St. Catharines is a municipality in Ontario, Canada. The 2006 census had a population of 131,989. St. Catharines is the largest city in the Niagara region, in the southern part of the province, at the entrance to the Wellandkanaal, founded by Loyalists in the 1780s. The first settlers, Sergeant Jacob Dittrick and Private John Hainer (member of the Butler Ranger Regiment), came to the area where Dick's Creek met Twelve Mile-Long Creek. Dick's Creek was named after another settler, Richard Pierpoint, a black loyalist born in Senegal who had fled slavery in New York to fight for the British Crown, nicknamed Captain Dick. This part of the settlement became the centre of the village. Indigenous roads have been used as travel routes, resulting in the current curvature of the downtown core. The first company, a Robert Hamilton store, was founded around 1783. The first mill, the Crown Mills, was opened in 1786. Between 1787 and 1789, the surrounding lands were acquired and the village was created. His name was De Twelve at the time. In 1797, the first inn was built by Thomas Adams, located on the east side of Ontario Street, after what is now St. Paul Street. It has become a meeting place and a stop for the bus. In 1798, The Twelve Shipman's Corners, named after the new owner of the inn, became Paul Shipman. According to some sources, St. Paul Street, the main street at the time, was also named in his honour and was founded by the Loyalists in the 1780s. The first settlers, Sergeant Jacob Dittrick and Private John Hainer (member of the Butler Ranger Regiment), came to the area where Dick's Creek met Twelve Mile-Long Creek. Dick's Creek was named after another settler, Richard Pierpoint, a black loyalist born in Senegal who had fled slavery in New York to fight for the British Crown, nicknamed Captain Dick. This part of the settlement became the centre of the village. Indigenous roads have been used as travel routes, resulting in the current curvature of the downtown core. The first company, a Robert Hamilton store, was founded around 1783. The first mill, the Crown Mills, was opened in 1786. Between 1787 and 1789, the surrounding lands were acquired and the village was created. His name was De Twelve at the time. In 1797, the first inn was built by Thomas Adams, located on the east side of Ontario Street, after what is now St. Paul Street. It has become a meeting place and a stop for the bus. In 1798, The Twelve Shipman's Corners, named after the new owner of the inn, became Paul Shipman. According to some sources, Saint-Paul Street, the main street at the time, was also mentioned in his honour.