By Chad Ingram

Published Sept. 7 2017

Minden Hills township’s population is growing and growing older according to the 2016 census.
“This is showing a trend of retiring cottagers” said Minden Hills planner Ian Clendening as he presented data to councillors during an Aug. 31 meeting.

Minden Hills’ population increased by approximately 500 people between 2011 and 2016 from 5655 to 6088.
That’s an increase of 7.7 per cent making Minden Hills the fastest growing municipality in Haliburton County.
It edged out Algonquin Highlands which saw population growth of 7.5 per cent during the same period. Dysart et al and Highlands East experienced increases of 5.3 per cent and 2.9 per cent respectively.
This rate of growth is much quicker than what had been anticipated for Minden Hills. While the township’s official plan projected year-round population growth between 500 and 800 people during a 20-year period “in five years we have gotten that 500.”

The majority of new residents were between the ages of 55 and 74.
“That means that this municipality is getting much older as well as more populated” Clendening said.
The median age is Minden Hills is about 57 years old and population forecasts from the Ministry of Finance show that median age is expected to continue to rise in coming decades. The census data also shows fewer young people in the township particularly those below the age of 20.

As for the composition of individual households the census shows that nearly half of households in Minden Hills – 48 per cent – are compromised of two people. Single-person households are the next most common at 28 per cent. Three person households make up 12 per cent of all households four-person households eight. Four per cent of households in Minden Hills contain five or more people.