Hensall, Ontario

Hensall is a community in Bluewater, Ontario, Canada with a population of 1,173 (2011 Census). It is located in the centre of Huron County's agricultural land, and is home to three large processing facilities: Thompsons Limited, Hensall Co-op and Cook's Division of Parrish & Heimbecker Ltd., where thousands of tons of beans are annually processed, packaged and shipped worldwide.

History
Hensall is known as the White Bean Capital of Canada, built on growth and development that began in the 19th century with traditional farming methods.

Hensall is named after the village of Hensall in Yorkshire, England. Hensall, Ontario was founded by two brothers from Hensall, Yorkshire, (George and James Petty), in 1851.

The London, Huron and Bruce Railway was built through Hensall in the 1870s. There was a railway accident at Hensall in 1896, when a brakeman named Alexander Livingston was killed.

In 1896, Hensall had a recorded population of 898. In 1876, Hensall got its first post office.

Hensall has two churches, the Hensall United Church, belonging to the United Church of Canada established around 1887 and Cornerstone Church, belonging to the Fellowship of Evangelical Baptists, which was established on May 1, 2022.

Geography
Hensall is located where Huron Road 84 running east from Zurich bisects Highway 4 running north from Exeter.

Hensal receives bus service from Huron Shores Area Transit on Route 3 which runs from Goderich to Grand Bend, stopping in Bayfield, Hensal, Zurich, and St. Joseph.

Education
Education is provided at the elementary level by Bluewater Coast Elementary School.

Notable people
Jennie Smillie, Canada's first female surgeon, was born in Hensall.