Most, if not all, of the communities in the southern and central parts of the County were established as a result of agricultural activity in and around the area. Today, in addition to commodity farms, the culture of the community is manifest in small family farms, hobby farms, horse ranches and miscellaneous specialty farms that produce commodities ranging from Christmas trees to alpaca wool. Locally produced goods are sold at farm gates and farmers markets.
Residents celebrate their culture and heritage with community events including fairs, plow matches, church socials and the NFU Feast of Fields all of which reflect the strength of local agrarian roots.
Communities in the central and northern parts of the County were established to support resource extraction and rail services. Over time, the transition from rail to road travel was accompanied by an increasing reliance on the tourism industry.
The natural environment is probably the most attractive feature the Frontenacs has to offer, from the best freshwater sailing in Lake Ontario to publicly accessible Crown Land in the North. The Frontenacs attract:
- seasonal residents to waterfront properties;
- outdoor recreational enthusiasts to trails, canoe routes and provincial parks; and
- artists, artisans and craftspeople seeking inspiration and peaceful places.
Community events include studio tours, music concerts, community theatre, and local fundraisers.
In addition to libraries, local municipalities maintain basic recreational facilities and amenities from community halls to arenas and beaches. Some programming is also offered.
Communities are small and rural living is often isolated and remote. There are no municipal water or sewage systems so residents must respect their environment to ensure that their drinking water remains clean and waste is effectively managed. For example, residents living on lakes form lake associations and develop lake management plans.
Like the watersheds, community boundaries are fluid and reflect neighbourhood needs, community projects, trading relations and common interests rather than municipal jurisdictions.
Basic utilities like hydro and telephone service are not available in parts of the County and some residents actually choose to live there, employing clean renewable energy technologies and wireless communication services.
Residents travel to nearby urban centres for cultural and recreational opportunities.