History
The area that would later become known as St. Catharines was first settled around 1783, by two members of the Butler's Rangers. The area had previously been explored by the French, and inhabited by the Indians, but no settlement had occurred before this time. Some of the shape of the current city was decided, or rather undecided, at this time. No formal provisions were made for the growth of the settlement, so existing Indian trails were used for travel and to guide growth. This led to the distinct road patterns that can be observed downtown, which radiate out from the original buildings.
The area grew slowly over the next few years, gaining several businesses and mills. It went by several names over the period, including "The Twelve", so named for its proximity to the Twelve Mile Creek. The area mills in particular would help to grow the city, as these were important industries at the time. This area was for a while known as "Shipman's Corner" after the local innkeeper. The first mention of St Catharines as a name was in 1808 on a survey.
The first post office was established in 1816, named St. Catherines (unique spelling). By this time, the area had grown to around 100 residents. Area businessmen had the idea of building a link between the Welland River and the Twelve Mile Creek. This would eventually become the First Welland Canal. The original routing for the Canal brought it very close to present downtown St. Catharines, and the remains of its lock system can still be seen in various places in the city.
With the benefits brought by the Canal, the population of the city was quickly growing. By 1835, the area had a population of 1100, and had grown to 3500 in 1845. Shipbuilding was very important to the early city, and St. Catharines quickly became one of the foremost ship builders of Upper and Lower Canada.
The area was incorporated as the Town of St. Catharines in 1845. The town continued to grow throughout the coming decades. It was an important stop on the Underground Railway, bringing runaway slaves to freedom in Canada. Harriet Tubman herself stayed in the town for a while, in a place on North Street.
The town received the upgrade to city status in 1876. The city gained various services, including telephone, telegraph, and eletricity. The area of the city also increased greatly, as it began to annex surrounding land and communities. The first rowing regatta was help in 1903, a tradition that conitinues to this day. The population continued to grow rapidly, reaching 25,000 people by 1931.
At this point, the Welland Canal was in its fourth incarnation. It was routed completely away from the city, and gained a new entrance in Port Weller. The new routing of the canal forms what is currently considered the boundary of the city on its eastern side. Shipbuilding activity ended in the downtown area and the shipworks moved to the Port Weller dry docks. The QEW opened in 1940, providing a fast connection to Toronto. The growth of the city has continued through the present day.
Current Life
The City of St. Catharines today is one of the largest in the country, with over 130,000 residents. It is the largest city in the Niagara area, and a center of commerce and entertainment. While being the largest city in the area, it still manages to maintain the feeling of a smaller community.
The city has long possessed the nickname of The Garden City. This reflects the area's extensive parks and acres of manicured gardens. Two parks of special note are Montebello Park and Lakeside Park. Montebello Park was designed in 1887, by the same man who would go on to design Central Park in New York City. The park includes a beautiful rose garden, and a recently renovated pavillion and bandshell. This park is home to various festivals through the year. Lakeside Park is located in Port Dalhousie, on the shore of Lake Ontario. Famous for its historic a carousel (still just a nickel) and willow trees, the park is also memorialized in song. "Lakeside Park", by the band Rush, was written about Neil Peart's memories of his youth there.
The city is governed by a mayor-council system, with a mayor and 12 elected representatives. There are two for each of the city's six wards. The economy is diverse, and includes a sampling from many industries. Goverment jobs are available with the MTO, whose headquarters are located downtown. GM still operates several facilities in the city, employing many residents. Recently, the city has seen expansion into telecommunications, with the advent of large call centres in the city. Its location on a major telecommunications trunk line makes such businesses feasible. It also has a high tech industry, with gaming company Silicon Knights headqaurtered downtown, and NGEN attempting to make St. Catharines a centre for digital media.
Entertainment
Being a relatively large city, St. Catharines boasts a wide variety of entertainment options. Centrally located in the Niagara Region, it also offers quick access to the neighbouring communities for variety.
Hockey is a dominant aspect of the city. The local Junior B Falcons play throughout the winter at Jack Gatecliff Arena. This arena is also home to the OHL's Niagara IceDogs. New to Niagara in the last few years, they offer an exciting option for those wishin to see some semi professional hockey action. For those who wish to skate and play, the city has a brand new 4 pad complex in the West End, along with many other ices throughout the city. For a professional game, the Buffalo Sabres are less than an hour away. The AHL Hamilton Bulldogs are a half hour away, and are exciting to watch.
St. Catharines hosts many traditional entertainments. The area's largest mall, the Pen Centre, is located just off the 406. It offers shopping, movies, and mini put to area residents. Local theatre groups stage shows at Ridley college throughout the year, and Brock University has many different live entertainments across many genres throughout the year.
The downtown area is soon to be home to a new Center for the Arts. The old factory located near the lower level parking lot has been acquired, and will be converted into a multi purpose arts centre. There will be various theatre and performance areas, offering a cultural hub for the city. This is in addition to the theatres at Brock University and Ridley College, as well as the Rodman Hall Art Gallery.
Dining
St. Catharines is host to a wide variety of dining options. Most major chains are represented in the city. Many have more than one location, so they are always convenient. Some private restaurants have continued to thrive, and offer inexpensive yet excellent food in a home atmosphere. The city has several buffet restaurants available as well. Niagara Falls is only 15 minutes down the QEW or Highway 58, and fills in any gaps you may feel are missing from St. Catharines.
