Unorganized Thunder Bay District

Unorganized Thunder Bay District is an unorganized area in northwestern Ontario, Canada in Thunder Bay District. It comprises all parts of the district that are not part of an incorporated municipality or a First Nations reserve.

Most of the territory is within the Eastern Time Zone, but the part west of the 90th meridian is in the Central Time Zone.

Communities with Local services board

 * Armstrong
 * East Gorham
 * Hurkett
 * Kaministiquia
 * Lappe
 * Rossport
 * Shebandowan

Other communities

 * Auden
 * Burchell Lake
 * Collins
 * English River (on boundary with Kenora District)
 * Finmark
 * Hemlo
 * Heron Bay
 * Kashabowie
 * Nolalu
 * Ombabika
 * Pays Plat
 * Raith
 * Savant Lake
 * Shabaqua
 * Shabaqua Corners
 * Silver Islet
 * Silver Mountain
 * Sorrell Lake
 * Suomi
 * Upsala

History
Gold was noted in the area since 1869, but it wasn't until Peter Moses from Heron Bay, Ontario discovered additional gold that prospectors flocked to the area. In 1947, Dr. J. Williams and Moses staked 11 claims, which became the Lake Superior Mining Corporation. However, not much development took place until 1979, when Don and David McKinnon, along with John Larche, staked claims in Hemlo and the Manitouwadge area. The Williams Mine started operation in 1985, and produced 445,320 ounces of gold from a 2.45 meter wide ore body. The Golden Giant Mine produced 446,858 ounces in 1994 from a quartz sericite schist host rock. The David Bell Mines produced 204,251 ounces in 1994. The Hemlo gold mines had produced more than 6,000,000 ounces of gold by 1992.

Demographics
Population trend:
 * Population in 2011: 5909
 * Population in 2006: 6585
 * Population in 2001: 6223
 * Population in 1996: 8460 (or 6534 when adjusted to 2001 boundaries)
 * Land area: 105454.69 km2
 * Population in 1991: 8168

Parks in Unorganized Thunder Bay
Provincial parks in Unorganized Thunder Bay include:
 * Albany River Provincial Park
 * Kopka River Provincial Park
 * Neys Provincial Park
 * Rainbow Falls Provincial Park
 * Sleeping Giant Provincial Park
 * Steel River Provincial Park
 * Wabakimi Provincial Park

It is also home to one National Park of Canada: Pukaskwa National Park.

Transportation
Via Rail's The Canadian serves the Unorganized Thunder District at the communities of Mud River, Ferland, and Auden.