Rama Township, Ontario
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rama Township is a geographic township and former municipality located in Simcoe County, Ontario, Canada. It is currently part of Ramara Township.
Rama Township was named in 1820. The origins of the name are unclear - it is believed to be named either for the Spanish word for 'branch' or for Ramah, the biblical town of Benjamin in ancient Israel.
The township was originally part of York County but was transferred to Ontario County upon its formation in 1852. It was originally amalgamated with adjoining Mara Township, but was incorporated as a separate municipality in 1869.
A portion of Rama Township was allocated to form what became the Mnjikaning First Nation. Many natives were living on the narrow strip of land that separates lakes Simcoe and Couchiching between Atherly and Orillia. These lands were surrendered by treaty in 1836. After that time, the local Indian Agent began purchasing lands in Rama Township and and the natives were relocated there. The main settlement on the reserve is also known as Rama and is the site of Casino Rama.
North of Rama, community of Longford Mills was established in 1868. In 1867 American lumberman Henry W. Sage had purchased blocks of land in Rama Township after buying timber berths in Oakley Township in Muskoka District. Sage had considered relocating his mill from Bell Ewart to a point between the Black River and Lake Couchiching, or possibly at Wasdell Falls. This area lacked rail transport, so the sawn lumber would have to bebarged to the Northern Railway at Bell Ewart. Instead, Sage came up with the idea of a canal to float logs from the Black River to supply the mills of Lake Simcoe. The Rama Timber Transport Company was formed in 1868. Not only did it allow the logs of Muskoka and Victoria reach the mills of Lake Simcoe, but helped establish the community of Longford Mills.
Ontario County was dissolved upon the formation of the Regional Municipality of Durham in 1974. Both Rama and Mara Townships were transferred to Simcoe County.
As part of the municipal restructuring of Simcoe County, Mara and Rama Townships were amalgamated to form Ramara Township in 1994.
