In the late 1860s, the need to develop a local agricultural base to serve the growing population of the Thunder Bay region became apparent, and when the 1873 survey of Oliver Township indicated that it contained good agricultural land, attention focused here. Active efforts were begun to encourage farmers from the region and elsewhere in Ontario to settle on the free grant lands in the township, and within five years some seventy families had moved here. In 1878 to facilitate the construction of badly needed roads two settlers, Robert Hopkins and David Squires, led a movement to establish a local township government. Elections were held on December 30, 1878, and three days later the newly elected township officials were sworn into office.

Location

In front of the municipal building, Oliver Road, Murillo

Themes

• Agriculture
• Communities