Town of Cochrane Strategic Plan – Final Report October 2014
4.2 Economic Profile
Please note that not all of Statistics Canada’s 2011 Census data tables were available at the time
this report was being compiled. Some economic indicators use 2006 data, which is the most
recent available at the municipal level.
4.2.1 Income and Earnings
The median before tax income of one-person households in Cochrane during 2006 was $21,89532
(Figure 4.10)
Figure 4.10: Median Before Tax Income in Cochrane, 2006
$28,000
$27,000
$27,258
$26,000
$25,000
$24,000
$23,000
$22,000
$21,000
$20,000
$21,895
Cochrane
Ontario
4.2.2 Agriculture
The clay belt surrounding Cochrane is a part of a large tract of fertile soil encompassing more than
29 million acres, mostly in the District of Cochrane and the Abitibi region of Quebec. In the early
1900’s, the area experienced an influx of immigrants, war veterans and others taking advantage of
homestead programs, grants and guaranteed loans to establish their own farms. These eventually
produced crops of grains and root vegetables. Despite the fertility of the soil and the long summer
days, by 1920 only nine of the hundred original settlers remained; the rest were discouraged by
the cold winters and short growing season.33
However, communities in the northern clay belt region are expressing a renewed interest in
agriculture. In 2005, agriculture generated $11.2M gross revenues in the Cochrane District and
supported 155 jobs.34 Currently, farmers in the community earn revenues from farm gate sales,
32
Statistics Canada. (2007). 2006 Community Profile Cochrane, Ontario. Available at: http://www12.statcan.ca/censusrecensement/2006/dp-pd/prof/92591/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=3556042&Geo2=PR&Code2=35&Data=Count&SearchText=Cochra
ne&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&GeoLevel=PR&GeoCode=3556042
33
George L. McDermott (1961). "Frontiers of Settlement in the Great Clay Belt, Ontario and Quebec". Annals of the
Association of American Geographers 51 (3): 261–273.
34
Cochrane District Agricultural Economic Impact Study (2009). Harry Cummings and Associates.
21