Stratford, Ontario

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Stratford City of lights
City (single-tier)
City of Stratford
City Hall
Logo
Nickname:  Festival City
Motto(s):  Industria et Ars ("Industry and Art")
Stratford Show map of Perth County Stratford Show map of Southern Ontario Stratford Show map of Ontario Stratford Show map of Canada
Coordinates: 43°22′15″N 80°58′55″W / 43.37083°N 80.98194°W / 43.37083; -80.98194
Country	Canada
Province	Ontario
County	Perth
Settled	1832
Incorporated	1858 (town)
Incorporated	1886 (city)
Named for	Stratford-upon-Avon, England
Government
• Mayor	Martin Ritsma
• Council	Stratford City Council
• MPs	John Nater (C)
• MPPs	Matthew Rae (PC)
Area [1]
• Land	30.02 km2 (11.59 sq mi)
Elevation [2]	345 m (1,132 ft)
Population  (2021)
• Total	33,232
• Density	1,107/km2 (2,870/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC−5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Forward sortation area	N4Z, N5A
Area code(s)	519, 226, and 548
Website	www.stratfordcanada.ca

Stratford is a city on the Avon River within Perth County in southwestern Ontario, Canada, with a 2021^[3] population of 33,232 in a land area of 30.02 square kilometres (11.59 sq mi).^[4] Stratford is the seat of Perth County, which was settled by English, Irish, Scottish and German immigrants, in almost equal numbers, starting in the 1820s but primarily in the 1830s and 1840s. Most became farmers; even today, the area around Stratford is known for mixed farming, dairying and hog production.^[5]

The area was settled by Europeans in 1832, and the town and river were named after Stratford-upon-Avon, England. Stratford was incorporated as a town in 1859 and as a city in 1886.^[6] The first mayor was John Corry Wilson Daly. The swan has become a symbol of the city. Each year, twenty-four white swans are released into the Avon River. The town is noted for the Stratford Festival, which performs Shakespearean plays and other genres from May to October.