Blyth, Ontario

The first European settlers, Lucius McConnell and Kenneth McBean, arrived in what is now Blyth in 1851. The first store was opened by John Templeton. In 1854, John Drummond built the first hotel (present-day site of The Blyth Inn). A shoe shop, blacksmith shop, tailor shop and sawmill were all set up around the same time. By 1855, a layout for the village of Drummond was made, however the village was renamed Blyth in recognition of British land speculator Henry David Blyth. In 1856, a post office was established and until 1891, the postal service officially, and incorrectly, spelled Blyth with an "e" on the end (Blythe). Henry Blyth never visited the village but the Blyth family held the holdings until his great-grandson Hugh William Blyth sold them in 1950. By the mid-1860s, Blyth's businesses included a grist and flour mill, steam sawmill, 4 general stores, stove and tinshop, carriage and wagon factory, 3 blacksmith shops, a saddlery, a tailor shop, 3 shoe shops, a cooper shop, 3 hotels and one medical doctor. In 2001 Blyth amalgamated with East Wawanosh Township and Wingham to form the Township of North Huron. Today, Blyth is a rural Canadian success story. The village has been recognized as a model for Canadian rural communities who incorporate arts and culture to diversify community economy to move beyond solely an agriculture-based model. == Activities ==

The Blyth Festival is a theatre with two venues, the outdoor Harvest Stage and the Memorial Hall. It has been presenting plays since 1975. == Demographics ==

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Blyth had a population of 1,065 living in 461 of its 489 total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of 989. With a land area of , it had a population density of in 2021. ==Media==

Blyth is home to the North Huron Citizen print and online newspaper. == Notable people ==

• Lorna deBlicquy: Female aviation pioneer and member of The Order of Canada. • Ron Mason: Most successful hockey coach in NCAA history. Member of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame. • Justin Peters: Professional hockey player (goalie), bronze medalists with 2018 Canadian Men's Olympic Hockey Team. • Anthony Peters: Professional hockey player (goalie), brother of Justin. ==Awards==

In 2001, Blyth won the Communities in Bloom National Award in the category of 1 to 1000 population. This award recognizes civic pride, environmental responsibility and beautification through community involvement and the challenge of a national program, with focus on enhancing green spaces in communities. ==Climate==