Northumberland County lies on the north shore of Lake Ontario in the Canadian province of that name. It is in good company there, with Toronto (2014 Intelligent Community of the Year) and the Durham Region (2025 Intelligent Community of the Year) to the west and Kingston (a Certified Intelligent Community and 2025 Top7 honoree) to the east. Home to seven municipalities, it is known for its blend of historic small towns, rolling agricultural hills and extensive waterfront.
With 90,000 people spread through 1,900 km2, it is rural in character, and agriculture and tourism are two of its primary industries. The third, however, is advanced manufacturing focused on plastics and metal fabrication. A 2023-2027 Community Strategic Plan calls for accelerating economic growth on that foundation while maintaining a high quality of life as its population expands to an estimated 122,000 by 2051.
Wind Beneath Their Wings
The county pursues this goal through a range of programs that put wind beneath the wings of existing businesses and local entrepreneurs. These include the Business & Entrepreneurship Centre Northumberland, which offers marketing and networking support and operates The Factory, a collaborative co-working space. The Ontario Agri-Food Venture Centre provides local farmers and entrepreneurs with shared-use assets they could ill afford themselves: food processing services, commercial kitchen access and the packaging equipment needed to get food to market.
Funding and mentorship are supplied by the Community Futures Development Corporation, which offers SMEs and nonprofits financial aid, consulting support and social enterprise funding. And to attract investment, the county has developed Invest Northumberland, a dedicated platform for site selectors and investors, which highlights the region’s skilled workforce, affordability and proximity to major markets.
Fostering a Thriving Community
Employment growth is vital to Northumberland County’s future. But there is more to community success than jobs. In 2025, the county broke ground on a multi-year broadband expansion project in partnership with Axle Telecom to bring fiber-to-the-home service to more than 11,000 underserved residences and businesses. With affordability being one of its competitive advantages, the county is implementing an Affordable Housing Strategy with 44 actions designed to increase rental and ownership units.
Rural areas are challenged to attract primary care physicians and other medical professionals, even in a country with universal health care. The county collaborates with the Ontario Health Team of Northumberland to improve access to primary care, mental health services and addiction support. It is also mindful of the potential downsides of economic growth, and the County Official Plan directs development toward existing settlement areas while preserving agricultural land and rural heritage.
Community intelligence is a complex and sometimes fragile thing. It is the willingness to plan for a future of change and to equip people and enterprises with technology and the skills to use it. It is a commitment to do that while strengthening the social and cultural fabric that binds the community together and gives it unique value. It is not the exclusive preserve of the big city or major metro area – and Northumberland County is living proof.
Population: 89,365
Website: northumberland.ca
Smart21 2026