In 1821 George Bolton, an English immigrant purchased 200 acres of land here on the Humber River. Two years later in partnership with his uncle, James Bolton, one of Albion Township's earliest settlers, he erected a grist-mill. This provided the nucleus around which a community known as Bolton's Mills was established by 1830. A post office named "Albion" was opened in 1832. By 1850 the settlement contained a sawmill, stores, a woollen factory, tannery and blacksmith's shop and within five years a village plot was laid out. The construction of the Toronto, Grey and Bruce Railway in 1871 stimulated the growth of Bolton which, with a population of 795, was incorporated as a village in 1872.

Location

On Mill Street, between King Street North and Queen Street East, Bolton

Themes

• Communities
• Industry and trade
• Transportation systems and communications