User:Vidioman/Simpson-Ogden
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| Simpson-Ogden 48°23′N 89°14′W / 48.39°N 89.24°W | |
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| Simpson Street | |
| Population 3,560 |
Ward McKellar |
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| Location in Thunder Bay | |
Simpson-Ogden is a neighbourhood in the Fort William portion of the Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. It is one of the oldest neighbourhoods west of Sault Ste Marie, dating back to the 1870s. It is centered along Simpson Street, Fort William's original central business district, and includes the residential areas east of May Street and south of the Neebing-McIntyre Floodway, and the industrial areas west of the CP Rail mainline and the Kaministiquia River.
Simpson Ogden is located in McKeller Ward. It was chosen by the United Way to participate in its Action for Neighbourhood Change initiative, which ran from 2005 to 2007, and worked with local residents and community groups to create neighbourhood-based solutions for long term development and renewal.
The neighbourhood is home to Minnesota Park, which is the location of Widnall Pool. Education is provided by Ogden Community and St. Jude Catholic Schools, which are located on Ogden Street in the northern part of the neighbourhood.
Name[edit]
Simpson-Ogden gets its name from two streets located in the neighbourhood. Simpson Street, the main commercial strip, was for Sir George Simpson (1787–1860), governor of the Hudson Bay Company from 1826–1860, whose decisions greatly affected the fate of the fur trading post Fort William;[1] and Peter Skene Ogden, (1790–1854), who became the chief trader of the Hudson Bay Company at Snake River 1823–1830.[2] Many other streets in the neighbourhood are named after key figures in the history of the Hudson Bay Company.
History[edit]
It is the second oldest residential neighbourhood in Thunder Bay, and Simpson Street was developed as the area's first business district.[3]
Demographics[edit]
Simpson-Ogden is primarily a residential neighbourhood, home to approximately 3,560 people.[4] Many of the dwellings are small single family homes or duplexes, while the neighbourhoods larger homes have been converted to apartments. Most homes in Simpson-Ogden were built before 1946.[3] Some houses are vacant and boarded up, which draws criminal activities and gives the neighbourhood an unsightly appearance. Until recently, the neighbourhood was the location of a Hell's Angels club house.[5]
The neighbourhood has 3,560 people and covers 1.1 km² (0.4 sq mi),[6] giving it a population density of about 3,240/km2 (8,900/sq mi), making it one of the densest neighbourhoods in Thunder Bay.[7] The median age is approximately 39.2,[8] The neighbourhood is mainly populated by people of European descent, with a large and growing aboriginal community.[3]
The community has a lower than average income. Low income levels in Simpson-Ogden range from 16.3% in the north end to almost 36% in the south, compared to the regional average of only 11.4 per cent.[3]
Economy[edit]
Simpson Street is the oldest business district in the Thunder Bay area, but has been in decline for many years. While it hosts a variety of businesses, many vacant storefronts line the street.[3] The Simpson Ogden Business Improvement Association (BIA) was formed in YEAR, and has attempted to draw new businesses to the neighbourhood by hanging flower baskets, planting trees and placing benches, but the unkempt appearance of many vacant storefronts has been a deterrent.
industry - emphasis on HBC's and CP rail's contributions to the area
Culture[edit]
The Simpson-Ogden neighbourhood was largely populated by immigrants from Eastern Europe, most notably the Ukrainians. The neighbourhood is home to the East Fort William Prosvita Society and the Ukrainian Credit Union, and was once the home to the Ukrainian Labour Temple. The neighbourhood also has a large Polish presence, centered around the Polish hall (find out name). FIND MORE. The lower part of the neighbourhood is heavily populated by aboriginals. (mention moonlight walk, etc.) Community groups include the Action for Neighbourhood Change, the Simpson-Ogden Business Improvement Association, etc. FIND MORE.
Summer parks events, etc. community newsletter, Evergreen
Architecture[edit]
Simpson-Ogden is home to some of the cities oldest buildings, including its first duplexes. Simpson Street is lined with one to three storey buildings, with the street level being retail and the levels above being apartments. The tallest building in the neighbourhood is the four storey Chapples Warehouse, located at the corner of Simpson and Finlayson.
See also[edit]
Notes[edit]
- Caledon Institute reports
- Makhoul, Anne (October 2005), Action for Neighbourhood Change in Thunder Bay, Caledon Institute of Social Policy, ISBN 1-55382-148-3
- Makhoul, Anne (April 2006), Thunder Bay’s Simpson-Ogden Neighbourhood: Gifts in Unexpected Places, Caledon Institute of Social Policy, ISBN 1-55382-180-7
- Makhoul, Anne (May 2007), ANC in Thunder Bay: Simpson-Ogden Comes Alive, Caledon Institute of Social Policy, ISBN 1-55382-224-2
- News articles
- Baker, Alicia. "Poverty: An unstoppable force in Thunder Bay?", The Argus, 5 February 2007. Retrieved on 25 October 2007.
- Brown, Sarah Elizabeth. "Project spreads like healthy weed", The Chronicle-Journal, 10 June 2007. Retrieved on 25 October 2007.
- Brown, Sarah Elizabeth. "2 Lindas help create action", The Chronicle-Journal, 19 August 2007. Retrieved on 25 October 2007.
- Thom, James. "Walk remembers lost women", Wawatay News Online, 4 October 2007. Retrieved on 25 October 2007.
- Miscellany
- Action for Neighbourhood Change (2006), About Simpson-Ogden. Retrieved on 25 October 2007.
References[edit]
- ^ Grant, Diane (1999). The Street Names of Thunder Bay. Thunder Bay Historical Museum Society, pp. 108 ISBN 0-920119-32-8.
- ^ Grant, Diane (1999). The Street Names of Thunder Bay. Thunder Bay Historical Museum Society, pp. 89 ISBN 0-920119-32-8.
- ^ a b c d e Action for Neighbourhood Change (2006), About Simpson-Ogden. Retrieved on 25 October 2007.
- ^ Combination of the populations of each census dissemination block which makes up the Simpson Ogden neighbourhood.
- ^ news on HA
- ^ Measured using City of Thunder Bay mapping tool
- ^ Map of densities in TBay 26 oc
- ^ Average of the median age of census tracts 5950006.00, 5950007.00, and 5950010.00, weighted by population of each tract.
Further Reading[edit]
- Tronrud, Thorold J. (1993). Guardians of Progress: Boosters and Boosterism in Thunder Bay, 1870–1914. Thunder Bay Historical Museum Society, ISBN 0-920119-16-6.
- Tronrud, Thorold J; Epp, Ernest A.; and others. (1995). Thunder Bay: From Rivalry to Unity. Thunder Bay Historical Museum Society, ISBN 0-920119-22-0.
- People of Thunder Bay