Halton County is a former county in the Canadian province of Ontario, with an area of . It is also one of the oldest counties in Canada. History Halton County is named after Major William Mathew Halton (1746-1823), a British Army officer, who was appointed in England in 1805 as Secretary to Upper Canada Lieutenant-Governor Sir Francis Gore and spent little time in Canada during his posting (served two terms 1806-1811 and 1815-1816). Settlers started to arrive in the area in the early 1780s. The south was first settled by United Empire Loyalists, and the north was settled mainly by immigrants from the British Isles. In 1788, the area became part of the Nassau District, which was renamed the Home District in 1792. Historic townships Esquesing Township (area ). Opened in 1819, the first town meeting was held in 1821 when the population was 424. The name Esquesing was said to come from an Indigenous word meaning "the land of the tall pine(s)", but is more likely to come from the Mississauga word ishkwessin, meaning "that which lies at the end", which was the original name for Bronte Creek. Community centres were Georgetown, Acton, Glen Williams, Stewarttown, Norval, Limehouse. Nassagaweya Township (area ). Opened in 1819, its name was derived from the Mississauga word niizhozaagiwan, meaning "having two outlets", which was the original name of the Sixteen Mile Creek. Community centres were Campbellville, Darbyville and Eden Mills. Nelson Township (area ) Opened in 1806 and named in honour of Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson. Community centre: Burlington. Trafalgar Township (area ), opened in 1806, the year after the Battle of Trafalgar. The township was settled in 1807. Community centres were Milton, Oakville, Bronte. First Nations land surrenders The lands that eventually formed part of Halton were acquired from the Mississauga Indians as follows: Municipal organization and evolution Along with Wentworth County, Halton County was created in 1816 as part of the Gore District, consisting of the townships of Trafalgar, Nelson, Flamborough, and Beverley, together with certain blocks of land on the Grand River and reserved lands to the rear of the townships of Blenheim and Blandford. In 1821, the county was expanded through the addition of the townships of Esquesing, Erin, Nassagaweya, Eramosa, and Garafraxa, together with certain church land. In 1838, on the creation of Wellington District, the townships of Garafraxa, Nichol, Woolwich, Guelph, Waterloo, Wilmot, Dumfries, Puslinch, Erin