Welcome to Bolton

About Historic Downtown Bolton

Bolton is a bustling village located in town of Caledon, Ontario. Its historic core is located in and around the intersection of Highway 50 (Queen Street) and King Street. It's hard to believe that for thousands of years preceding settlement, the hills surrounding Bolton were inhabited by native Canadians, who frequently passed through the area in their canoes. With the arrival of James Bolton from Norfolk, England in 1818, the area was transformed into the settlement of Bolton. George Bolton, nephew to the founding settler, arrived in 1820 and shortly thereafter, a small grist mill site was selected and constructed. The area quickly attracted new settlers and by 1840, the village boasted 14 houses, 2 stores, blacksmiths, a shoemaker, a tailor and a hotel.

Bolton Mill continued to prosper while enduring more than its share of floods and fires throughout its history. In 1872, it was decided that the village of Bolton should become its own entity and it separated from the township of Albion. As such, Bolton's first village council was elected in January 1873 with Lambert L. Bolton as its head.

In the years that followed, Bolton was home to several prominent businesses including Walshaw Woolen Mills, The Toronto, Grey & Bruce railway station, The Bolton Foundry, The Albert Street School, The Enterprise, various hotels, The Imperial Bank of Canada, and many more.

Today, Bolton continues to attract new residents and businesses and continues to forge its identity along the banks of scenic Humber River.