Concession road
Encyclopedia
In Upper
and Lower Canada
, concession roads were laid out by the colonial government through undeveloped land to define lots to be developed; the name comes from a Lower Canadian French
term for a row of lots. Concession roads are straight, and follow an approximately square grid, usually oriented to a local lakeshore. They are 100 chains
or 1.25 miles (2.0 km) apart, so that two consecutive north-south concession roads and two consecutive east-west roads enclose 1,000 acre
s (4 km2). These 1,000 acres (4 km2) were then divided into lots according to various plans.
Concession roads were sometimes numbered consecutively. For example, in the area which became Toronto
, Ontario
, the southernmost east-west concession was the 1st concession road (now Queen Street East and West
), the next concession to the north was the 2nd concession road (now Bloor Street
), and so on.
In some areas, each side of the road is a numbered concession. For example, townships in Bruce County
considered each side of a road to be a concession; traffic driving east could be on Concession 2 while traffic driving west would be driving on Concession 3. In this system, for the purposes of road signage the odd numbers are ignored, so each concession is numbered 2, 4, 6, and so on. These roads were numbered in such a way to make the numbering of farm lots easier, especially along township boundary roads where both sides of the road were in a different township. Currently the "odd numbered" concession numbers are only used to identify exact address numbers for farm lots (for example: Lot 18, Concession 11, Brant Township, which would reside on the north side of Concession 10).
Roads which led away from a lake or river (i.e.: perpendicular to the concessions) were called sidelines or side roads and Line frequently appears in Ontario road names as the equivalent of Road, although confusingly, in some townships "line" has the same meaning as "concession". For example, Guelph
Line, 12th Line, and Brown's Line are important thoroughfares in and west of Toronto. The sideroad name survives on several roads as well. The first concession was often known as the baseline from the surveying term, and roads with that name survive in many municipalities, including Ottawa
, Clarington and London
. The first concession was also frequently known as the front, or broken front (B.F.) when it was on a lakeshore.
Side road or sideline numbering varies depending on the township. Many townships in Bruce County, for example, are numbered in multiples of 5: starting with the town line (township boundary), then numbered 5, 10, 15, and so on, according to the lot number of the abutting parcel in the original township survey.
Many of the concession roads retain their original names. Less developed areas are often referred to as the back concessions or back roads.
Since in most of Upper Canada this surveying preceded urban development, most Ontario municipalities have grid patterns of streets. In cities, the concession roads tended to evolve into the major streets.
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
and Lower Canada
Lower Canada
The Province of Lower Canada was a British colony on the lower Saint Lawrence River and the shores of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence...
, concession roads were laid out by the colonial government through undeveloped land to define lots to be developed; the name comes from a Lower Canadian French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
term for a row of lots. Concession roads are straight, and follow an approximately square grid, usually oriented to a local lakeshore. They are 100 chains
Chain (unit)
A chain is a unit of length; it measures 66 feet or 22 yards or 100 links . There are 10 chains in a furlong, and 80 chains in one statute mile. An acre is the area of 10 square chains...
or 1.25 miles (2.0 km) apart, so that two consecutive north-south concession roads and two consecutive east-west roads enclose 1,000 acre
Acre
The acre is a unit of area in a number of different systems, including the imperial and U.S. customary systems. The most commonly used acres today are the international acre and, in the United States, the survey acre. The most common use of the acre is to measure tracts of land.The acre is related...
s (4 km2). These 1,000 acres (4 km2) were then divided into lots according to various plans.
Concession roads were sometimes numbered consecutively. For example, in the area which became Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, the southernmost east-west concession was the 1st concession road (now Queen Street East and West
Queen Street West
Queen Street West describes both the western branch of Queen Street, a major east-west thoroughfare, and a series of neighbourhoods or commercial districts, situated west of Yonge Street in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Queen Street begins in the west at the intersection of King Street, The...
), the next concession to the north was the 2nd concession road (now Bloor Street
Bloor Street
Bloor Street is a major east–west residential and commercial thoroughfare in Toronto, in the Canadian province of Ontario. Bloor Street runs from the Prince Edward Viaduct westward into Mississauga, where it ends at Central Parkway. East of the viaduct, Danforth Avenue continues along the same...
), and so on.
In some areas, each side of the road is a numbered concession. For example, townships in Bruce County
Bruce County, Ontario
Bruce County is a county in western Ontario, Canada, and includes the Bruce Peninsula. As of 2006, the population was 65,349. The area was . The county seat is Walkerton, Ontario. It is located at ....
considered each side of a road to be a concession; traffic driving east could be on Concession 2 while traffic driving west would be driving on Concession 3. In this system, for the purposes of road signage the odd numbers are ignored, so each concession is numbered 2, 4, 6, and so on. These roads were numbered in such a way to make the numbering of farm lots easier, especially along township boundary roads where both sides of the road were in a different township. Currently the "odd numbered" concession numbers are only used to identify exact address numbers for farm lots (for example: Lot 18, Concession 11, Brant Township, which would reside on the north side of Concession 10).
Roads which led away from a lake or river (i.e.: perpendicular to the concessions) were called sidelines or side roads and Line frequently appears in Ontario road names as the equivalent of Road, although confusingly, in some townships "line" has the same meaning as "concession". For example, Guelph
Guelph
Guelph is a city in Ontario, Canada.Guelph may also refer to:* Guelph , consisting of the City of Guelph, Ontario* Guelph , as the above* University of Guelph, in the same city...
Line, 12th Line, and Brown's Line are important thoroughfares in and west of Toronto. The sideroad name survives on several roads as well. The first concession was often known as the baseline from the surveying term, and roads with that name survive in many municipalities, including Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Clarington and London
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
. The first concession was also frequently known as the front, or broken front (B.F.) when it was on a lakeshore.
Side road or sideline numbering varies depending on the township. Many townships in Bruce County, for example, are numbered in multiples of 5: starting with the town line (township boundary), then numbered 5, 10, 15, and so on, according to the lot number of the abutting parcel in the original township survey.
Many of the concession roads retain their original names. Less developed areas are often referred to as the back concessions or back roads.
Since in most of Upper Canada this surveying preceded urban development, most Ontario municipalities have grid patterns of streets. In cities, the concession roads tended to evolve into the major streets.