Map of Parry Sound District highlighting Gurd Township
Gurd Township is an historical geographic township in central Ontario , Canada , in the Almaguin Highlands region of Parry Sound District .[ 1] It was first surveyed in 1875 (1875 ) and was named after Robert Sinclair Gurd , a businessman and one-time mayor of Sarnia. In 1970, Gurd was annexed by the incorporated (Township municipality of) Nipissing .
The township was shaped like an "L" wrapping around Nipissing. It was bounded on the north and northwest by Patterson Township on the west by Pringle Township , on the east and northeast by Nipissing, on the east by South Himsworth Township and on the south by Machar Township . It included the community of Hotham and part of Commanda .
When it was annexed, Gurd had a population of 260 while Nipissing had 550. Today, the population is approximately 300 (419 including the nearby community of Alsace ).
Gurd is home to the Bray Lake Conservation Reserve , South River Forest Provincial Conservation Reserve and the John P. Webster Nature Preserve . Highway 522 runs through the south of the township while Highway 534 cuts through the north at Hotham. Gurd is home to Lockharts Mountain 45°58′1.112″N 79°28′31.194″W / 45.96697556°N 79.47533167°W / 45.96697556; -79.47533167 , the highest elevation in the Township of Nipissing at 432m (1,417ft).
Etymology
This township in Parry Sound District was named in 1875 for Robert S. Gurd, a Sarnia lawyer. He was a personal friend of Timothy B. Pardee , Ontario commissioner of crown lands at the time.[ 2]
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45°58′00″N 79°32′55″W / 45.96667°N 79.54861°W / 45.96667; -79.54861