Innisfil facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Innisfil
Town (lower-tier)
Town of Innisfil
Town hall
Motto(s):  Where Opportunity Meets Prosperity
Innisfil Location in Simcoe County Show map of Simcoe County Innisfil Location in Southern Ontario Show map of Southern Ontario
Country	Canada
Province	Ontario
County	Simcoe
Area
• Total	262.39 km2 (101.31 sq mi)
Population  (2021)
• Total	43,326
• Density	165.1/km2 (428/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Forward sortation area	L9S
Website	www.innisfil.ca

Highway 89 through Cookstown

Innisfil is a lively town in Ontario, Canada. It sits right on the western shore of Lake Simcoe. You can find it in Simcoe County, just south of Barrie and about 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of Toronto. In the past, Innisfil was mostly farmland. But now, it's growing fast with many new homes. This is because it's located between the busy cities of Barrie and the York Region.

What's in a Name? The Meaning of Innisfil

The name Innisfil has an interesting origin. It comes from the Irish words Inis Fáil. This was an ancient, mythical name for Ireland itself.

Innisfil's Journey: A Look at Its History

The history of Innisfil goes back more than 170 years. This area was once thick with forests. It was home to the Huron Indians. The land was first mapped out in 1820. It covered a large area, about 278 square kilometers (68,653 acres).

Early Settlers and First Buildings

The first European settlers arrived in 1820. These were the Hewson and Soules families. They traveled by the East Holland River and Lake Simcoe. They settled at a spot they called Hewson's Point. This area is now known as Big Bay Point.

The Warnica family arrived a year later, in 1823. They settled in the area now called Painswick. The very first sawmill in the Township was built in 1829. It was located at Tollendal.

Opening Up the Land: Roads and Connections

John and George Warnica helped clear the land for roads. They opened a path between Barrie and Churchill. This route became part of Yonge Street. Later, it was known as Highway 11. Today, it is Simcoe County Road 4. This important road connected York (now Toronto) and Barrie. It was finished in the fall of 1825.

Along this new road, more settlers arrived. They spread out to clear land and start farms. Some had come earlier by river and lake. Many settled near the shores of Lake Simcoe. Early farms grew most of their own food. Any extra products were sold in nearby Barrie.

Growing Communities: Post Offices, Schools, and Mills

During this time, new services appeared. Post offices, churches, and stores were built. The first post office was at Barclay's Corners. The first school opened in 1838. It was located at Myers Corners, now called Stroud. The first church was also in Stroud. It belonged to the Methodist faith.

Milling began in Innisfil in 1835. A grist mill was needed to grind wheat. This showed that the area was becoming a farming community. By 1842, the population of Innisfil was 762 people.

Becoming a Town: Local Government and Railways

In 1850, Innisfil's population had grown to 1,807. The first local government council was formed. This marked the start of the Corporation of the Township of Innisfil.

The settlement of Allandale grew with the railway. The Ontario, Simcoe and Huron Railway was built. It connected Toronto to Collingwood. The first train arrived in Allandale on October 11, 1853. More roads and the railway helped new small towns grow.

Belle Ewart was formed in 1854. Henry's Corners, now Thornton, started in 1833. Perry's Corners, now Cookstown, formed around 1859. These new settlements also led to resorts along the lake.

In 1891, part of Innisfil became the Village of Allandale. This area is now part of Barrie. Barrie took over more land from Innisfil in 1897.

By 1950, Innisfil had 3,500 people. Paved roads and cars made it easier to live there. People started moving from Toronto to Innisfil. This changed the lakefront homes. Many seasonal cottages became year-round residences. Today, about 90% of the shoreline homes are permanent.

Modern Changes and Growth

Cookstown became an official village in 1962. Part of Innisfil joined Cookstown.

In 1967, Barrie took over more land from Innisfil. This was for the Formosa Spring Brewery. This brewery later became Molson Park. It was a place for concerts. The brewery closed in 1989. The land is now called Park Place.

In 1982 and 1987, Barrie annexed more land from Innisfil. This reduced Innisfil's population. On January 1, 1991, the Township of Innisfil, part of West Gwillimbury, and the Village of Cookstown joined together. They became the Town of Innisfil.

In 1993, the Ontario Stockyards moved to Cookstown. This is a large livestock facility. In 1994, the Village of Thornton joined the Township of Essa. A small part of Essa joined Innisfil.

By 2006, Innisfil had over 31,000 permanent residents. It also had about 4,000 seasonal residents. Many "cottages" became permanent homes. Innisfil is now a popular place for families and older adults.

In 2010, Barrie annexed more land from Innisfil. The community of Stroud stayed with Innisfil. But St. Pauls moved to Barrie. In 2017, a new development called Friday Harbour opened.

In 2019, a big new project called The Orbit was proposed. It aims to build a new community around a future train station. The goal is to have 90,000 residents and 20,000 jobs. Innisfil Town Council approved The Orbit. The provincial government is helping to speed up its construction.

Who Lives in Innisfil? A Look at the Population

In 2021, Innisfil had a population of 43,326 people. This was a big jump from 2016. The town has a land area of about 262 square kilometers. This means there are about 165 people living in each square kilometer. The average age of people in Innisfil is about 42 years old.

Neighborhoods and Communities in Innisfil

Innisfil is made up of many different communities. These include Alcona, Simcoe Beach, Alderslea, and Barclay. Other areas are Bear Point, Belle Ewart, Belle Air Beach, and Bethesda. You can also find Big Bay Point, Big Cedar Point, and Cedar Mount. Churchill, Cookstown, and De Grassi Point are also part of Innisfil. Fennell, Gilford, Glenhaven Beach, and Glenwood Beach are here too. Innisfil Heights, Killarney Beach, Lefroy, and Maple Grove are communities. Finally, Mooselanka Beach, Nantyr, Nantyr Park, Sandy Cove, Sandycove Acres, and Stroud are all within the town.

Getting Around: Transportation in Innisfil

The Barrie line of the GO Transit train system goes through Innisfil. However, it does not stop in the town yet. A future station is planned for construction. Highway 400 runs along the west side of Innisfil. This highway connects the town to Toronto.

Innisfil has a special transportation service. It works with Uber to offer discounted rides. This helps residents get around instead of using traditional buses. The service started in 2017. It became very popular, with thousands of rides each month. There are special low fares for trips to certain community places. For other trips, you get a discount off the regular Uber fare.

Fun and Culture in Innisfil

Cookstown is a popular spot for antique shops. It's also known for outlet shopping. Many call it the "antique capital" of southern Ontario. Tanger Outlets Cookstown opened in 1995. Cookstown also hosts a big annual garage sale called "Wing-Ding" in June. The Cookstown Fair is held every September.

Cookstown is the birthplace of Emily Murphy. She was a famous Canadian women's rights activist. In 1916, she became the first woman police judge in Canada. She helped women be recognized as "persons" under Canadian law. A TV movie was filmed in Cookstown in 1998.

Alcona hosts two big festivals each year. Summerfest is in early summer. Winterfest is in mid-winter. Both are held at Innisfil Beach.

You can find the Georgian Downs Harness racetrack and casino in Innisfil. It's near the Highway 400 interchange. The Sunset Speedway is also a local landmark. It has been around for over 50 years.

Famous Faces from Innisfil

Many notable people have connections to Innisfil:

• Stephen Emmett Clement: A member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.
• James Stoddart Duff: A member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.
• Henry Albert Harper: A journalist and civil servant.
• Abel James Hindle: A member of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan.
• Edwin Holgate: A famous artist, painter, and engraver. He was part of the Group of Seven.
• Josh Leivo: An NHL hockey player.
• Haughton Lennox: A member of the Canadian House of Commons.
• Thomas Herbert Lennox: A member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario and Canadian House of Commons.
• William Leushner: An Olympian who won four medals.
• Emily Murphy: A women's rights activist, judge, and author. She was the first female judge in Canada.
• Kate Todd: An actress, singer, and songwriter.
• Charles Willoughby: A member of the Canadian House of Commons.