PERTH COUNTY - A Colourful Quilt of Countryside and Charming Communities

In the heartland of Southwestern Ontario, Perth County’s lush and rolling fertile land yielded to the hard work of the waves of immigrants seeking the promise of better lives for themselves and their families. That promise has been fulfilled in this county, one of the most agriculturally successful regions in Canada as the land opened up in the mid-1800s. Created in 1850 from townships that had been part of Huron and Wellington Districts.

Perth County’s first courthouse opened its doors in 1853. Throughout the years of creation, separation and amalgamation of municipalities and their councils, Perth County has followed a steady course of progress and prosperity, with challenges met and overcome. Along with the bustling city of Stratford and the picturesque St. Marys, the Perth County municipalities include the Town of North Perth and the Townships of Perth East, Perth South and the Municipality of West Perth.

Townships in the county were planned in the 1820s as part of the tract of land owned by Canada Company, a British corporation interested in development the land and increasing settlement in Upper Canada. As early as 1828 entrepreneurs were establishing inns along the surveyed road cutting through this region of the Huron Tract. With a campaign of advertising in Germany and Great Britain promising bountiful harvest on farms for hardworking settlers, the area continued to welcome families and business enterprise throughout the 1830s and 1840s.

North and west of the Huron Tract lay the lands of the Queen’s Bush, with later development as the Huron Tract’s lands were taken up by farmers and communities. If you were to walk the paths in tiny villages in those days you would be hearing a mix of English dialects, broad Scots brogue, Irish lilt as well as German languages. Added to this stout mix was Swiss and Dutch in later years of settlement. Nowadays the county welcomes visitors from all over the world to enjoy the relaxed countryside and city amenities that are second to none.

Handmade, homemade, gourmet and glorious – the foods produced in the county are some of the finest, along with the products created on award-winning dairy and hog operations on century farms. Mixed farming has been a key component of family farms over the many years this fertile land has been in production. With the increased interest in 100-mile menus at home and in the county’s sophisticated restaurants, cheese production as well as other high-quality foods are continuing production, offering splendid dining experiences for residents and visitors alike. With a busy manufacturing sector in communities throughout the region weathering its share of economic challenges over many years, Perth County continues to explore industrial opportunities and high tech development to keep its economy diversified and strong.

Stratford has been home to the Canadian National Railways locomotive repair shops from 1870 to 1964. Fine furniture production during the 1920s was also a key part of the local economy, with Listowel sharing the honours of furniture design and manufacture, shipping to all parts of Canada. Now there is a new wave of residents exploring the charming county communities.

Perth County’s communities each have their distinct identities, offering their broad main streets, well preserved heritage architecture, traditional stores and new boutiques to browsers, who relish the relaxed pace of life. Parks and lush gardens attest to the pride of place for each town and village. The lively arts are celebrated with strong support from residents as well as visitors from North America, Europe and beyond. The stage was set for the renowned Stratford Shakespeare Festival, beginning in 1953 with heroic efforts on the part of a small group of visionaries. Now the third largest repertory theatre in North America, the city of Stratford enjoys the benefits of partnership with the theatre community and all the allied arts.

Each of the county’s municipalities is hard at work, providing the complex mix of services and careful planning to create a quality of life that continues to be hard to match in the region. With back roads and byways connecting hamlets, villages and towns filled with vintage Victorian-era buildings and homes that range from quaint and coveted Ontario cottages to 4 storey grand dames B&Bs, Perth County’s communities are a treasure-trove of opportunities for entrepreneurs and visitors alike.

Exploring the colourful quilt of countryside and county towns is a pastime that is family-friendly, accessible as well as casual, relaxed and rural. You’re invited to join the celebration of the legacy of those early settlers as well as the very best experiences on offer at market places, shops and boutiques, restaurants and unique accommodation found in every corner of Perth County.