Brantford, Ontario, is located in the Southern part of the province on the Grand River. Nicknamed the Telephone City after Alexander Graham Bell, it's most famous resident, Brantford now has a population of 90,000 residents and sits as a member of Ontario's economic and cultural Mecca, The Golden Horseshoe region. The city was once the third largest in Ontario and has been home to a variety of notable personalities, including the late comedian Phil Hartman and hockey's Great One, Wayne Gretzky.
First populated in 1784 by Captain Joseph Brant and a group of Six Nations Indians from New York, the settlers were given a plot of land from The British Crown along the Grand River as a reward for their loyalty. By 1847, colonists from Europe started to make this area their home, now calling the village Brantford. The city was incorporated in 1877 and still is home to The Mokawk Chapel, which is Ontario's oldest Protestant Church and was part of the original Mohawk settlement.
Today, Brantford is one of the smaller cities in the area, being dwarfed by nearby London, Hamilton, Kitchen-Waterloo and Toronto. But, it is still houses some major industries, being home to manufacturing plants for Fererro Spa, the Tim Horton's main bakery and a branch of the Proctor & Gamble Corporation. Plus, there is the Brantford OLG Casino, the second largest employer in the city.
Brantford is a growing community. With it's central location at the heart of The Golden Horseshoe, its population is expected to be one and a half times its size in the next twenty-five years. The housing and living costs in the area are exponentially lower than they are in the surrounding larger cities, making it the ideal location for families just starting out or who recently moved to Canada.
Bell Homestead, Walking Trails
Brantford is probably most famous as the home of Alexander Graham Bell when he invested the telephone. Bell's house has since been turned into a museum, known as the Bell Homestead. Tours are available year round by staff dressed in period 19th century costumes.
Alongside of the Homestead is a wooded path leading to one of the most beautiful walking trails in the area. The pathway takes two routes, a higher trail going above the Grand River and a lower route sweeping the river's edge. For those looking for a more difficult hike, the lower trail is more challenging. But, those with smaller children should look out for steep drop offs on the upper section.
| 