Marmora is a small town located in Eastern Ontario, on the Southern Ontario Trans-Canada Route Highway #7 . It is located where Highway 7 crosses the Crowe River, which flows down from Crowe Lake (to the north) and continues down to the Trent River. Marmora is 59 km E of Peterborough, and ## km W of Perth.
The community’s origins are as a resource-driven settlement, extracting iron, and transitioning to a community focused on tourism and recreation. The town’s history is still evident in its architecture and local landmarks, such as the Marmora Mine, which is now a historical site.
Marmora History
The area around Marmora was inhabited by the Algonquin and Huron-Wendat Indigenous communities, wo relied on the land’s resources for their livelihoods.
The arrival of European settlers in the early 1800s began Marmora’s transformation. The town had close proximity to valuable iron ore and timber. The Marmora Iron Works, established in the 1821, played a significant role in the local economy and attracted workers and settlers to the area.
In the 1860s, the discovery of high-quality iron ore deposits in the region led to the establishment of iron mines and smelting operations. Marmora became a hub for mining and industrial activity.
The construction of the Central Ontario Railway in the 1880s connected the area to Trenton on Lake Ontario. From there Marmora iron ore and timer reached other parts of Ontario.
Like many resource-based towns, Marmora’s prosperity was tied to the availability of natural resources. With the decline of the iron industry and shifts in demand for timber prompted a transition towards tourism, recreation, and agriculture. Marmora has lots of natural beauty and recreation, drawing visitors for fishing, camping, and exploring the nearby Crowe River.