Niagara Falls is a city in Ontario, Canada, located next to and named after Niagara Falls. According to the 2021 census, the city had a population of 94,415. It is situated on the Niagara Peninsula along the western side of the Niagara River, which is part of the border between Canada and the United States. The opposite side of the river is the twin city of Niagara Falls, New York. Niagara Falls is part of the Niagara Regional Municipality and is included in the St. Catharines–Niagara Census Metropolitan Area (CMA).

Tourism plays a major role in the city's economy. The city's skyline includes several tall hotels and observation towers that offer views of the waterfalls and nearby parks. Nearby, in the city's large tourist area, there are souvenir shops, arcades, museums, amusement rides, indoor water parks, casinos, theatres, and a convention centre. Other parts of the city include historic sites from the War of 1812, parks, golf courses, commercial areas, and residential neighborhoods.

History

Before Europeans arrived, the area now known as Niagara Falls was home to the Neutral people, who spoke Iroquoian languages. However, after attacks by the Haudenosaunee and Seneca, the Neutral population greatly decreased. The Haudenosaunee remained in the area until Europeans made first contact in the late 17th century. European settlers began living in the Niagara Falls region during the 17th century. Louis Hennepin, a French priest and missionary, is believed to have been the first European to visit the area in the 1670s. French colonists mainly settled in Lower Canada, starting near the Atlantic and in Quebec and Montreal.

After surveys were completed in 1782, the area was called Township Number 2 and Mount Dorchester, named after Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester. Today, only Dorchester Road and Dorchester Village honor this name. The earliest settlers of Township Number 2 were Philip George Bender, who was born in Germany and later lived in New Jersey and Philadelphia, and Thomas McMicken, a Scottish-born British Army veteran. More people moved to the area during and after the American Revolutionary War, when the British Crown gave land to Loyalists to help them resettle in Upper Canada after losing their homes in the newly independent United States. Loyalist Robert Land received 200 acres (81 hectares) and became one of the first Europeans to settle in the Niagara region. He later moved to Hamilton because of the loud noise from the falls.

In 1791, John Graves Simcoe renamed the town Stamford, after a place in England. Today, Stamford is only used for an area northwest of downtown Niagara Falls and for Stamford Street. During the War of 1812, a battle called the Battle of Lundy's Lane took place nearby in July 1814. In 1856, the town of Clifton was created by Ogden Creighton, named after Clifton, Bristol, England. The town’s name was changed to Niagara Falls in 1881. In 1882, the community of Drummondville, near the corner of Lundy's Lane and Main Street, was incorporated as the village of Niagara Falls (South) to distinguish it from the town. In 1904, the town and village combined to form the City of Niagara Falls. In 1963, the city merged with Stamford Township. In 1970, the Niagara regional government was formed, leading to the addition of parts of Chippawa, Willoughby Township, and Crowland Township into Niagara Falls.

An internment camp for Germans was established at The Armoury (now the Niagara Military Museum) in Niagara Falls from December 1914 to August 1918.

Niagara Falls has had a Black population since at least 1783. Up to 12 African-Americans were part of the Butler's Rangers, including Richard Pierpoint. After the group was disbanded in 1783, they tried to settle nearby through farming, becoming some of the first Black settlers in the region. It is estimated that nearly 10 percent of the Loyalists who settled in the area were Black Loyalists.

The Black population in Niagara Falls grew in the following decades, as the area became a destination on the Underground Railroad. In 1856, a British Methodist Episcopal (BME) Church was established for African-Canadian worshipers. The BME Church, now called the Nathaniel Dett Memorial Chapel, is a National Historic Site and continues to operate today. Nathaniel Dett, a composer, organist, pianist, and music professor, was born in Niagara Falls in 1882.

In 1886, Burr Plato became one of the first African Canadians to be elected to political office, serving as a City Councillor of Niagara Falls until 1901.

Geography

Niagara Falls is about 130 km (81 mi) by road from Toronto, the capital of Ontario, which is located across Lake Ontario to the north. The Niagara Region covers an area of about 1,800 km (690 mi).

The city of Niagara Falls is built along the Niagara Falls waterfalls and the Niagara Gorge on the Niagara River, which flows from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario.

The city has a humid continental climate, which is influenced by nearby lakes, making it a bit milder in all seasons. Winters are cold, with an average January high of −0.4 °C (31.3 °F) and a low of −7.8 °C (18.0 °F). However, temperatures above 0 °C (32.0 °F) are common during winter. The average annual snowfall is 154 centimetres (61 in), which can come from lake effect snow from both Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. Summers are warm to hot and humid, with an average July high of 27.4 °C (81.3 °F) and a low of 17 °C (62.6 °F). The average annual precipitation is 970.2 millimetres (38 in), spread fairly evenly throughout the year.

Niagara Falls holds the record for the highest temperature recorded in Canada during January, reaching 22.2 °C (72 °F) on January 26, 1950.

Although there is more historical and cultural diversity, the city is organized into 11 communities and 67 neighborhoods by the city's planning system.

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Niagara Falls had a population of 94,415 people living in 37,793 of its 39,778 total private homes. This was an increase of 7.2% compared to its 2016 population of 88,071. With a land area of 210.25 square kilometers (81.18 square miles), the city had a population density of 449.1 people per square kilometer (1,163.1 people per square mile) in 2021.

At the census metropolitan area (CMA) level in the 2021 census, the St. Catharines – Niagara CMA had a population of 433,604 people living in 179,224 of its 190,878 total private homes. This was an increase of 6.8% compared to its 2016 population of 406,074. With a land area of 1,397.09 square kilometers (539.42 square miles), the CMA had a population density of 310.4 people per square kilometer (803.8 people per square mile) in 2021.

As of the 2021 Census, 20.9% of Niagara Falls’ population were visible minorities, 3.5% had Indigenous ancestry, and 75.6% were White. The largest visible minority groups included South Asian (6.3%), Black (3.1%), Filipino (3.0%), Chinese (2.4%), Latin American (1.6%), and Arab (1.1%).

In 2021, 60.1% of Niagara Falls residents identified with Christian denominations, down from 74.1% in 2011. Of these, 33.2% were Catholic, 13.9% were Protestant, 7.1% were Christians of unspecified denomination, and 2.4% were Christian Orthodox. Other Christian denominations and related traditions made up 3.5%. Meanwhile, 30.9% of residents were irreligious or secular, up from 22.5% in 2011. Non-Christian religions and spiritual traditions accounted for 9.0% of the population. The largest groups included Islam (4.1%), Hinduism (2.0%), Sikhism (1.4%), and Buddhism (0.8%).

According to the 2021 Census, the most common mother tongues were English (74.2%), Italian (3.2%), French (1.6%), Spanish (1.5%), Tagalog (1.5%), and Punjabi (1.2%).

Economy

Tourism began in the early 1800s and has been an important part of the local economy since then. Niagara Falls became famous as a natural wonder, partly because it was painted by well-known American artists in the 1800s, such as Albert Bierstadt. These paintings were printed as lithographs and shared widely. Niagara Falls promoted itself as a place for newlyweds, calling it the "honeymoon capital of the world." This nickname was often used in travel brochures during the early 1900s but became less common by the 1960s.

The waterfalls provided a cheap and plentiful source of hydroelectric power, which led many factories that used electricity to open in the area during the early to mid-1900s. However, by the 1970s and 1980s, many of these industries moved away due to economic problems and competition from other countries. Tourism then became the city's most important way to earn money.

Recent development has focused mainly on the Clifton Hill and Fallsview areas. The downtown area, known as Queen Street, is being renewed to become a place for art and culture. This area was once a major center for shopping and nightlife until the 1970s, when a new shopping center called Niagara Square began to draw people away. Since 2006, Historic Niagara has helped bring art galleries, stores, cafes, and restaurants back to Queen Street. Projects include restoring the Seneca Theatre.

In 2004, some businesses in Niagara Falls started adding extra fees to customers' bills. These fees have different names and take different percentages from the total cost. The money collected is not tracked, and there are no rules about how it is used. In 2008, the Ontario government warned hotels and restaurants not to say the fees were approved by the government unless the money went to a real nonprofit group that helps tourism. This practice continues and brings in about $15 million each year. Hotels charge a fee called the Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT), part of which goes to the city. Other fees only benefit the business owners, which has led to criticism. Some tourists have challenged these fees, while others have required them to be paid.

In the 1900s, the Canadian dollar was worth more compared to the American dollar.

Niagara Falls, New York, has struggled to compete with Niagara Falls, Ontario. The Canadian side has higher average incomes, more expensive homes, fewer empty buildings, and a stronger economy with better tourism facilities. The population of Niagara Falls, New York, dropped by half from the 1960s to 2012. In contrast, the population of Niagara Falls, Ontario, more than tripled.

In the mid-1990s, the Ontario government allowed legal gambling in the area. Casino Niagara helped the local economy grow in the late 1990s, leading to the building of luxury hotels and other attractions. A second casino, Niagara Fallsview, opened in 2004. Both casinos attracted American visitors, partly because the Canadian dollar was cheaper than the American dollar, even though a casino on the American side also opened. When the Canadian and American dollars became closer in value during the 2000s, Niagara Falls, Ontario, remained a popular destination for Americans, while Niagara Falls, New York, continued to face economic challenges. Ontario’s legal drinking age is 19, which draws some visitors from the U.S., where the drinking age is 21.

Arts and culture

Niagara Falls has several cultural areas, including Queen Street, Main and Ferry Streets, Stamford Centre, and Chippawa Square. Community centers that provide cultural activities include the City of Niagara Falls Museums, Niagara Falls Public Libraries, Coronation 50 Plus Recreation Centre, Club Italia, and Scotia Bank Convention Centre.

• Niagara Falls Art Gallery
• Peterson's Community Gallery

• Niagara Falls Centre for the Arts
• Seneca Queen Theatre

• Niagara Falls History Museum
• Battle Ground Hotel Museum
• Willoughby Historical Museum
• Niagara Military Museum
• Niagara Falls Wedding and Fashion Museum
• Lundy's Lane Historical Society
• Battle of Lundy's Lane Walking Tour
• Historic Drummondville
• Stamford Historic Area

• Queen Victoria Park
• Rosberg Family Park / Olympic Torch Trail

• Winter Festival of Lights
• Niagara Integrated Film Festival
• Springlicious
• Mount Carmel Fine Art and Music Festival
• Niagara Icewine Festival
• Niagara Woodworking Show
• Greater Niagara Home and Garden Show
• Niagara Night of Art
• Niagara Region Jazz Festival

• Niagara Falls Convention Centre
• Sheraton on the Falls Hotel and Conference Centre

Attractions

Notable attractions in Niagara Falls include:

• Table Rock Welcome Centre
• Journey Behind the Falls
• Skylon Tower
• Niagara SkyWheel
• Winter Festival of Lights
• Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory
• Niagara Heritage Trail
• Dufferin Islands
• Niagara Parks School of Horticulture
• The Rainbow Carillon, which sounds from the Rainbow Tower
• Clifton Hill, Niagara Falls — Tourist promenade that includes a Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum, arcades, five haunted houses, four wax museums, such as Louis Tussauds Wax Works, and themed restaurants, such as the Hard Rock Cafe and Rainforest Cafe
• Casinos — Casino Niagara and Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort
• IMAX Theatre and Daredevil Museum
• Fallsview Tourist Area
• Fallsview Indoor Waterpark
• Tower Hotel (Niagara Falls)
• Bird Kingdom

Government

The Niagara Falls City Council includes eight councillors and a mayor. City elections happen every four years, with the last election taking place on October 24, 2022. The Council makes decisions and sets rules, checks how well the city is working, looks at and agrees on money plans, and decides where to spend money. According to the Municipal Elections Act 1996 law, elections are held on the fourth Monday in October, unless there is a religious holiday or if a council member or mayor leaves their position. Jim Diodati has been the mayor of Niagara Falls since 2010.

As of 2023, the city’s fire and emergency services are staffed by 130 firefighters and 104 volunteers. Provincial roads, such as the Queen Elizabeth Way, are watched by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP). Other roads are managed by Niagara Regional Police (NRPS) for city matters or Niagara Parks Police (NPP) for areas related to the Niagara Parks Commission. Policing on the Canadian side of bridges (Whirlpool and Rainbow Bridges) is done by both the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Sometimes, Niagara Regional Police or OPP, or U.S. agencies, also help. The Michigan Central Railway Bridge is not used anymore. It is closed by the Canadian Pacific Railways to stop people from entering. However, Niagara Regional Police or CBSA/CBP can access it if needed.

Transportation

Niagara Falls is connected to major highways in Canada. The Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW), which runs from Fort Erie to Toronto, passes through Niagara Falls. Highway 420 (and Niagara Regional Road 420) link the Rainbow Bridge to the QEW. The Niagara Parkway is a road managed by the Niagara Parks Commission. It connects Niagara-on-the-Lake to Fort Erie through Niagara Falls.

In the past, King’s Highways passed through Niagara Falls. These included:

• The original route of Highway 3 (which later became Highway 3A), ending at the Whirlpool Rapids Bridge via River Road
• Highway 8, ending at the Whirlpool Rapids Bridge via Bridge Street
• Highway 20, which first ended at the Honeymoon Bridge and later at the Rainbow Bridge through Lundy’s Lane and Clifton Hill

Via Rail Canada and Amtrak work together to provide train service to Niagara Falls station. Their Maple Leaf service runs between Toronto Union Station and New York Penn Station.

In summer 2009, GO Transit began a test program offering weekend and holiday train service from Toronto to Niagara Falls from mid-June to mid-October. These trains run seasonally between Toronto Union Station and Niagara Falls on weekends.

At other times, regular hourly GO train services operate between Toronto Union Station and Burlington Station. From there, buses connect to Niagara Falls station.

As of January 2019, GO Transit provides two-way, weekday train service from Niagara Falls station (Ontario) to Toronto Union Station as part of the Niagara GO Expansion. The full expansion project is expected to be completed by 2025.

• Coach Canada offers daily bus trips between Toronto and Buffalo, New York.
• GO Transit provides daily bus service between Niagara Falls and Burlington GO Station.
• Megabus runs daily trips from Toronto to New York City.
• Niagara Transit is the public transportation system in the city.
• WEGO is the tourist bus service operated by the Niagara Parks Commission.

The City of Niagara Falls is working to earn a Bike Friendly designation and is adding more resources to support biking and walking.

The nearest major international airport to Niagara Falls is Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ).

Education

Niagara has two school boards that manage elementary and secondary schools in the area: the District School Board of Niagara and the Niagara Catholic District School Board. Secondary schools in the region include A. N. Myer, Westlane, Stamford Collegiate, Saint Michael, and Saint Paul. The only post-secondary school located in the city is the University of Niagara Falls Canada. Niagara College and Brock University are located in nearby areas. The city also has a public library system called the Niagara Falls Public Library, which includes three branches.

Media

Niagara Falls has two main local newspapers, three radio stations, and one community television channel. Other media sources are based in nearby cities such as Hamilton and Toronto.

The local newspapers are:
• Niagara Falls Review
• Niagara This Week

Because Niagara Falls is close to Hamilton and Toronto, residents can also read newspapers from those cities, such as The Hamilton Spectator, the Toronto Star, and the Toronto Sun.

The radio stations in Niagara Falls are:
• 91.7 FM – CIXL-FM, "Giant FM" Classic Rock
• 97.7 FM – CHTZ-FM, "97.7 HTZ-FM" Mainstream Rock
• 101.1 FM – CFLZ-FM, "More FM" CHR
• 105.1 FM – CJED-FM, "105.1 The River FM" adult hits

Other radio and television stations from Toronto, Hamilton, and Buffalo also provide service to the area.

Cogeco is the local cable television company in Niagara Falls. It provides access to most major channels from Toronto and Buffalo, as well as YourTV, a local community channel. Another television station, CHCH-DT (UHF channel 15 – virtual channel 11) from Hamilton, Ontario, also serves the Niagara Region.

Television stations from Toronto and Buffalo are widely available in Niagara Falls. Officially, Niagara Falls is part of the Toronto television market, even though it is directly across the Niagara River from its American twin city, which is part of the Buffalo television market.