Arthur, Ontario

File:Cenotaph 001.jpg

The village was named after Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington. Settlers began arriving in 1840. The area was first surveyed in 1841 by John McDonald and then officially in 1846 by D.B. Papineau. During the first survey in 1841, the population of Arthur was 22 people. Over the next 15 years, this number rose to 400, and by 1900, the population had risen to just over 1500. The saw and grist mills on the Conestogo River encouraged people to settle here. In 1851, a post office, church and school were organized. Development increased in 1872 when the train line of the Toronto, Grey and Bruce Railway reached the village, which was incorporated in that year.{{Cite web |title=History of Wellington North - Township of Wellington North |url=http://wellington-north.com/visiting/history-of-wellington-north |access-date=October 1, 2023 |website=Wellington North}}

The Arthur Enterprise News, established in 1863, was one of the few non-syndicated weekly newspapers in Canada. By 1890, a high school had been opened.

In 1897, Arthur was one of the first villages in Ontario to be connected to an electricity line; power was only available in the evenings.

In 1942, it was reported that one out of every seven Arthur residents fought in the Second World War.{{cite news |last1=Nicol |first1=James |title=Arthur Village Gives Sons, Money to Aid War |work=Toronto Daily Star |date=November 2, 1942 |page=1}} By the end of the war, 338 Arthur residents had enlisted, and 25 were killed in action.{{cn|date=May 2025}} In 2002, David Tilson, MPP for Dufferin—Peel—Wellington—Grey stated the community was being recognized as "Canada's Most Patriotic Village".{{cn|date=May 2025}}

{{Historical populations

|title = Population history of Arthur

|type = Canada

|align = right

|width =

|state =

|shading =

|percentages =

|footnote =

|1881|1257

|1891|1296

|1901|1285

|1911|1102

|1921|1104

|1931|1021

|1941|937

|1951|1088

|1956|1124

|1961|1200

|1966|1242

|1971|1414

|1976|1660

|1981|1720

|1986|1842

|1991|2123

|1996| 2139

|2001| 2284

|2006| 2327

|2011| 2421

|2016| 2556

|2021| 2628

|source = {{cite web |title=Seventh Census of Canada, 1931 |url=https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2017/statcan/CS98-1931-2.pdf |website=Government of Canada |access-date=5 July 2024}}{{cite web |title=Ninth Census of Canada 1951 |url=https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2017/statcan/CS98-1951-1.pdf |website=Government of Canada |access-date=5 July 2024}}{{cite web |title=1956 Census of Canada |url=https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2017/statcan/CS92-504-1956.pdf |access-date=4 July 2024}}{{cite web |title=1966 Census of Canada Population |url=https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2017/statcan/CS92-605-1966.pdf |website=Government of Canada |access-date=4 July 2024}}{{cite web |title=1976 Census of Canada Population: Geographic Distributions |url=https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2017/statcan/CS92-804-1976.pdf |website=Government of Canada |access-date=4 July 2024}}{{cite web |title=Data tables, 1981 Census |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/English/census81/data/tables/Rp-eng.cfm?TABID=2&LANG=E&APATH=3&DETAIL=1&DIM=0&FL=A&FREE=1&GC=0&GK=0&GRP=1&PID=113752&PRID=0&PTYPE=113743&S=0&SHOWALL=No&SUB=0&Temporal=1986&THEME=134&VID=0&VNAMEE=&VNAMEF= |website=Statistics Canada |access-date=4 July 2024}}{{cite web |title=Canada 1986 Population |url=https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2013/statcan/rh-hc/CS92-101-1987.pdf |website=Government of Canada |access-date=4 July 2024}}{{cite web |title=1991 Census of Canada |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/English/census91/data/profiles/Rp-eng.cfm?TABID=2&LANG=E&APATH=3&DETAIL=1&DIM=0&FL=A&FREE=1&GC=0&GID=33366&GK=0&GRP=1&PID=29&PRID=0&PTYPE=89103&S=0&SHOWALL=No&SUB=0&Temporal=2006&THEME=113&VID=0&VNAMEE=&VNAMEF=&D1=0&D2=0&D3=0&D4=0&D5=0&D6=0#archived |website=Statistics Canada |access-date=4 July 2024}}{{cite web |title=Data tables, 1996 Census |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/English/census96/data/tables/Rp-eng.cfm?TABID=2&LANG=E&APATH=3&DETAIL=1&DIM=0&FL=A&FREE=1&GC=0&GID=202059&GK=0&GRP=1&PID=1019&PRID=0&PTYPE=89103&S=0&SHOWALL=No&SUB=0&Temporal=2006&THEME=18&VID=0&VNAMEE=&VNAMEF=&D1=0&D2=0&D3=0&D4=0&D5=0&D6=0 |website=Statistics Canada |access-date=4 July 2024}}{{cite web |title=2001 Community Profiles |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/english/profil01/CP01/Details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=3523052&Geo2=PR&Code2=35&Data=Count&SearchText=Arthur&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom= |website=Statistics Canada |access-date=4 July 2024}}{{cite web |title=Census Profile |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2011/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=POPC&Code1=0022&Geo2=PR&Code2=01&Data=Count&SearchText=arthur&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom=&TABID=1 |website=Statistics Canada |access-date=4 July 2024}}{{cite web | url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=ARTHUR&DGUIDlist=2021S05100022&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1&HEADERlist=0 | title=Profile table, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Arthur [Population centre], Ontario | date=9 February 2022 }}

}}

As of the 2021 Canadian Census, Arthur's population was 2,628. This represents an increase of 72 people, or 2.8%, compared to the 2016 Canadian Census.

Arthur did not appear in the first Canadian census in 1871.

Arthur's population was 1,257 in 1881, and the total population grew to 1,296 in 1891 before a slight drop to 1,285 in 1901.

From 1901 to 1941, Arthur's population dropped significantly, to a low of 937 in 1941.

Following World War II, Arthur saw a lot of growth. Between 1951 and 1991, the village's population more than doubled, going from 1,088 in 1951 to 2,123 in 1991.

The village has continued to have steady growth since the turn of the century, as Arthur's population has grown from 2,284 in 2001 to 2,628 in 2021.

As of the latest census in 2021, the median age in Arthur is 37.6 years old. There are 1,043 private dwellings in Arthur, with 1,007 of them occupied by usual residents.

The median total income for a household in Arthur was $88,000 in 2020.

Festivals include:

• Arthur Fall Fair.{{cite web |title=Home |url=https://www.arthurfallfair.com/ |website=Arthur Fall Fair |access-date=1 April 2025}}
• Arthur Lions Duck Race and Horticultural Plant Sale.{{cite web |title=Arthur Lions Duck Race and Horticultural Plant Sale |url=https://www.wellington.ca/calendar/arthur-lions-duck-race-and-horticultural-plant-sale |website=Wellington County |access-date=8 May 2025}}
• Arthur Opti-Mrs. Santa Claus Parade.{{cite web |title=Santa Claus Parades of Wellington North |url=https://www.wellington-north.com/sites/default/files/2024-06/2016%2012Dec%207%20Santa%20Claus%20Parades_2.pdf |website=Welcome to Wellington North |access-date=8 May 2025}}
• Artur Optimists Canada Day Weekend.{{cite web |title=Events |url=https://www.simplyexplore.ca/events.html |website=The Township of Wellington North Simply Explore |access-date=8 May 2025}}

There is a branch of the Wellington County Library system in Arthur.{{cite web |title=Arthur Branch, Wellington County Library |url=https://www.wellington.ca/business-development/business-directory/arthur-branch-wellington-county-library |website=Wellington County |access-date=1 April 2025}}

Parks and recreational facilities include:

• Arthur Community Centre Fairgrounds Park, featuring baseball diamonds, a splash pad, pool, playground, and track.{{cite web |title=Arthur Opti-Mrs. Playground & Picnic Shelter |url=https://www.wellington-north.com/community/facilities/arthur-opti-mrs-playground-picnic-shelter |website=Wellington North |access-date=1 April 2025}}{{cite web |title=Arthur Community Centre Fairgrounds |url=https://www.wellington-north.com/community/facilities/arthur-community-centre-fairgrounds-park |website=Wellington North |access-date=1 April 2025}}
• Arthur Community Park, located along the Conestogo River.{{cite web |title=Arthur Community Park |url=https://www.wellington-north.com/community/facilities/arthur-community-park |website=Wellington North |access-date=1 April 2025}}
• Arthur Lions Park, featuring a river trail.{{cite web |title=River Trail |url=https://www.wellington-north.com/community/facilities/river-trail |website=Wellington North |access-date=1 April 2025}}
• West Luther Trail, which is approximately {{convert|11|km|mi}}.{{cite web |title=West Luther Trail |url=https://www.wellington-north.com/community/facilities/west-luther-trail |website=Wellington North |access-date=19 April 2025}}

Arthur and Area Community Centre is where local teams play their home games, including baseball, ice hockey, lacrosse, pickleball and softball.{{cite web |title=Arthur & Area Community Centre |url=https://www.wellington-north.com/community/facilities/arthur-area-community-centre |website=Wellington North |access-date=22 March 2025}}{{cite web |title=Arthur & Area Community Centre - Ball Diamonds |url=https://www.wellington-north.com/community/facilities/arthur-area-community-centre-ball-diamonds |website=Wellington North |access-date=22 March 2025}}

The Arthur Tigers of the WOAA Senior League operated from 1985 to 1999, and won the 1990-91 WOAA Grand Championship.{{cite web |title=1990-91 Western Ontario Athletic Association Senior Hockey |url=https://woaa.on.ca/Public/Documents/Senior%20Hockey%20Yearly/1990-91_SH_Stats.pdf |website=Western Ontario Athletic Association |access-date=22 March 2025}}

The Arthur Area Curling Club is hosts bonspiels from October to March.{{cite web |title=Arthur Curling Club |url=https://www.arthuracc.com/ |website=Arthur Curling Club |access-date=22 March 2025}}

Highways include Ontario Highway 6 and Wellington Road 109.

Arthur has five private aerodromes, including Arthur South, Damascus Field, Metz Field, Peskett Field and Walter's Field. The closest major airport is the Region of Waterloo International Airport in Woolwich.{{cite web |title=Welcome to Region of Waterloo International Airport (YKF) |url=https://www.waterlooairport.ca/ |website=Region of Waterloo International Airport |access-date=11 April 2025}}

Guelph Owen Sound Transit provides regional bus service,{{cite web |title=Guelph Owen Sound Transit |url=https://www.owensound.ca/roads-transportation/public-transit/guelph-owen-sound-transit-gost |website=Owen Sound |access-date=30 March 2025}} and Ride Well is an on-demand, publicly-funded, rural transit service throughout Wellington County and Guelph.{{cite web |title=RIDE WELL |url=https://www.wellington.ca/programmes-services/transportation/ride-well |website=Wellington County |access-date=30 March 2025}}

Ambulance is provided by the Guelph-Wellington Paramedic Service.{{cite web |title=Guelph-Wellington Paramedic Service |url=https://guelph.ca/living/emergency-services/ambulance-service/ |website=City of Guelph |access-date=6 April 2025}}

Fire services are provided by the Wellington North Fire Service, a volunteer fire service with approximately 50 volunteer fire fighters.{{cite web |title=Wellington North Fire Services |url=https://www.wellington-north.com/services/wellington-north-fire-services |website=Wellington North |access-date=6 April 2025}}

The Ontario Provincial Police provides service for Arthur.{{cite web |title=Emergency, Paramedics & Police |url=https://www.wellington-north.com/services/emergency-paramedics-police |website=Wellington North |access-date=6 April 2025}}

File:Arthur_Public_School.jpg

Arthur is served by the Upper Grand District School Board as Arthur Public School is a K-8 school located on Conestoga Street.{{cite web |title=Arthur Public School |url=https://www.ugdsb.ca/o/arps |website=Upper Grand District School Board |access-date=28 March 2025}} Local high school students in the UGDSB are bussed to Wellington Heights Secondary School in Mount Forest.{{cite web |title=Wellington Heights Secondary School |url=https://www.ugdsb.ca/o/whss |website=Upper Grand District School Board |access-date=28 March 2025}} French immersion students from Arthur are assigned to Palmerston Public School in Palmerston, Ontario when in K-8. {{cite web |title=Palmerston Public School |url=https://www.ugdsb.ca/o/pps |website=Upper Grand District School Board |access-date=28 March 2025}} French immersion high school students attend Norwell District Secondary School, which is also in Palmerston, when in grades 9-12.{{cite web |title=Norwell District Secondary School |url=https://www.ugdsb.ca/o/ndss/ |website=Upper Grand District School Board |access-date=28 March 2025}}

Arthur is served by the Wellington Catholic District School Board as St. John Catholic Elementary School is a K-8 school located on Tucker Street.{{cite web |title=St. John Catholic Elementary School |url=https://stjohnarthur.wellingtoncdsb.ca/ |website=Wellington Catholic District School Board |access-date=28 March 2025}} Local high school students in the WCDSB are bussed to Saint James Catholic High School in Guelph.{{cite web |title=St. James Catholic High School |url=https://stjames.wellingtoncdsb.ca/ |website=Wellington Catholic District School Board |access-date=28 March 2025}}

Arthur and area print media coverage comes from The North Wellington Community News and the Wellington Advertiser.{{cite web |title=Former Village of Arthur |url=https://www.wellington-north.com/community/history/former-village-arthur |website=Wellington-North |access-date=22 March 2025}}

CIWN-FM from Mount Forest serves the Wellington North area.{{cite web |title=88.7 The River - Community Radio |url=https://887theriver.ca/ |website=88.7 The River |access-date=22 March 2025}}

CKCO-DT provides local news for Arthur and area.{{cite web |title=Kitchener: Local News, Weather and Traffic Updates |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/kitchener/ |website=CTV News |access-date=19 April 2025}}

• Chad Culp (1982 – ), professional lacrosse player in the NLL from 2003 – 2011
• Matt Disher (1976 – ), professional lacrosse player in the NLL from 1999 – 2010
• Jamie Rooney (1984 – ), professional lacrosse player in the NLL from 2008 – 2014
• Dave Smith (1968 – ), professional ice hockey player in the ECHL, IHL and AHL from 1992 – 1998; former head coach of Canisius Golden Griffins and RPI Engineers

• Ted Arnott (1963 – ), member of Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1990 – 2025, and the 42nd and 43rd Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
• John Knox Blair (1873 – 1950), member of the House of Commons of Canada from 1930 – 1945)
• William Aurelius Clarke (1868 – 1940), member of the House of Commons of Canada from 1911 – 1921
• James J. Craig (1855 – 1929), member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1905 – 1911
• Joseph Driscoll (1876 – 1942), elected to Edmonton City Council from 1912 – 1914, also President of the Edmonton Eskimos
• Frank Gainer (1888 – 1975), member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1955 – 1967
• Rae Luckock (1893 – 1972), member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1943 – 1945, also one of the first two women, with Agnes MacPhail, elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
• Dorothy McCabe (1969 – ), Mayor of Waterloo since 2022
• John Patrick Molloy (1873 – 1948), member of the House of Commons of Canada from 1908 – 1921 and served in the Senate of Canada from 1925 – 1948

{{Portal|Ontario}}

• List of unincorporated communities in Ontario

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{{Geographic location

| Northwest = Mount Forest
Kenilworth

| North = Conn

| Northeast =

| West = Palmerston

| Centre = Arthur, Ontario

| East = Grand Valley, Orangeville

| Southwest = Drayton
Moorefield

| South = Alma
Elora

| Southeast = Fergus
Guelph

| image =

}}

{{Wellington County}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Former villages in Ontario

Category:Communities in Wellington County, Ontario