West Nipissing

West Nipissing, French Nipissing Ouest, formerly Sturgeon Falls, municipality, east-central Ontario, Canada. It was formed in 1999 when the town of Sturgeon Falls and other neighbouring communities were amalgamated under the name West Nipissing.

The municipality is located on the Sturgeon River, just north of its mouth on Lake Nipissing, 22 miles (35 km) west of North Bay. Sturgeon Bay originated in the 19th century as a commercial sturgeon fishing centre, hence its name. Though now the nucleus of a farming, dairying, lumbering, hunting, and resort region, the municipality is still noted for its sturgeon and caviar. Other industries include pulp and lumber milling, woodworking, and garnet grinding. Pop. (2006) 13,410; (2011) 14,149.