordinates: 45°37′N 79°24′W
CountryCanada
ProvinceOntario
DistrictParry Sound
Settled1860s
Incorporation1890
Government
[1]
 • MayorChris Hope
 • Federal ridingParry Sound—Muskoka
 • Prov. ridingParry Sound—Muskoka
Area
[2]
 • Land3.09 km2 (1.19 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[3]
 • Total957
 • Density310.0/km2 (803/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
Postal Code
P0A 1C0
Area code(s)705
Websiteburksfalls.net

Geography

Located about 60 kilometres (37 mi) west of Algonquin Provincial Park in picturesque cottage country, Burk's Falls is at the intersection of Ontario Highway 11 and the Magnetawan River.[5] It is an enclave within Armour Township. The area is set amid the fresh-water bodies that make Northern Ontario famous; the largest of which are Horn Lake to the Northwest, Pickerel Lake to the Northeast, Three Mile Lake to the Southeast, and the joined Doe and Little Doe Lakes to the Southwest.

History
The steamship Glenada moored in Burk's Fall in 1920.

The area around Burk's Falls was first settled by loggers during the 1860s. At that time, the only access to the region was via the Magnetawan River from Georgian Bay, or through the forests of the unsurveyed townships, north of Bracebridge. After 1875 the Rosseau-Nipissing Colonization Road allowed access from Muskoka, to the south. In 1879 steamboat service was established to the foot of the falls, from the historic village of Magnetawan.[6] Railway service came to Burk's Falls in 1886, with the opening of Northern and Pacific Junction Railway, absorbed by the Grand Trunk Railway in 1888. The Village of Burk's Falls was incorporated in 1890.

A steamship transits the swing bridge at Burk's Falls.

A rare swing bridge was completed over the Magnetawan, just west of Burk's Falls.[6]

Heritage River Walk
Post Office, built in 1935

Growth of the village

This growth has been limited and Burk's Falls has not amalgamated with any nearby towns such as Katrine. The population has remained steady over the last decades, standing around 1000. Expansion of Highway 11 as a dual carriageway has prompted a new interchange.

Also located in Burk's Falls is the Outward Bound Canadian Base Camp.

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Burk's Falls had a population of 957 living in 465 of its 523 total private dwellings, a change of -2.4% from its 2016 population of 981. With a land area of 3.09 km2 (1.19 sq mi), it had a population density of 309.7/km2 (802.1/sq mi) in 2021.[7]

Canada census – Burk's Falls community profile
202120162011
Population957 (-2.4% from 2016)981 (+1.4% from 2011)967 (+8.3% from 2006)
Land area3.09 km2 (1.19 sq mi)3.07 km2 (1.19 sq mi)3.12 km2 (1.20 sq mi)
Population density310/km2 (800/sq mi)319.2/km2 (827/sq mi)309.9/km2 (803/sq mi)
Median age45.2 (M: 43.2, F: 48.8)44.8 (M: 43.8, F: 45.7)
Private dwellings523 (total)  465 (occupied)510 (total)  476 (total) 
Median household income$54,400$40,288
References: 2021[8] 2016[9] 2011[10] earlier[11][12]

Transportation

The village is served by provincial highways 11 and 520.

Intercity motor coach service to Burk's Falls is provided by Ontario Northland along its Toronto–Barrie–Parry Sound–Sudbury route's local schedule; it is bypassed by express schedules, but still receives twice-daily service northbound and southbound.

References
  1. "Burk's Falls Village Council". Archived from the original on 2008-05-09. Retrieved 2018-09-08.
  2. "Burk's Falls census profile". 2011 Census of Population. Statistics Canada. Retrieved 2012-03-12.
  3. "Census Profile, 2021 Census: Burk's Falls, Village". Statistics Canada. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  4. The Municipality of the Village of Burk's Falls Ontario, Canada
  5. Burks Falls, Ontario, Canada — Welcome to our thought-provoking, exciting Village
  6. Astrid Taim (2016). "Astrid Taim's Almaguin Chronicles 2-Book Bundle: Almaguin / Almaguin Chronicles". Dundurn Press. ISBN 9781459737006. Retrieved 2018-09-08.
  7. "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions (municipalities), Ontario". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  8. "2021 Community Profiles". 2021 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. February 4, 2022. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  9. "2016 Community Profiles". 2016 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. August 12, 2021. Retrieved 2018-02-18.
  10. "2011 Community Profiles". 2011 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. March 21, 2019. Retrieved 2012-03-12.
  11. "2006 Community Profiles". 2006 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. August 20, 2019.
  12. "2001 Community Profiles". 2001 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. July 18, 2021.
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