Wellington County, Ontario
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Wellington County (population 200,425) is a county located in Ontario, Canada. Its administration centre is located in Guelph and its ratepayers live in seven municipalities that comprise the county. Wellington County does not include the City of Guelph, which is a separated municipality and is not technically a part of the county; Guelph is included in the Wellington census division, however.
The county's geographical area covers 2,656.65 square kilometres. Wellington County is predominantly rural in nature, though many of its residents commute to Guelph, Kitchener, Brampton, Mississauga, and even Toronto.
The county is comprised of the following municipalities:
- Township of Centre Wellington
- Town of Erin
- Township of Guelph/Eramosa
- Township of Puslinch
- Township of Mapleton
- Town of Minto
- Township of Wellington North
[edit] History
In 1837 by Act of Parliament the new District of Wellington was formed and a Court House and Jail in the town of Guelph was authorized. In 1840 the county officials received their commissions. The District Council of the County of Wellington was formed and consisted of eighteen municipalities as follows: the town of Guelph, the villages of Fergus; Elora, Mount Forest and Orangeville; and the following historic townships:
- Arthur, Area 64,494 acres. Opened in 1835, it was named after Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington. Community centres: Arthur, Kenilworth and Mount Forest.
- Eramosa, Area 44,482 acres. Opened in 1821. The name is an attempt to render in English the Indian "un-ne-mo-sa", which means dog. Community centres: Eden Mills, Rockwood, Speedside and Eramosa.
- Erin, (area 70,557 acres), opened in 1820, Community centres: Erin, Hillsburg, Mimosa
- West Garafraxa, (area 46,950 acres), Opened in 1821. Name is believed to be from an Indian word meaning "the place of panthers." Community centres: Fergus (only partially in the township), Reading, Metz and Garafraxa
- Guelph Township, (area 35,543 acres). Opened on April 23, 1827 by John Galt on behalf of the Canada Company.
- West Luther, (area 49,830 acres) Opened in 1821 and named after the leader of the Reformation in Germany, Martin Luther. It was said that the surveyor, a Roman Catholic, having been embarrassed by the endless swamps he had encountered declared that this was "the meanest piece of country he had seen" and named it Luther for that reason. Community centres: Monck, Stonywood, Damascus and Arthur.
- Maryborough Township, (area 56,728 acres). Opened in 1840 and named after a brother of the Duke of Wellington, Baron Maryborough. Community centres: Drayton, Moorefiled and Rothsay. Minto Township, (area 69,927 acres) Opened in 1840 and named after the Earl of Minto, a famous pro-consul in India. Settled mainly between 1861 to 1875. Comummnity centres: Harriston, Palmerston, and Clifford.
- Nichol Township (area 26,996 acres) One of the townships leased by Joseph Brant under power of attorney for the Indians of th Grand River region. The Township was granted to Hon. Thomas Clark on a lease of 999 years for 3,564, but the contract was modified by the Crown. The Township was opened for settlement in 1822. Named in honour of Col Robert Nichol of Norfolk who distinguished himself in the War of 1812 and latter in political battles. Community centres: Elora, Fergus, Salem and Barnet.
- Peel Township (area 74,525 acres), Opened in 1835 and named in honour of Sir Robert Peel. Settled mainly between 1850 to 1853. Community centres: Drayton, Glenallan, Goldstone and Alma.
- Pilkington Township (area 28,983 acres) named in honour of Lieutenant Robert Pilkington (later General Pilkington) who accompanied John Graves Simcoe to Upper Canada. Pilkington acquired 20,000 acres of land. Community Centre: Elora in Nichol Township.
- Puslinch Township: (area 58,291 acres) Named from Pushlinch in Devonshire, Lady Colborne's home before her marriage. .
(Source: The Orangeville Banner, March 8, 1951 and, Source: Province of Ontario -- A History 1615 to 1927 by Jesse Edgar Middleton & Fred Landon, copyright 1927, Dominion Publishing Company, Toronto Page 1235
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