History of Sturgeon Falls, Ontario, Canada

Sturgeon Falls, Ont, urban area, population 6672 (2011c), 6383 (2006c). Sturgeon Falls is located five km up the Sturgeon River from Lake NIPISSING. Sturgeon Falls was incorporated as a town in 1895. After a failed court challenge aimed at maintaining a separate identity (1997), it is now the administrative centre for the provincially-mandated town of WEST NIPISSING (incorporated 1990).

Long a site of Native activity, and known to European fur traders since the 17th century, town growth awaited the arrival of the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1882. Earliest to arrive were English Canadians from Simcoe and Muskoka; their numbers were engulfed by lumber and pulp-and-paper workers, the pulp industry beginning 1884.

West Nipissing (also Nipissing Ouest), Ont, incorporated as a municipality in 1999, population 14 149 (2011c), 13 410 (2006c). The name West Nipissing, reflects the municipality's location on the northwest end of Lake NIPISSING, 37 km west of North Bay. The Municipality of West Nipissing is a mixture of former towns (Cache Bay and STURGEON FALLS), formerly incorporated townships (Caldwell, Field and Springer) and 17 and one-half previously unincorporated townships. The municipality's administrative centre is Sturgeon Falls.