Elgin County is located in Southwestern Ontario, was once part of the larger county called Middlesex County. Between the years of 1837-1851 it was a well-known part of the London district until in 1851, legislation was passed that separated Middlesex and Elgin County. Elgin County was named after the Governor General at the time Lord Elgin.
Early villages in this County include, Aylmer (Troy), St. Thomas, Port Stanley, Port Bruce, Port Burwell, Vienna, Richmond, and Straffordville. The County would later include the villages of Eden, New England, and Calton.
The industrial past of Elgin County begins in the areas of Port Burwell and Port Stanley. These ports established the fishing industry in and around the area and this would later lead to the establishment of the shipping industry. The shipping industry was established in Port Burwell. This industry thrived until the later establishment of the railway system. A large portion of business was generated due to the network of railways that were spread across southwestern Ontario. At least 5 different railways ran through Elgin County which includes, the Michigan Central, the Pere Marquette, the London and Port Stanley, the Canadian National, and the Canadian Pacific railroads.
By 1944 the agricultural side of Elgin County was firmly established with about 365,000 acres of land with crops of oats, mixed grains, beans, tobacco, and orchard fruits. In 1998 the Municipal Amalgamation took place in January, which aligned Elgin County into seven municipalities which are:
- Municipality of Bayham
- Municipality of Central Elgin
- Municipality of Dunwhich/Dutton
- Municipality of West Elgin
- Town of Aylmer
- the Township of Malahide
- the Township of Southwold
Today Elgin County has an approximate population of 46,000 with 460,000 acres of land. The local Municipalities are doing well and have established a pattern with which they use to work together and make Elgin County a prosperous area to live and create a business.
