Peel County, Ontario
Encyclopedia
Peel County is a historic county
in the Canadian
province of Ontario
. It was created in 1851 from a portion of York County
. In 1973, Peel County became the Regional Municipality of Peel, as a result of the Ontario
provincial government's regionalization of the rapidly developing counties surrounding Toronto
.
Named for Sir Robert Peel
, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, the county was organized in 1849. Settlers, however, were in Toronto Township as early as 1807. The Credit River
was reserved for the Mississaugas, however they sold their land and moved to the Bruce Peninsula
.
The community of Malton
had its beginnings about 1820. Likely named for Malton, North Yorkshire
by local settler Richard Halliday.
Other historical communities in Peel County were:
Town of Brampton
in Chinguacousy Township, opened in 1834 when John Elliott laid out the lots and named the Place. Incorporated as a village in 1852, and as a town in 1873. Named by settler John Eliot and likely linked to Brampton, Carlisle, Cumbria
in England
.
Village of Bolton
in Albion Township. James Bolton, the first settler, in partnership with his brother George, built a grist mil in 1824.
Village of Port Credit
, in Toronto Township, named for French trading post Port-de-crédit.
Village of Streetsville
in Toronto Township. John Barnhart opened the first store in 1821 and Timothy Street built a saw and grist mill.
Source: Province of Ontario -- A History 1615 to 1927 by Jesse Edgar Middleton & Fred Landon, copyright 1927, Dominion Publishing Company, Toronto
Town of Bramalea was also part of Chinguacousy Township, prior to it's forced amalgamation with Brampton.
Historic counties of Ontario
The Canadian province of Ontario has several historic counties, which are past census divisions that no longer exist today. Most historic counties either merged with other counties, or became regional municipalities or single-tier municipalities...
in the Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
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....
. It was created in 1851 from a portion of York County
York County, Ontario
York County is a historic county in Upper Canada, Canada West, and the Canadian province of Ontario.York County was created in 1792 and was part of the jurisdiction of Home District of Upper Canada...
. In 1973, Peel County became the Regional Municipality of Peel, as a result of the 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....
provincial government's regionalization of the rapidly developing counties surrounding 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...
.
Named for Sir Robert Peel
Robert Peel
Sir Robert Peel, 2nd Baronet was a British Conservative statesman who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 10 December 1834 to 8 April 1835, and again from 30 August 1841 to 29 June 1846...
, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, the county was organized in 1849. Settlers, however, were in Toronto Township as early as 1807. The Credit River
Credit River
The Credit River is a river in southern Ontario which flows from headwaters above the Niagara Escarpment to empty into Lake Ontario at Port Credit, Mississauga. It drains an area of approximately 1,000 km²...
was reserved for the Mississaugas, however they sold their land and moved to the Bruce Peninsula
Bruce Peninsula
The Bruce Peninsula is a peninsula in Ontario, Canada that lies between Georgian Bay and the main basin of Lake Huron. The peninsula extends roughly northwestwards from the rest of Southern Ontario, pointing towards Manitoulin Island, with which it forms the widest strait joining Georgian Bay to...
.
- Albion TownshipAlbion Township, OntarioAlbion Township was a township in Peel County , Ontario, Canada. Its major population centre was Bolton. Albion Township was consolidated along with Caledon Township and the upper half of Chinguacousy Township into the Town of Caledon....
was opened in 1819 and given the ancient name of England. - Caledon TownshipCaledon Township, OntarioCaledon Township, Ontario was an historic incorporated township and is a present day geographic township in the modern Region of Peel, Ontario, Canada. The township forms the northwest section of Caledon, Ontario.- References :...
was opened in 1819, named for historic district of CaledoniaCaledoniaCaledonia is the Latinised form and name given by the Romans to the land in today's Scotland north of their province of Britannia, beyond the frontier of their empire...
, ScotlandScotlandScotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. - Chinguacousy TownshipChinguacousy Township, OntarioChinguacousy Township is a former municipality and geographic township in Peel County, Ontario. In 1973, when Peel County became the Regional Municipality of Peel, it was split in half, with the northern half becoming part of the town of Caledon, and the southern half, along with the township of...
was opened in 1819 and named, probably in honour of a loyal ChippewaOjibwaThe Ojibwe or Chippewa are among the largest groups of Native Americans–First Nations north of Mexico. They are divided between Canada and the United States. In Canada, they are the third-largest population among First Nations, surpassed only by Cree and Inuit...
chief who fought at the capture of MichilimackinacFort MackinacFort Mackinac is a former American military outpost garrisoned from the late 18th century to the late 19th century near Michilimackinac, Michigan, on Mackinac Island...
. His name was Shinguacose, "the small pine." Born to a Scottish officer and Chippewan mother, Shinguacose died around 1858. The name of the township may also be from an Indian word meaning "the place where young pines grow." - Toronto Township opened in 1806.
- Toronto Gore TownshipToronto Gore Township, OntarioToronto Gore was a township in York County and then Peel County, Ontario, Canada from 1831 to 1973.Toronto Gore came into existence as a township in 1831 when it was separated from Chinguacousy Township. In 1867 it became part of Peel County when that county was split from York County...
was opened in 1831. Named for Mohawk for "where there are trees standing in the water and Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada Francis GoreFrancis GoreFrancis Gore, was a British officer and British colonial administrator.Gore was commissioned into the 44th Foot in 1787, but transferred to the 54th Foot in 1794 and the 17th Light Dragoons in 1795. He retired with the rank of major and then became Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada from 1806 to...
The community of Malton
Malton, Ontario
Malton is a neighbourhood in the northeastern part of the city of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, located to the northwest of Toronto. The neighbourhood has a population of approximately 36,400 as of 2002....
had its beginnings about 1820. Likely named for Malton, North Yorkshire
Malton, North Yorkshire
Malton is a market town and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England. The town is the location of the offices of Ryedale District Council and has a population of around 4,000 people....
by local settler Richard Halliday.
Other historical communities in Peel County were:
Town of Brampton
Brampton, Ontario
Brampton is the third-largest city in the Greater Toronto Area of Ontario, Canada and the seat of Peel Region. As of the 2006 census, Brampton's population stood at 433,806, making it the 11th largest city in Canada. It is also one of Canada's fastest growing municipalities, with an average...
in Chinguacousy Township, opened in 1834 when John Elliott laid out the lots and named the Place. Incorporated as a village in 1852, and as a town in 1873. Named by settler John Eliot and likely linked to Brampton, Carlisle, Cumbria
Brampton, Carlisle, Cumbria
Brampton is a small market town and civil parish within the City of Carlisle district of Cumbria, England about 9 miles east of Carlisle and 2 miles south of Hadrian's Wall. It is situated off the A69 road which bypasses it...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Village of Bolton
Bolton, Ontario
Bolton is the most populated community in the town of Caledon, located in the Region of Peel, approximately 50 kilometres northwest of Toronto, in Ontario, Canada. In regional documents, it is referred to as a 'Rural Service Centre'. It has 26,478 residents in 8,721 households...
in Albion Township. James Bolton, the first settler, in partnership with his brother George, built a grist mil in 1824.
Village of Port Credit
Port Credit, Ontario
Port Credit is found at the mouth of the Credit River on the north shore of Lake Ontario, within the southcentral area of the city of Mississauga...
, in Toronto Township, named for French trading post Port-de-crédit.
Village of Streetsville
Streetsville, Ontario
Streetsville is an established community located in the northwestern corner of the city of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, on the Credit River...
in Toronto Township. John Barnhart opened the first store in 1821 and Timothy Street built a saw and grist mill.
Source: Province of Ontario -- A History 1615 to 1927 by Jesse Edgar Middleton & Fred Landon, copyright 1927, Dominion Publishing Company, Toronto
See also
- List of Ontario census divisions
Town of Bramalea was also part of Chinguacousy Township, prior to it's forced amalgamation with Brampton.