Bracebridge, Ontario - Definition and Overview

Bracebridge (2001 population 13,751) is a town and the seat of the Muskoka District Municipality of Ontario, Canada. Scott Northmore is the mayor.

The town was built around a waterfall on the Muskoka River in the centre of town, and is known for its other nearby waterfalls (Wilson's Falls, High Falls, etc). It was first incorporated in 1875. It was named after a book, Bracebridge Hall by Washington Irving, that the postmaster in charge of naming towns was reading at the time. The same novel also provided the name for nearby Gravenhurst.

The town is the seat of the ditrict government, a centre of tourism for the Muskoka area, and home to several historical sites, such as the Inn at the Falls, Woodchester Villa, and the Silver Bridge, which joins Manitoba Street with Ecclestone Drive. The Silver Bridge was repaired in 2002.

Nipissing University and Georgian College have a shared satellite campus in the town. Bracebridge is the home of Santa's Village, a theme park for children, established in 1955.

People associated with Bracebridge

• Patrick Boyer (born 1945-2005), politician - born in Bracebridge

External Link

Town of Bracebridge (http://www.town.bracebridge.on.ca/home.asp)

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