Cochrane

Cochrane district contains the Ontario portion of the Clay Belt, a 120,000 square kilometre tract of fertile soil that stretches from West of Hearst to the Ontario-Quebec border in the East, and past Timmins in the South.

Climate Conditions

In the May-October period of 2014, Cochrane experienced 1338 growing degree days, 2091 crop heat units, and 561mm precipitation. The clay belt region experiences a historical average of a 150-160-day growing season.

Soils

Cochrane sits in plant hardiness zones 3a and 3b, and contains primarily Gray-Luvisol, Gleysol, and Mesisol soil. The district features deep soils that are mostly level, with a mixture of well- and poorly-drained clays, often covered by organic deposits. The north of the district is predominately deep organic soils.

Agriculture

Beef cattle ranching and farming composes a plurality of the farms in the area, with 8503 hectares in use as pasture, and a stock of 5004 cattle and calves as of 2011. Hay is the predominant major field crop.

Notable Centres

Timmins

Timmins is located on the Mattagami River. A major city of the region, at the time of the Canada 2011 Census, its population was 43,165. Its industries include forestry, tourism, recreation, health care, education, commercial and industrial commerce and telecommunications.

Temperatures in Timmins range from a mean of -16.8C in January and 17.5C in July. There are 90 frost-free days, with the average last spring frost occurring on June 8 and the first fall frost occurring on September 8. The area receives on average 558.3mm rain annually, falling over 107.2 days, with a peak mean monthly rainfall of 90.9mm in July.

Timmins is roughly 8 hours and 45 minutes from London, 7 hours and 20 minutes from Toronto, and 9 hours from Kingston.

Cochrane

Cochrane is located east of Kapuskasing, northeast of Timmins, south of Moosonee, and north of Iroquois Falls. It is about a one-hour drive from Timmins, the major city of the region. It is the seat of Cochrane District. The town's population is made up of approximately half anglophone and half francophone residents. In the 2006 Census, Cochrane had a population of 5,487.

Cochrane is roughly 8 hours and 45 minutes from London, 7 hours and 25 minutes from Toronto, and 9 hours from Kingston.

Kapuskasing

Kapuskasing is the largest community located directly on Highway 11 between Thunder Bay and Temiskaming Shores.

Temperatures in Kapuskasing range from a mean of -17.9 in January and 17.4C in July. There are 101 frost-free days, with the average last spring frost occurring on June 5 and the first fall frost occurring on September 15. The area receives on average 555.7mm rain annually, falling over 108.5 days, with a peak mean monthly rainfall of 101.9mm in July.

Kapuskasing is roughly 10 hours from London, 8 hours and 45 minutes from Toronto, and 10 hours 20 minutes from Kingston.

Hearst

Hearst is located approximately 92 kilometres (57 mi) west of Kapuskasing, approximately 935 kilometres (581 mi) north of Toronto and 520 kilometres (320 mi) east of Thunder Bay along Highway 11. 93.7% of Hearst's population is francophone.

Hearst is roughly 11 hours and 10 minutes from London, 9 hours 55 minutes from Toronto, and 11 hours 30 minutes from Kingston.