Stratford, Ontario
Stratford | |
|---|---|
| City of Stratford | |
City Hall | |
| Nickname: Festival City | |
| Motto(s): Industria et Ars ("Industry and Art") | |
| Coordinates: 43°22′15″N 80°58′55″W / 43.37083°N 80.98194°W | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Ontario |
| County | Perth |
| Settled | 1832 |
| Incorporated | 1858 (town) |
| Incorporated | 1886 (city) |
| Named after | Stratford-upon-Avon, England |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Martin Ritsma |
| • Council | Stratford City Council |
| • MPs | John Nater (C) |
| • MPPs | Matthew Rae (PC) |
| Area | |
| • Land | 30.02 km2 (11.59 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 345 m (1,132 ft) |
| Population (2021) | |
• Total | 33,232 |
| • Density | 1,107/km2 (2,870/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Forward sortation area | |
| Area code(s) | 519, 226, and 548 |
| Website | www |
Stratford is a city on the Avon River within Perth County in southwestern Ontario, Canada, with a 2021 population of 33,232 in a land area of 30.02 square kilometres (11.59 sq mi). Stratford is the seat of Perth County, which was settled by English, Irish, Scottish and German immigrants, in almost equal numbers, starting in the 1820s but primarily in the 1830s and 1840s. Most became farmers; even today, the area around Stratford is known for mixed farming, dairying and hog production.
The area was settled by Europeans in 1832, and the town and river were named after Stratford-upon-Avon, England. Stratford was incorporated as a town in 1859 and as a city in 1886. The first mayor was John Corry Wilson Daly. The swan has become a symbol of the city. Each year, twenty-four white swans are released into the Avon River. The town is noted for the Stratford Festival, which performs Shakespearean plays and other genres from May to October.