This Village has been known as Raeburn's Corners, Charlestown, Charleston, Caledon, and lastly Caledon Village.

The community was first settled in the 1820s by Irish and Scottish emigrants of the Stubbs, Rayburn and Bell families. Learn more about the history of this Village and some of the great 19th century buildings by taking a stroll back in time with a Self-Guided Heritage Walking Tour.

Being at the intersection of two major roadways it would be easy to miss the gems in this Village, but take a second look - a couple of great restaurants, some unique shops, and live theatre make Caledon Village worth a stop.

Geography

The conservation lands' forests dominate a large part of the north and the east, including along the Humber valley. These conservation lands have created several recreational areas, including parts of the Humber Valley Heritage Trail. Farmland and the protected Oak Ridges Moraine dominate the landscape surrounding the village.

There are two 400-series highways nearby, including Highway 427, about 9 km southeast (the highway's northern terminus being at Major Mackenzie Drive), and Highway 400, about 14 km east (exit at King Road).

To the northwest is the community of Glasgow, which pays homage to an earlier planned settlement also called Glasgow. The older settlement was established in 1855 but merged into Bolton in 1872. Old Glasgow was supposed to house mill workers, it later served as a summer getaway for Toronto’s Jewish community from 1925 to 1950, then home to Edelweiss Ski Club. The planned community has naturalized again and now exists as Edelweiss Park and Humber Valley Heritage Trail.

History

The community, formerly known as Bolton Mills, was founded around 1822 when James Bolton helped build a flour mill for his relative George Bolton. By 1857, Bolton was a village with a population of 700 in the Township of Albion in Peel County. George Evans was a prominent early settler in the area.

It was established on the Humber River, on the line of the proposed Toronto, Grey and Bruce Railway. There were stages to and from Weston. The average price of land was $40 to $50 per acre.

Caledon is a town in the Regional Municipality of Peel in the Greater Toronto Area. The name comes from a shortened form of Caledonia, the Roman name for what is now Scotland.  Caledon is primarily rural with a number of hamlets and small villages, but also contains the larger community of Bolton in its southeastern quadrant, adjacent to York Region. Some spillover urbanization also occurs in the south bordering the City of Brampton.

Caledon is the northernmost of three municipalities of Peel Region. The town is northwest of Brampton. According to Statistics Canada the land area is 688 square kilometers which makes Caledon the largest municipality by area in the Greater Toronto Area.

By 1869, Belfountain was a village with a population of 100 in the Township of Caledon, Peel County. It was established on the Credit River. There were stagecoaches to Erin and Georgetown. The township was likely named by settlers like Edward Ellis, who came from the area around Caledon, County Tyrone, now in Northern Ireland, or by public voting.

In 1974, Caledon's land area roughly tripled in size when Caledon Township was restructured into the present town by amalgamating with the part of Chinguacosy Township north of Mayfield Road (excluding Snelgrove), with the southern half becoming part of Brampton; as well as the villages of Bolton and Caledin East and Albion Township. As part of this restructuring, Peel County became Peel Region.

Please enjoy your stay in Caledon.

Access the Caledon Trailway off of Creditview Road, or take in some fishing at the Ken Whillans Resource Management Area (fishing poles available to rent).

Wondering about the history of this Hamlet and some of the great 19th century buildings? Take a stroll back in time with a Self-Guided Heritage Walking Tour.

Industry began in the area with brickworks exploiting the local red clay and in 1891 the post office was renamed Terra Cotta.  

The hamlet boasts close proximity to the Terra Cotta Conservation Area, which offers great trails for hiking, bird watching and photography, as well as seasonal outdoor activities and weddings.

Located on the banks of the Credit River on the main street of the hamlet is the Terra Cotta Inn, one of the most spectacular dining locations in Caledon.

Don't miss a visit to the Terra Cotta Country Store.  The store features fashion and accessories, an onsite bakery, coffee, tea and gourmet ice cream and fresh fruit frozen yogurt.

Mile 0 Marker of the Caledon Trailway is on the western edge of the hamlet where Brick Lane meets the trail.  A kiln chimney, visible to the north of the trailway, is the last vestige of the brickworks.

Check out some of the unique historical buildings and learn more about this hamlet's history with a Self-guided Walking Tour.

Visitors may park at the Terra Cotta Community Hall on the west side of High Street.

Geography

Inglewood is situated near the Niagara Escarpment. Its landscape features small hills, farmland, and the Credit River, offering opportunities for outdoor activities like hiking and fishing and the agriculture industry. The elevation is 271 meters above sea level. 

History

A general store and a railway hotel are shown on the original village plan of Inglewood in 1883, the first two commercial enterprises to be built. Both buildings still stand today. In the 1800s, Inglewood underwent several name changes such as Sligo South and Riverdale. In 1885, Thomas White, a member of Parliament, proposed the name Inglewood, inspired by a forest in Cumberland, England, which became the official name in 1886. Known for its woolen mill and stone quarry, Inglewood experienced growth with the construction of the north western-railway railway in the 1870s, leading to the development of many houses and buildings from locally harvested wood, some of which still stand today.  The history of Inglewood's railway begins in 1877 when the Hamilton & North-Western Railway, passing through what was then known as Sligo, was joined by the Credit Valley Railway in 1879. Following a merger, the Northern & North Western Railway built the first station in 1880, leading to the settlement's growth. Acquired by the Grand Trunk Railway in 1888, the line saw reductions in service over the years, particularly after the nationalization of the railways in 1923. Passenger service declined with the advent of automobiles, culminating in the closure of the Canadian National line in 1960 and the cessation of all passenger services by 1970. Today, the former railway lines serve as recreational trails, marking the end of an era in Inglewood's transportation history. The station which was built within the village was demolished in 1971. 

Geography

Belfountain is situated on the left branch of the Credit River, and is geographically located occidental within the borders of Caledon, east of the town of Erin. It is also located approximately 50 kilometers north of the city of Brampton.[1] The Caledon Ski Club is located north of the main centre of Belfountain. The Niagara Escarpment runs through the upper part of the village, and remains the base for the Belfountain Conservation Area.

History

Belfountain was first settled in 1825. Originally named McCurdy's, the small village grew significantly throughout the late 19th century. In 1853, a postmaster – last name Bush, came up with the name "Belfountain" for the community, possibly relating to the Cox Property Pound.   Currently, there are plans to expand the townlet in the southern areas.  There have been many concerns within residents about water treatment as a result of the city's eventual expansion.