Settlement of North Dumfries Township
North Dumfries Township In 1816, when the area of Grand River land known as Block One became part of the Gore District, it was named Dumfries Township. In 1852 Dumfries was divided into two halves: north and south. Only North Dumfries was included as a township of Waterloo County along with the townships of Waterloo, Wilmot, Wellesley, and Woolwich.
The initial settlement of the township was slow. In 1818, including 38 settlers of Shade’s Mills, only 63 people resided in the township. From the 1820s onward the township’s settlers were mainly Scottish but a small number of Pennsylvanian Mennonite settlers from Waterloo Township also bought land and settled in North Dumfries. By the 1830s, the township had grown in size and was developing steadily. In 1834 the population of the township had reached about 4, 177.
The initial settlement of the township was slow. In 1818, including 38 settlers of Shade’s Mills, only 63 people resided in the township. From the 1820s onward the township’s settlers were mainly Scottish but a small number of Pennsylvanian Mennonite settlers from Waterloo Township also bought land and settled in North Dumfries. By the 1830s, the township had grown in size and was developing steadily. In 1834 the population of the township had reached about 4, 177.