Community Profile

Hastings County consists of 14 member municipalities

Our location

We are exactly halfway between Toronto and Ottawa, extending from the Bay of Quinte to Algonquin Park. 

Our community

Population: 39,588 (2016 Census) for 14 member municipalities only.  Including the Cities of Belleville and Quinte West, and the Mohawk First Nation's Territory our permanent population is 139,268 (2016 Census).

We are Wildly Authentic!

1. We're a "Bucket List" Destination - Hastings is popular among tourists as one of Eastern Ontario's Best Kept Secret destinations in the province.
2. We are authentic small town charm - Our communities are rich with historic main street shopping districts and 19th century heritage buildings that give you that easy feeling of days gone by. People say “hello” on the street and you soon become known by name at each of the stores and restaurants you visit.
3. We're Wildly Outdoors - We offer a unique experience for every wilderness enthusiast. Enjoy an extraordinary multi-use trail system that wanders past scenic villages, historic ghost towns and clear lakes and streams. The network of groomed trails offers year-round adventures for ATVs, snowmobiling, skiing, hiking, biking and birding alike. Or come fish year-round in our 180+ lakes and countless streams, smaller ponds, bogs and rivers.
4. Rockhounding "Goldmine" - Bancroft (the Mineral Capital of Canada) and the surrounding region known as North Hastings, is one of the most geologically unique areas in the world.  Almost 90% of all known minerals can be found here and we are a major destination for recreational rock hounding enthusiasts. The first discovery of gold in Ontario was made in 1866 on the Richardson farm near Madoc.
5. Delectable Food & Drink - Agriculture in Hastings has a deep-rooted, two hundred year-old history. The rich farmlands within many of our communities, and have received national and international awards. Our annual Hastings County Farm Show and Plowing Match is one of the largest in Ontario with 19,000 visitors attending the two day event. AND we're the Cheese Capital of Canada - home Ivanhoe Cheese and Maple Dale Cheese.  And you know how well cheese goes with great beer and wine?  Well, we have both of those too!
6. An Arts Capital - Maynooth and Bancroft are among the top 10 rural Ontario municipalities for high concentration of artists.

Hastings also offers a strong work ethic, easy commuting and affordability.  Experience small town charm and rural living that is so desirable while still being close to larger urban amenities.  Our lifestyle includes prime access to numerous outdoor recreational activities, a less hectic pace and a short commute to work.

Send your children to one of our more than 30 elementary schools and more than 5 secondary secondary schools in both the public and separate school systems.  Your family and employees will have access to a reliable medical support system with three fully accredited hospital sites in Bancroft, Bancroft and Trenton and a successful physician recruitment program through which Hastings County has addressed the shortage with 14 doctors signed, 12 currently practicing and 2 expected to begin over the next few years.  You can have it all at an affordable price!

Would you like to hear from people who have made the move to Hastings County?  Here's a preview.

Those in the video above realize that average home prices are much lower than larger Ontario cities and other destinations. The following demonstrates the differences:

Source - Municipal Property Assessment Corporation.