Otonabee–South Monaghan is a

township A township is a form of human settlement or administrative subdivision. Its exact definition varies among countries. Although the term is occasionally associated with an urban area, this tends to be an exception to the rule. In Australia, Canad ...

in central-eastern

Ontario Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...

, Canada, in

Peterborough County Peterborough County is a county and census division located in Southern Ontario, Canada. The county seat is the City of Peterborough, which is independent of the county. The southern section of the county is mix of agriculture, urban and lakef ...

. The township, located along the Trent–Severn Waterway, was formed on January 1, 1998, through the amalgamation of Otonabee and South Monaghan Townships.

Geography

The main attraction in the area is the Serpent Mounds Campgrounds and Historical Site. It has an

effigy mound An effigy mound is a raised pile of earth built in the shape of a stylized animal, symbol, religious figure, human, or other figure. The Effigy Moundbuilder culture is primarily associated with the years 550–1200 CE during the Late Woodland P ...

in the shape of a snake, constructed as an earthwork nearly 2,000 years ago by

indigenous peoples There is no generally accepted definition of Indigenous peoples, although in the 21st century the focus has been on self-identification, cultural difference from other groups in a state, a special relationship with their traditional territ ...

of the

Hopewell culture The Hopewell tradition, also called the Hopewell culture and Hopewellian exchange, describes a network of precontact Native American cultures that flourished in settlements along rivers in the northeastern and midwestern Eastern Woodlands from ...

. Formerly a Provincial Park, the government returned the site to the Hiawatha First Nation as a historically significant

burial ground A cemetery, burial ground, gravesite, graveyard, or a green space called a memorial park or memorial garden, is a place where the remains of many dead people are buried or otherwise entombed. The word ''cemetery'' (from Greek ) implies th ...

for the Indigenous people. In addition to the mounds and campgrounds, the park also has a groomed beach for swimming and several kilometers of walking and biking trails. Another popular pastime in the area is fishing. Rice Lake is known to many as a great spot for some boating and fishing. There are also several resorts with water access points.

Communities

The township comprises the communities of Assumption, Bailieboro, Bensfort, Bensfort Bridge, Blezard, Cameron, Campbelltown, Drummond, Hall Landing, Indian River, Jermyn, Keene, Lang, Mathers Corners, Pengelley Landing, Pleasant Point, Stewart Hall, Villiers, Wallace Point, and Zion. It has interesting shops, artisans, gardens, and history, with fishing and camping or resorts close at hand.

Demographics

In the

2021 Census of Population The 2021 Canadian census was a detailed enumeration of the Canadian population with a reference date of May 11, 2021. It follows the 2016 Canadian census, which recorded a population of 35,151,728. The overall response rate was 98%, which is sli ...

conducted by

Statistics Canada Statistics Canada (StatCan; ), formed in 1971, is the agency of the Government of Canada commissioned with producing statistics to help better understand Canada, its population, resources, economy, society, and culture. It is headquartered in ...

, Otonabee–South Monaghan had a population of living in of its total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of . With a land area of , it had a population density of in 2021. Mother tongue (2021): * English as first language: 94.2% * French as first language: 1.1% * English and French as first language: 0.4% * Other as first language: 3.6%

Attractions

Lang Pioneer Village Museum is a

living history Living history is an activity that incorporates historical tools, activities and dress into an interactive presentation that seeks to give observers and participants a sense of stepping back in time. Although it does not necessarily seek to ree ...

museum located in the hamlet of Lang.
Lang Pioneer Village
is owned and operated by the County of Peterborough and is open to the public from approximately mid-May to mid-September. In addition to the regular season, Lang Pioneer Village offers various education programs and hosts a number of popular special events throughout the summer and fall seasons. Th
Lang-Hastings Trail
is a 33 km rail trail that runs between Peterborough and Hastings, and passes through Keene and other areas. It is part of the Trans-Canada Trail, the longest trail build in the country.

Transportation

The area is served by the small Keene/Elmhirst's Resort Airport and Keene/Elmhirst's Resort Water Aerodrome.

Education

Keene has a school of approximately 600 students called North Shore Public School. This school is the main elementary school for families in Keene, as well as those on outlying farms. North Shore is a feeder school for Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Otonabee-South Monaghan Lower-tier municipalities in Ontario Municipalities in Peterborough County Township municipalities in Ontario Populated places established in 1998 1998 establishments in Ontario