Dufferin County
Dufferin County is located in south-central Ontario, about an hour’s drive north-west of Toronto.
- Population of almost 57,000 (2011) is projected to grow to 80,000 by 2031
- The County is 1,442 km2 (557 square miles), and is primarily rural agricultural land in the west and rural recreational land in the east
- The County seat is Orangeville, a small urban centre of approximately 28,000 people.
- The County consists of four towns: Grand Valley, Mono, Shelburne and Orangeville and four rural townships: Amaranth, East Garafraxa, Melancthon, and Mulmur.
The area is unique as a natural area and is known as the Headwaters region as four major rivers begin their journey in the County; the Humber, Credit, Grand and Nottawasaga. The UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, the Niagara Escarpment bisects the region on its way from Niagara to Tobermory creating habitat for rare plants, abundant wildlife and excellent hiking.
Municipalities
Four Towns and Four Rural Townships
Grand Valley…
a village – Grand Valley – and rural expanse in one municipality. The Grand River twists and turns through the region, past farms and through the village. The Grand and its tributaries form the renowned Luther Marsh an important stopping place for migrating waterfowl.
Mono…
a varied landscape of tree-covered rolling hills and the headwaters of three rivers; the Humber and Credit that flow to Lake Ontario and the Nottawasaga that bends north to Georgian Bay. The area houses horse farms, car dealerships and expansive country retreats all in one municipality.
Orangeville…
the largest town in the county, where history is celebrated and preserved and the present is lively. Its industries and small businesses, interesting downtown shops, celebrations and entertainment help make this town a home.
Shelburne…
a town that celebrates its heritage with the annual Fiddle Contest for which it is known, but Shelburne is much more; a vibrant growing community with plenty of retail shops and services that support the surrounding rural areas.
Amaranth…
the serpentine course of the Grand River flows through this region, past farms and wetlands. Small hamlets dot the landscape and commercial and industrial development is close to the highway in the south.
East Garafraxa…
to the south and west, East “Gary” is the keel of the county. Primarily rural countryside is dotted with small hamlets where population is growing around schools, religious facilities and recreation services.
Melancthon…
to the north and west, the plains of Melancthon support potato farms, beef, dairy, sheep, and horses, as well. One of its three hamlets, Horning’s Mills, is at the head of the breathtaking Pine River Valley.
Mulmur…
to the north and east, its heights offer stunning vistas and its wooded valleys hide clear tumbling rivers, weekend retreats and the homes of working families. The deep soil produces potatoes for the most part.