Atwood

Atwood is a village on Highway 23, about 10 km south-west of Listowel, among the farms of the old Elma Township. Main Street holds the village's public library, the Elma Memorial Community Centre and the Atwood Lions Park, where there are two ball diamonds, tennis and pickleball courts, a pavilion and a playground, with the outdoor Atwood Lions Pool next door. The North Perth Trail System has an entrance in Atwood, and Listowel's shops and services are a short drive north.

The settlement dates from 1854, when it was called Elma Centre. The railway arrived in 1876 and the village was renamed Newry Station, and the Atwood station of the Wellington, Grey and Bruce Railway was built in 1877. In 1883 William Dunn suggested the name Atwood, after his niece remarked that the hamlet was surrounded by woods. Atwood became part of the Municipality of North Perth in 1998.

The census counts most of Atwood in one area with the farms just around it, so these figures are estimates for the village. They come to about 370 homes, about nine in ten of them single detached houses. Nearly half were built in 1960 or earlier and about a quarter between 1961 and 1980. About one in twelve were built between 1981 and 2000, and about one in seven in 2001 or later.

Highway 23 runs through Atwood, north to Listowel, about 10 km away by road, a drive of about 9 minutes, and south to Mitchell. Stratford City Hall is about 47 km away by road, a drive of about 36 minutes. PC Connect's Route A stops in Atwood on its way between Listowel and Stratford, Monday to Saturday. The North Perth Trail System has an entrance in the village.

Atwood Lions Park at 251 Main Street has a playground, two ball diamonds, two tennis courts, a pickleball court and a pavilion, and the outdoor Atwood Lions Pool is at 269 Main Street. The Elma Memorial Community Centre, also at 251 Main Street, has a hall that seats up to 352 and a commercial kitchen. The Atwood branch of the North Perth Public Library is at 218A Main Street. Listowel's arena, hospital and shops are about 10 km north.

• Elma Township Public School — JK to Grade 8. The public school and middle school for Atwood, on Line 72 at the south edge of the village.
• Listowel District Secondary School — Grades 9 to 12. The public secondary school, on Maitland Avenue South in Listowel.
• St. Mary's School — JK to Grade 8. The Catholic elementary school, on Tremaine Avenue in Listowel, with French immersion from Senior Kindergarten.
• St. Michael Catholic Secondary School — Grades 9 to 12. The Catholic secondary school, on Oakdale Avenue in Stratford.
• Jeanne Sauvé Catholic School — JK to Grade 8. The Catholic French immersion school from JK, on Grange Street in Stratford.