Elgin County, Ontario

It consists of:

• Town of Aylmer
• Municipality of Bayham
• Municipality of Central Elgin
• Municipality of Dutton/Dunwich
• Municipality of West Elgin
• Township of Malahide
• Township of Southwold

The City of St. Thomas 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 Elgin, governor-general of Canada. Elgin County has an area of

Aldborough Township . In the early days it had a forest of oak, chestnut and black walnut. It was first settled in 1804.

Bayham Township . Organized in 1810 and became part of Elgin County in 1851. It was named from Bayham Abbey in Kent, England.

Dunwich Township 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 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. Although surveyed in 1798, it was not settled until 1826. This township was part of Middlesex County until 1851.

Southwold Township Opened for settlement in 1797, however the first colonist arrived in 1809. Named for an English town in Suffolk.

Yarmouth Township . 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

See also

• List of Ontario Census Divisions
• Talbot Trail

References

External links

• 1877 Historical Map of Elgin County
• Elgin Connects Portal
• County of Elgin website
• Municipality of Malahide
• Central Elgin
• West Elgin
• Town of Aylmer
• Western Elgin Experience