Caledon

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Caledon History | Businesses | Churches | Education | Health | Media | Natural History | People | Recreation

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Caledon, Ontario, Canada

Caledon is a town located in south central Ontario, Canada.

Population:

Population density: (per square kilometre)

Land area (square km):

Total private dwellings:

(Statistics for Caledon from StatCan)

History of Caledon
The Town of Caledon was established on January 1, 1974 in conjunction with the creation of regional government. Representing an amalgamation of the former County of Peel townships of Albion, Caledon and the northern half of Chinguacousy, the Town of Caledon forms the northern municipality of the present Region of Peel. The name Caledon was chosen through public referendum in 1973; the other choices on the ballot wereAlbion andCardwell, the latter being an historic electoral district from 1867-1908 that encompassed the Town of Orangeville and four neighbouring townships.

The County of Peel was created in 1805 following the purchase by the British Crown of the southern part of the Mississauga Tract on the shore of Lake Ontario.The former townships of Albion, Caledon and Chinguacousy were established as part of theNew Survey of the County of Peel, which greatly extended the northern boundary of the county following purchase of the remainder of the Mississauga Tract in 1818.The lot and concession grid pattern of theNew Survey was distinct from that of theOld Survey, with a different orientation of concessions and lot dimensions.The 200 acre lots of theNew Survey were typically granted in square 100 acre parcels, a configuration intended to facilitate farming and access to transportation corridors.

Surveyed in 1818-1819, the townships of Albion, Caledon and Chinguacousy were opened for settlement in 1820. Albion Township comprised eleven concessions laid out west to east.In Caledon and Chinguacousy townships, six concessions were laid out on either side of Hurontario Street, also known as Centre Road (and currently known as Provincial Highway 10). As this centre baseline duplicated the numbering of the concessions, concessions in these two townships were further denoted byWest of Hurontario Street (WHS) orEast of Hurontario Street (EHS).

Early settlements in the townships developed around water-powered mill sites on the Credit and Humber rivers, and at various crossroads. The arrival of the Toronto Grey & Bruce, Hamilton & Northwestern and Credit Valley railways in the 1870s spurred further settlements at various junctions. Development was also influenced by the areas major landforms, including the Peel Plain, the Niagara Escarpment and the Oak Ridges Moraine. While some historic hamlets have disappeared over time, Caledon's present-day communities continue to reflect early settlement patterns.

Source
http://www.caledon.ca/townhall/departments/planningdevelopment/heritage_office.asp#_Brief_History_of_the%20Town%20of%20Caledo

Books about Caledon



Answering the Call
A very interesting history of firefighting in Caledon. It brings out the true life personal stories of the full time and volunteer fir fighting brigades.

Caledon
Today, the once-bustling communities of Alton, Inglewood, Cheltenham, Belfountain, Cataract, Brimstone and Terra Cotta are picturesque little villages and hamlets. Visitors flock here to see Caledon's sights or to shop, hike, fish, or simply enjoy the fresh country air. Whether you are a summer visitor or a fifth generation resident, you will love the insightful stories and the historic and present-day photographs in this book about one of Ontario's most diverse and beautiful regions."