General Information
- Location - Highway 550
- Population in 2011 - 1,031
- Access - Land
- Official Website - www.twp.prince.on.ca
Overview
Prince Township lies to the west and north of the municipal boundaries of the City of Sault Ste. Marie. Its western boundary is comprised of a portion of the coastline of Whitefish Bay of Lake Superior while its northern boundary is shared with Dennis Township, one of the 31 townships designated as part of the Sault Ste. Marie North Planning Area. Highway 550 runs east-west through the Township while Highway 565 extends south through the Township to connect with Pointe Deschenes, Pointe Louise and the municipal airport all in the City of Sault Ste. Marie.
Prince Township is a dormitory community where many of its residents retreat home at night and then commute to the City of Sault Ste. Marie during the day for employment or educational reasons. Residential development occurs in the hamlet of Gros Cap and in larger rural residential lots found south of the rocky uplands of the Canadian Shield. Here also, seasonal residential (summer cottages) growth has developed on the shoreline of Prince Lake and at the end of North Gros Cap Road along the coast of Whitefish Bay. Commercial establishments (variety outlets) have been established in the hamlet and adjacent to the intersection of Highways 550 and 565.
Archaeological investigations at Gros Cap have determined that native peoples resided there over 4,500 years before present. Early habitation sites are found at higher lake levels that occurred during the time of Glacial Lake Nipissing. Artifacts found at these habitation sites include copper tools and pottery. The area was also a strategic location not only for the good fishing and hunting, but also because the uplands afforded excellent lookouts to warn the community of approaching visitors.
Residents and non-residents are attracted to the scenic vistas, the popular hiking trails of the Voyageur Trail Association, the road and mountain biking opportunities, as well as the snowmobile trail connections to Heyden and Sault Ste. Marie. Many rural residents are committed horse enthusiasts and use their larger land holdings to advantage.