Thorne Ontario

Thorne is an unincorporated community in Poitras Township, Ontario, Canada, located at the northern end of Highway 63 near the Ottawa River. It is across from Témiscaming, Quebec, and northeast of North Bay. Established as a company town by Canadian International Paper (CIP) in 1948, Thorne was initially populated by workers due to housing shortages in Témiscaming. The community's name originates from C.B. Thorne, a Norwegian engineer involved in building the nearby paper mill.

Thorne's population grew steadily, reaching 425 residents by 1980 but declined thereafter, dropping to 230 in 1990 and further to 172 in the 2021 census. The community has a mixed francophone and anglophone population, with many working in lumber mills across the river in Témiscaming. Key services historically included grocery stores, a post office, schools, a ski resort, and a restaurant, though most have closed over time.

The construction of the Otto Holden Generating Station in 1950 altered the Ottawa River's water levels and removed large pine trees. Today, Thorne has a French Separate School, a nursing station, a restaurant, and a post office, with other services available in nearby Témiscaming or North Bay. The community's population density is 249.3/km², reflecting its small land area of 0.69 km².