Port Arthur was founded as a municipality in 1884, was granted City status in 1907, and was amalgamated into the City of Thunder Bay on January 1, 1970.
Settlers moved into the area along the shore of Thunder Bay and near Fort William through the 19th century, particularly drawn by the promise of resources: both forest resources and mining exploration. The Department of Public Works construction of the Dawson Road westward, to support the Wolseley Expedition against the Red River Rebellion, established the site which was first named Prince Arthur's Landing in 1870. The first Town Plot was surveyed for settlement in 1871.
The Municipality of Shuniah was incorporated in 1873, including Prince Arthur's Landing, Fort William, Thunder Cape, and the townships of McGregor, Crooks, McTavish, McIntyre, Paipoonge and Neebing. The name "Port Arthur" was established in 1883, renamed by Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) officials. The Town of Port Arthur became separate from the Municipality of Shuniah in 1884.
Railway construction and operations, and the construction of terminal grain elevators became highly important to the region's economy, and competition for these facilities developed between Port Arthur and Fort William. Ultimately, Port Arthur was home to the Canadian Northern Railway and then facilities of the Canadian National Railways.
As Port Arthur and Fort William each grew, and grew closer together, the question of amalgamation was raised many times. The City of the Lakehead Act was enacted by Ontario in 1969, and with it both Port Arthur and Fort William would be amalgamated into the new City of Thunder Bay. As of January 1, 1970, the act took effect and Port Arthur was no longer a separate entity.
Sources
- Archeon. City of Port Arthur fonds. https://www.archeion.ca/city-of-port-arthur-fonds
- City of Thunder Bay. Port Arthur City Hall. https://www.thunderbay.ca/en/city-hall/port-arthur-city-hall.aspx
- VIAF. Port Arthur (Ont.). https://viaf.org/en/viaf/261071296
- Wikidata. Port Arthur. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7230482
- Wikipedia. Port Arthur, Ontario. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Arthur,_Ontario
The City of Thunder Bay was established in 1970, by the amalgamation of the Cities of Fort William and Port Arthur, the Township of Neebing, and the Township of McIntyre. Suggestions of amalgamation had been made for decades; the process began in the mid 1960s and culminated in a provincial Act.
The region's settlement by Europeans had begun during the fur trade in the late 17th century, and increased significantly in the 19th century, which also saw the establishment of Municipalities of Fort William and Port Arthur. The name "Thunder Bay" is the longstanding name of the bay on Lake Superior, framed by the Sleeping Giant Peninsula. The name "The Lakehead" also frequently used, refers to the location at the beginning of the Great Lakes shipping route.
Thunder Bay as a City has been shaped by industry: mining, forestry, and the shipment of grain from Western Canada through the St. Lawrence Seaway have all been key to the local economy.
Statistics Canada estimates that as of July 1, 2024, there were 133,063 people living in the Thunder Bay Census Metropolitan Area.
Sources
- Archeon. City of Thunder Bay fonds. https://www.archeion.ca/city-of-thunder-bay-fonds
- VIAF. Thunder Bay (ON.). https://viaf.org/en/viaf/151298533
- Wikipedia. Thunder Bay. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thunder_Bay
- City of Thunder Bay: History of Amalgamation. https://www.thunderbay.ca/en/city-hall/history-of-amalgamation.aspx
Moira Davidson worked as a Librarian at Lakehead University, with responsibility for Technical Services. She was also active in the Lakehead University Faculty Association. She retired from Lakehead in 2021.