Rural Community of Pakenham | Ontario Agritourism

Pakenham Ontario

A Scenic Rural Community Built on Heritage and Agriculture

Pakenham is a picturesque rural village in Lanark County, located within the Township of Mississippi Mills. Set along the banks of the Mississippi River, Pakenham is widely regarded as one of eastern Ontario’s most scenic small communities, known for its stone buildings, historic streetscape, and natural setting.

The village dates back to the early 1820s, when settlement followed the river and the power it provided. Pakenham quickly developed around mills, bridges, and river crossings that served both residents and travellers moving through the region. Its historic core remains remarkably intact, giving the community a timeless feel that reflects its early origins while still supporting everyday village life.

Today, Pakenham balances heritage and livability. While closely connected to nearby towns such as Almonte and Ottawa’s western edge, it has retained a distinctly rural identity. The village is a destination in its own right, valued for its walkable core, surrounding countryside, and strong sense of community pride.

The Local Agricultural Landscape

Pakenham is surrounded by rolling farmland that reflects the agricultural character of Lanark County, an area long known for mixed farming and family-run operations. The farms around the village traditionally combine livestock, hay and pasture, and field crops, creating a varied agricultural landscape well suited to both production and rural living.

Cattle farming, particularly beef, has deep roots in the area, supported by hay fields and grazing land shaped by the region’s terrain. Smaller-scale farms and rural properties add to the diversity, contributing to a landscape where agriculture, woodlots, and waterways exist side by side.

Agriculture here is closely tied to community life. Seasonal rhythms, planting, haying, harvest, are part of the everyday backdrop, and local events often celebrate rural skills, food, and craftsmanship. For agritourism visitors, the area around Pakenham offers an authentic rural experience rooted in tradition, stewardship of the land, and long-standing farming knowledge.

And Here’s the Rest of the Story…

Every community has a few stories that don’t always make guidebooks, this is one of them.

Pakenham’s famous Five Span Bridge is admired for its beauty, but fewer people know it was built using locally quarried stone, much of it cut and set by hand. Even more surprising, the bridge was constructed at a time when stone arch bridges were already considered outdated. Engineers chose durability over trend—and more than a century later, the bridge still carries daily traffic. It’s a quiet example of rural Ontario practicality outlasting modern shortcuts.