Erin, Ontario

Erin (/ˈɪərɪn/) is a town in Wellington County, approximately 80 kilometres (50 mi) northwest of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Erin is primarily a rural community but, while farming is still an important activity in the town, most of its population works in the nearby cities of Brampton, Mississauga, Guelph, and even Toronto.

The town's new industrial park is attracting a number of new industries, due to its cheaper tax rate, accessibility to transportation, and its location within the "Technology Triangle," a series of high-tech driven cities including nearby Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge.

In addition to the primary settlement of Erin, the town also includes the smaller communities of Ballinafad, Brisbane, Cedar Valley, Crewson's Corners, Orton and Ospringe as well as Hillsburgh, an urban centre.

[4] The town also includes rural cluster areas such as Binkham, Churchill (partially), Coningsby and Mimosa.

The first settlers of European descent in the area then known as Erin Township were George and Nathaniel Roszel from Pennsylvania who arrived in November 1820; Nathanial acquired land in what is now Ballinafad.

In 1821, William How and his family arrived from England and built a home in what is now Hillsburgh; he started the first general store in that community.

Hydro power was generated at Cataract, in Caledon, an area that is now in the Forks of the Credit Provincial Park.

The facility now includes Erin District High School, 300-seat theatre, large double gym, arena, 6 vending machines, many community rooms, dentist, physiotherapist, Erin Branch of the Wellington Library, daycare, and many other features.

The East Wellington Family Health Team operates a clinic in the urban area of Erin and also in nearby Rockwood, Ontario.

Their local newspaper The Erin Advocate has a weekly paid-circulation of 2,500 and is published by Metroland Media Group Ltd.

The Erin Advocate also publishes the monthly Country Routes paper distributed to surrounding areas.