Bancroft is a town on the York River in Hastings County in the Canadian province of Ontario. As of 2001, the population was 4,089. In 1996, the population was 4,080 (-0.2% population change). The area of the town was 227.85 square kilometres.

Attractions

Located in Ontario's Haliburton Hills , part of the Canadian Shield, Bancroft is well known in Canada as an excellent location for rock hunting . Bancroft styles itself as the "mineral capital of Canada" and holds an annual event in August called the Rockhound Gemboree.

A popular local location is a lookout called eagles nest a short distance north of the city; however, the road is steep and generally impassible in the winter. High speed internet services and an internet cafe are open 7-days-a-week. The library also provides restricted internet access.

History

The settlement here was originally called York Mills. In 1879, it was renamed Bancroft by Senator Billa Flint after his mother-in-law's maiden name.

The town was once a centre for uranium mining, and the closing of the Madawaska mine caused some economic hardship.

Airport

Bancroft is served by a small airport, CNW3, with a 2,200 foot (670 meter) crushed gravel runway, located immediately adjoining the town. The airport is operated by the Bancroft Flying Club and is freely available to the general public. Due to high terrain near both ends of the runway, pilots typically use a non-standard circuit, following the York River valley through the town for departing from runway 12 or landing on runway 30.

See also

• List of communities in Ontario

External link

• Statistics Canada 2001 Community Profile - Bancroft, Ontario, Canada

• Bancroft-Ontario.com

• Bancroft Internet Cafe

• Bancroft Flying Club