The Town's administrative infrastructure was dealt a huge blow in 1957 as the Town Hall that was erected in 1881 on Dominion Street burned to the ground. Within 12 months of the fire, the New Town Hall was officially opened on the same site. The New Town Hall included an auditorium and incorporated the Fire hose tower that was salvaged from the fire. In 2004, the Town moved from Dominion Street to the Taylor Court Municipal Hall that was the former home of Hydro One. This move allowed the Town to consolidate the Public Works Department with other Administrative Services.
About Bracebridge
The Town's administrative infrastructure was dealt a huge blow in 1957 as the Town Hall that was erected in 1881 on Dominion Street burned to the ground. Within 12 months of the fire, the New Town Hall was officially opened on the same site. The New Town Hall included an auditorium and incorporated the Fire hose tower that was salvaged from the fire. In 2004, the Town moved from Dominion Street to the Taylor Court Municipal Hall that was the former home of Hydro One. This move allowed the Town to consolidate the Public Works Department with other Administrative Services.
Bracebridge’s main street, Manitoba Street and surrounding areas have been enhanced to reflect the small town northern Ontario character that is inherent to the Downtown Business District.
In 2007, the Town of Bracebridge sold lands in Jubilee Park to Nipissing University for a nominal amount. Nipissing opened the 26,000 square foot Academic Building in 2008 and in 2011 will open a 53-bed Student Residence. Bracebridge Muskoka Lakes Secondary School was opened in 1925. This building served secondary students for over 80 years until the move to the new school and theatre facility on Clearbrook Trail in 2007. The current owner of the building has plans to renovate and develop the lands for use as a retirement complex that will offer a tiered level of services for residents.
Bracebridge, branded as “The Heart of Muskoka”, is located geographically in the centre of Muskoka and is the headquarters for the District Government.The community was incorporated as a Village in 1875 and a Town in 1889.
With the advent of regional government in January 1971, the Town of Bracebridge and the surrounding townships were brought together as one municipality.
It encompasses 62,119 hectares and has five wards: Bracebridge, Monck/Muskoka, Macaulay, Draper and Oakley.· The naming of Bracebridge has been traced to a postmaster who took the name from the book, “Bracebridge Hall” written by American author Washington Irving.
The Town's population according to the 2006 Census is 16,000 people.


