Community History

In 1778 after the American revolution, Loyalist refugees and disbanded citizen soldiers began crossing from Fort Niagara to settle the west bank of the Niagara River. A colonial town was laid out in a grid pattern of four-acre blocks and "Newark" was born. It gained prominence as the first capital of Upper Canada in 1792 and played a significant role during the war of 1812 between British North America and the new found colonies of the United States. The battles are memorialized in several places throughout the region, including the 184-foot Brock Monument at Queenston Heights on the escarpment, which was completed in 1856.

In planning King's Point, great care was taken to preserve the historical "sight lines" between Fort George (on the Canadian side) and Fort Niagara (on the USA side).

During the construction of King's Point, a number of artifacts were discovered on the site. Some were from the War of 1812 but most were remnants of Indian encampments on the banks of the mighty Niagara River going back 10,000 years. These artifacts were collected, examined and documented under the supervision of archaeologist Dr. Ron Williamson. They now form part of the Provincial archives for the Niagara Region.

One of King's Point's residents had a great-great-grandfather (Captain Jean Louis Ployart) who was an officer in the De Watterville Regiment stationed at Fort George. His uniform and swords have been donated to Parks Canada and are on display at historical Fort George.

Niagara-on-the-Lake remains Canada's best-preserved 19th century town, with a Loyalist heritage spanning two centuries. Zoning and building codes are tightly enforced to ensure the town's special character continues into the future. For example, the local Municipal Heritage Committee (MHC) stipulated the light yellow brick colour and courtyard 'picket fence' railing for King's Point in keeping with the architecture of the early period.

Our Town Today

Today Niagara-on-the-Lake is the home of the internationally famous Shaw Festival Theatre, and the Niagara International Chamber Music Festival, as well as the center of thriving wine and tender fruit industries. It is internationally renowned for its icewine. In 1996, Niagara-on-the-Lake was named the prettiest town in Canada, and in May 2006, the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada proclaimed Niagara-on-the-Lake an Historic District, the first in Ontario.

Together, the five districts of Niagara-on-the-Lake, which include the "Old Town" and the adjacent rural areas, have grown over the years to a population of 14, 500, but the cosmmunity retains its historical charm and hospitality that welcomes hundreds of thousands of North American and international tourists each year.