Acton (Ontario) 5.34

Acton is a community located in the Town of Halton Hills, in Halton Region, Ontario, Canada. At the northern end of the Region, it is on the outer edge of the Greater Toronto Area and is one of two of the primary population centres of the Town; the other is Georgetown, Ontario. From 1842 until about 1986, the town was a major centre for the tanning and leather goods industry; in the early years, it was often referred to as "Leathertown".HistoryThe area now known as Acton was settled in 1825 by the Rev. Ezra, Rev. Zenas, and Rufus Adams, Methodist preachers who took a sabbatical and began farming here on a branch of the Credit River. A fourth brother, Eliphalet, also settled here later. Others also settled in the vicinity, In the 1840s, the community had a grist mill and tannery. The community was first named Danville when settler Wheeler Green opened a dry-goods store in 1828. It was later called Adamsville, after the three original settlers.In 1856, the Grand Trunk Railway arrived in 1856 and helped spur growth in the area, especially along Mill Street. By 1869, Acton had businesses that included woodworking mills, tanneries, glove makers and a carriage works. It was incorporated as a village on January 6, 1874. Originally part of Esquesing Township, Acton's principal trade was in grain, lumber, cordwood, leather and hops. It was incorporated as a village in 1874, and incorporated as a town in 1950. A new town hall was opened in 1883 (and designated a Heritage Building in 1996); postmaster Robert Swan named the village Acton after the area of Acton, London in England.