Elgin County, Ontario
Encyclopedia
Elgin County is a county
and census division
of the Canadian province of Ontario
with a current population of approximately 46,000. The county seat is St. Thomas
.
It consists of:
The City of St. Thomas
is now separated, and has no jurisdictional overlap with the county; it remains part of the census division.
, governor-general of Canada. Elgin County has an area of 440320 acre (688 sq mi; 1,782 km²)
Aldborough Township 75197 acre (117 sq mi; 304 km²). In the early days it had a forest of oak, chestnut and black walnut. It was first settled in 1804.
Bayham Township 56350 acre (88 sq mi; 228 km²). Organized in 1810 and became part of Elgin County in 1851. It was named from Bayham Abbey in Kent, England.
Dunwich Township 69592 acre (109 sq mi; 282 km²) First settled in 1803. During the War of 1812 only twelve families lived in the township. In 1817 a company of Selkirk's Highlander settled in the Township The Township is named after a town in Suffolk, England.
Malahide Township 69181 acre (108 sq mi; 280 km²) Organized in 1810, named for Malahide Castle
in Ireland, the former home of Thomas Talbot
, patriot of the region. The Township was first settled in 1810.
South Dorchester Township. 30560 acre (48 sq mi; 124 km²) Although surveyed in 1798, it was not settled until 1826. This township was part of Middlesex County until 1851.
Southwold Township 72898 acre (114 sq mi; 295 km²) Opened for settlement in 1797, however the first colonist arrived in 1809. Named for an English town in Suffolk.
Yarmouth Township 69181 acre (108 sq mi; 280 km²). Surveyed in 1792 and settled in 1810.
Source: Province of Ontario -- A History 1615 to 1927 by Jesse Edgar Middleton & Fred Landon, copyright 1927, Dominion Publishing Company, Toronto
County
A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain modern nations. Historically in mainland Europe, the original French term, comté, and its equivalents in other languages denoted a jurisdiction under the sovereignty of a count A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain...
and census division
Census division
Census division is an official term in Canada and the United States. The census divisions of Canada are second-level census geographic unit, below provinces and territories, and above "census subdivisions" and "dissemination areas". In provinces where they exist, the census division may correspond...
of the Canadian province of 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....
with a current population of approximately 46,000. The county seat is St. Thomas
St. Thomas, Ontario
St. Thomas is a city in southern , Ontario, Canada. It is the seat for Elgin County and gained its city charter on March 4, 1881.-History:...
.
It consists of:
- Town of AylmerAylmer, OntarioAylmer is a town in Elgin County in southern Ontario, Canada, just north of Lake Erie, on Catfish Creek. It is 20 km south of Highway 401...
- Municipality of BayhamBayham, OntarioBayham is a municipality in the southeast corner of Elgin County, Ontario, Canada. It is south of the town of Tillsonburg and Oxford County.-History:...
- Municipality of Central ElginCentral Elgin, OntarioCentral Elgin is a township in southwestern Ontario, Canada in Elgin County on Lake Erie. It was formed in 1998 through the amalgamation of the Township of Yarmouth with the Villages of Belmont and Port Stanley.-Communities:...
- Municipality of Dutton/DunwichDutton/Dunwich, OntarioDutton/Dunwich is a municipality located in western Elgin County in Southwestern Ontario, Canada.The municipality was formed in 1998 through an amalgamation of the Village of Dutton and former Township of Dunwich. It includes the Hamlets of Wallacetown, Duttona Beach, and the western parts of both...
- Municipality of West ElginWest Elgin, OntarioPopulation trend:* Population in 2006: 5349* Population in 2001: 5464* Population total in 1996: 5573** Aldborough : 4042** West Lorne : 1531* Population in 1991:** Aldborough : 3889** West Lorne : 1477...
- Township of MalahideMalahide, OntarioMalahide is a township in Elgin County, Ontario, Canada.-History:Malahide Township was named for Malahide Castle in Malahide, Ireland, birthplace of land grant administrator Colonel Thomas Talbot in 1810...
- Township of SouthwoldSouthwold, OntarioSouthwold is a township in Elgin County, in Ontario, Canada, located on the north shore of Lake Erie. It is a rich agricultural zone producing predominantly corn and soybeans.-History:...
The City of St. Thomas
St. Thomas, Ontario
St. Thomas is a city in southern , Ontario, Canada. It is the seat for Elgin County and gained its city charter on March 4, 1881.-History:...
is now separated, and has no jurisdictional overlap with the county; it remains part of the census division.
Historical Townships
Originally Elgin County was once part of Suffolk County. Elgin County was organized as a separate county in 1851 and named after Lord ElginJames Bruce, 8th Earl of Elgin
Sir James Bruce, 8th Earl of Elgin and 12th Earl of Kincardine, KT, GCB, PC , was a British colonial administrator and diplomat...
, governor-general of Canada. Elgin County has an area of 440320 acre (688 sq mi; 1,782 km²)
Aldborough Township 75197 acre (117 sq mi; 304 km²). In the early days it had a forest of oak, chestnut and black walnut. It was first settled in 1804.
Bayham Township 56350 acre (88 sq mi; 228 km²). Organized in 1810 and became part of Elgin County in 1851. It was named from Bayham Abbey in Kent, England.
Dunwich Township 69592 acre (109 sq mi; 282 km²) First settled in 1803. During the War of 1812 only twelve families lived in the township. In 1817 a company of Selkirk's Highlander settled in the Township The Township is named after a town in Suffolk, England.
Malahide Township 69181 acre (108 sq mi; 280 km²) Organized in 1810, named for Malahide Castle
Malahide Castle
Malahide Castle, parts of which date to the 12th century, lies, with over of remaining estate parkland , close to the village of Malahide, nine miles north of Dublin in Ireland.-History:...
in Ireland, the former home of Thomas Talbot
Thomas Talbot (Upper Canada)
Colonel Thomas Talbot was born at Malahide Castle in Ireland near Dublin He was the fourth son of Richard Talbot and his wife Margaret Talbot, 1st Baroness Talbot of Malahide...
, patriot of the region. The Township was first settled in 1810.
South Dorchester Township. 30560 acre (48 sq mi; 124 km²) Although surveyed in 1798, it was not settled until 1826. This township was part of Middlesex County until 1851.
Southwold Township 72898 acre (114 sq mi; 295 km²) Opened for settlement in 1797, however the first colonist arrived in 1809. Named for an English town in Suffolk.
Yarmouth Township 69181 acre (108 sq mi; 280 km²). Surveyed in 1792 and settled in 1810.
Source: Province of Ontario -- A History 1615 to 1927 by Jesse Edgar Middleton & Fred Landon, copyright 1927, Dominion Publishing Company, Toronto
Notable persons from Elgin County
- Horace HarveyHorace HarveyHorace Harvey was a lawyer, jurist, and a Chief Justice of Alberta, Canada.-Early and Family Life:...
- Chief Justice of Alberta - John Kenneth GalbraithJohn Kenneth GalbraithJohn Kenneth "Ken" Galbraith , OC was a Canadian-American economist. He was a Keynesian and an institutionalist, a leading proponent of 20th-century American liberalism...
- Canadian/American economist
