Chatham-Kent
Chatham-Kent is a single-tier municipality in southwestern Ontario, Canada, established in 1998 through the amalgamation of the City of Chatham and the 21 other municipalities comprising Kent County. Covering 2,457 square kilometres of predominantly flat, fertile land along the Thames River and near Lake Erie, it functions as a regional hub with Chatham serving as the primary urban centre housing about 45,000 residents.[1] As of the 2021 census, the municipality's population stands at 103,988, reflecting modest growth amid a rural demographic characterized by aging and out-migration trends partially offset by agricultural employment.[2] The local economy centres on a robust $4 billion agriculture and agri-food sector, making Chatham-Kent a leading Ontario producer of corn, soybeans, tomatoes, and sugar beets, supported by over 2,000 farms that leverage the region's rich soils and temperate climate.[3] Complementary manufacturing industries include advanced production of agricultural equipment, automotive components, and food processing facilities, bolstered by proximity to U.S. markets across the Detroit River.[4] Notable features encompass natural assets like Rondeau Provincial Park and historical ties to early settlement and Underground Railroad routes, though the area has faced challenges from farm consolidation and industrial shifts away from traditional tobacco cultivation.[3]