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The Changing Face of Rural Ontario: Population and Employment By Heather Clemensan El A Rural Minority In the mid-nineteenth century over 86% of Ontario's population lived in rural areas. But, as early as 1911. the rural population became a minority accounting for only 47% of the provincial total. In the 1986 census (the most recent for which published data are available), On- tario had the lowest percentage of rural population of any province in Canada, with the rural population accounting for approximately 18% of the total (1.6 mil- lion out of 9.1 million).1 D Farm Population 3 Minority The compostion of Ontario's rural population has also changed. Since statis- tics were first compiled on the farm population in 1931, Ontario's farm population (that is, all people living in farm households) has consistently declined as a percentage of the rural population: from 59% in 1931 to less than 14% by 1986. As early as 1941, the farm population had been overtaken in number by the rural nonâ€"farm population. And by 1986, the rural non-fann population ac- counted for approximately 1.4 million of Ontario's 1.6 million rural residents. El Rural/Urban Fringe The growth of the rural non-farm population reflects not only a decline in employment in farming and a shift in the occupations ofrural residents, butalso the movement of former urban residents into rural areas. This latter change was par- ticularly strong in the 1971-76 period, when the rate of growth in rural areas of Ontario, as elsewhere in Canada, briefly exceeded the urban. Much rural popula- tion growth in this period resulted from former urban dwellers moving into rural Ontario, particularly to areas adjacent to large towns and cities. Urbanites moved out of the city to enjoy the attractions of country living, but remained close enough to commute to work and to have access to the services and amenities of the city. In fact, close to one-third of Ontario's rural population is found in the fringe of urban areas. New issues have arisen in rural areas surrounding urban centres, where people with different values, needs and expecta- tions share rural space. Problems with trespassing and vandalism, complaints of noise, dust, and odour from farming ac- tivities, and different attitudes to land use and the local environment are some ofthe outcomes of the complex changes in rural Ontario arising from the integration of rural and urban lifestyles. CI Villages and Small Towns lf villages and small towns with a population from 1,000 to 10,000 are in- cluded ina broader definition ofrural,just over a quarter of Ontario's population lived in rural and small town areas in 1986. Numerous factors have played a role in the steady demise of many rural service centres, including the decline of the farm population and the resultant decrease in demand for local services. Improved roads and vehicles have made distance between centres appear shorter and more accessible to people who are able to travel greater distances for both employment and services. There is greater variety in the goods and services now consumed and shopping patterns have shifted from local to more regional centres. One stop shopping and socialization with people outside the local community are becom» ing the norm. All ofthese factors have had a significant impact on small rural towns and villages. Although many small rural settlements in Ontario have disappeared or declined since the end of the nineteenth century, others have adapted to the changes of the twentieth century in a variety of ways. Tourism has revitalized the economic base of many small rural communities, particularly those advantageously located near scenic areas. provincial parks and other recreational amenities, or boasting attractions based on the community's own heritage. Numerous small communities have at- tracted an older population. They are often preferred areas for retirement, and many have a higher percentage of elderly residents compared with urban areas. It is not unusual for some rural centres to have a growing population of elderly residents somethree or fourtimes above the nation- al average. The working population in such rural communities have a higher de- pendent population to support, in terms of taxes and service provision, than their counterparts in urban areas. Small towns and villages in fact have the highest de- pendency rates2 of any communities in Ontario. If small towns are the preferred loca- tion for retirement, does this present an opportunity for rural areas in terms ofjob creation and future services? Or, if this situation is not being addressed, does it lead to problems of health care provision continued on page 8 H tic C January, February, March 1992 7