Cayuga, Ontario, is a charming unincorporated community nestled in the heart of Haldimand County. Located at the intersection of Highway 3 and Munsee Street, and along the scenic Grand River, Cayuga is a mere 20-minute drive from Lake Erie and 30 minutes south of Hamilton. Its proximity to Toronto, just 115 minutes away, makes it a popular spot for cottages and recreational properties.
Cayuga was incorporated as a village in 1859 and quickly became the county seat for Haldimand County due to its central location. The community is named after the Cayuga, one of the Six Nations of the Grand River Natives who were awarded land in the area for siding with the British in the American Revolution. The Mohawk language refers to the locality as Nikana'tsà:'a.
As the county seat, Cayuga is home to the Court House, jail, and a museum. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, public hangings were held in the courtyard, with the prisoners buried on site. The Highway 3 bridge over the Grand River, known as the Cayuga Bridge, was a well-recognized symbol of Haldimand County and the Grand River. However, it was replaced with a concrete bridge in the summer of 2014.
In the mid-19th century, Cayuga's population grew to about 2,500 due to the Grand River's importance as a commercial route. However, the completion of the Welland Canal rendered the Grand River an obsolete route. Today, Cayuga's population has recovered to approximately 1,500 after having been around 1,000 for almost a century.
In 1974, Cayuga was amalgamated into the new town of Haldimand within the Regional Municipality of Haldimand-Norfolk. Despite nearby Caledonia being the largest community in the town, the town hall was located in Cayuga because of its central location. In 2001, Haldimand and all other municipalities within the region were dissolved, and the region was divided into two single-tier municipalities with city-status but called counties. Cayuga is now an unincorporated community in Ward 2 of Haldimand County.
Cayuga, Ontario, experienced a significant flood on February 13, 2009, when the Grand River's ice thawed, causing damage to Cayuga and Dunnville, Ontario. The following day, the CCGC Griffin proceeded up the river to help clear ice.
Cayuga's residents are predominantly of British national background, but many can trace their roots to an original German settlement near Cayuga in the 19th century. There was also a large Dutch migration to the area after the Second World War.
As of the 2021 census, there were 1,675 citizens that spoke English only, and 30 that are bilingual in both official languages.
In recent years, Cayuga has become known for auto racing. The oldest continually operating dragstrip in Canada and the fastest high bank oval race track in Canada are located near the townsite at the Cayuga International Speedway. This 5/8-mile oval auto racing track was reopened in 2017 and hosts a round of the NASCAR Pinty's Series. The drag strip was originally a runway built for training British Commonwealth pilots during the Second World War.
CayugaFest, an annual event founded in 2002, is held every July, adding to the community's vibrant atmosphere.
