The Regional Municipality of Halton is situated strategically at the western end of Lake Ontario between Toronto and Hamilton and close to the United States border. Approximately 45 kilometres long and 24 kilometres wide, it is bounded by Lake Ontario to the south, Peel Region on the east, Wentworth County on the west and Wellington County on the north.
In the late 1700's and early 1800's when surveys and pioneer settlements were in their infancy in southern Ontario, the numerous river mill sites, rich agricultural land and abundance of raw materials, such as timber and lime, made Halton prosperous.
Halton, one of the oldest counties in Canada, was named after Major William Mathew Halton. An Englishman, he was the son of Sir William and Lady Halton. In 1799 he was gazetted as a Major in the Fencible Cavalry and appears to have sold his commission in 1801, but continued to be unofficially called Major. While in England in 1805, Halton was named Secretary to the Upper Canada provincial Lieutenant-Governor Sir Francis Gore. He arrived in upper Canada the following year. He returned to England in 1811 but came back to Canada in 1815.
In 1816 Halton was named to the newly created position of Provincial Agent in England by Gore. Records indicate that he wanted to go back to 'the old country'. He acted as Provincial Agent from 1816 to 1821 and never returned to Upper Canada. His tenure irritated the establishment in Upper Canada because of his constant pressuring fro some from of compensation or land grants for those loyal citizens of Upper Canada who had defended the province during the 1812 war against the Americans. In a letter dated August 25, 1818, Halton stated that Americans had "long ago" received remuneration from their government for losses during the war and were in full view across the Niagara River of the loyalists in Upper Canada. Some felt that Halton's view was handicapped by being out of touch with conditions in the province. The Provincial Agent in England position itself had been a matter of much controversy since its inception and was finally abolished in 1822.
Soon after his return to England in 1816, Halton's health began to fail. Records show that even though his health had completely broken down by 1821, he did attempt to continue his duties. After a long illness Halton, the man after whom this region was named, died on September 22, 1821 in London.
Settlers started to arrive in what we know as the Halton area in the early 1780's and they found a dense forest of mostly hardwood and pine. The first transportation routes were the waterways, with only Indian trails through the forest linking them. The south part of what is now Halton was first settled by united Empire Loyalists from across the United States border. The northern part of Halton was settled mainly by immigrants from the British Isles as evidenced by such area as 'the Scotch Block' and the 'English Block' in Esquesing Township.
The first municipal organization of what is now the Province of Ontario was created on July 24, 1788 when Lord Dorchester, Governor-In-Chief of British North America issued a proclamation dividing Upper Canada into four districts: Lunenburgh, Mecklingburgh, Nassau and Hesse. Each had its own individual system comprised of sheriff, judges and coroners and eventually courthouse and jail.
The Provincial Act of 1792 renamed the four districts Eastern, Midland, Home and Western. Halton formed a part of the Home District. By 1816 Halton and Wentworth Counties made up the newly formed Gore District. Halton contained the townships of Beverley, Dumfries and Esquesing. According to the Atlas of the County of Halton the population of the Gore District had reached 6 684 in 1817. The majority were United Empire Loyalists. The Crown Survey Act (also of 1792) required townships be surveyed prior to the arrival of new settlers.
Halton and Wentworth counties were reduced to their present size in 1832 but remained united until 1853. Thompson's Inn in the village of Milton was the site of the first (provincial) County Council Meeting on July 12, 1853. Full municipal and judicial powers were granted to Halton on January 1, 1855.
Halton comprised four townships: Trafalgar (named after the famous battle), Nelson (after Viscount Horatio Nelson), Nassagaweya (Missisauga Indian word for the river "having two outlets"), and Esquesing. There has been controversy concerning the meaning of the Indian word "Esquesing". Some claim this is the Missisauga name for "last out creek" while others argue it refers to "land of tall pine".
By 1857 both Milton and Oakville were incorporated as towns in the County of Halton. Georgetown became incorporated as a village in 1865, while Burlington and Acton became villages in 1873 and 1874 respectively.
On January 1, 1974 the County of Halton officially became the Regional Municipality of Halton. This change of local government was met with some anguish from all sectors of the 119-year-old county. There was concern as to whether Burlington would become a part of Hamilton-Wentworth, whether Halton was going to be three or four municipalities, whether the new regional headquarters would remain in Milton, the original county seat, and of course whether each community would be able to retain its own distinct character. The Region of Halton bill received second reading on Monday, June 18, 1973 only after several hours of heated debate which ended at 3:00 a.m. in the Legislative Assembly at Queen's Park in Toronto. On July 31, 1973 Allan Mason, Reeve of Oakville, was appointed Chairman of the new Regional Municipality of Halton by Premier William Davis. Regional headquarters eventually relocated to Oakville.