History

Kingsville Ontario is Canada's most southern town. We are situated along the north shore of Lake Erie and are known for our favourable climate and productive soils. 19th-century writers referred to the Kingsville-Gosfield area as "Canada's Paradise Garden." 

First known as the Township of Gosfield, the community was settled by United Empire Loyalists of primarily German ancestry along the shore of Lake Erie and by British immigrants along the Talbot Trail. Early residents depended upon selling agricultural goods and natural resources for their livelihood. Nineteen small hamlets, including Arner, North Ridge, Olinda and Albertville, developed throughout the Township to service the needs of nearby residents. Three larger centres, Cottam, Ruthven and Kingsville, provided more specialized goods and services, transportation systems, and industries.'

By the late 19th century, Kingsville had become a popular summer playground for Canadian and American tourists. They flocked to Paradise Grove, a beautiful wooded grove along the banks of Mill Creek and the shore of Lake Erie, for picnics, revival meetings, and reunions.

Three well-known men were influential in shaping the Town. James King, the community's founder, gave Kingsville its name, while Hiram Walker capitalized on its tourism potential by building the famous Mettawas Hotel in 1889. Walker also created a railway line, known as the L.E.E. & D.R.R., from Windsor to Kingsville in 1888.

Jack Miner was one of Canada's first wildlife conservationists noted for changing the migratory route of the Canada Goose. The Jack Miner Bird Sanctuary welcomes thousands of international visitors each year.

Amalgamated with the Townships of Gosfield North and South in 1999, the new Town of Kingsville is an interesting blend of rural and Victorian charm.

In celebration of both the Millennium and the Kingsville-Gosfield Heritage Society's 25th Anniversary, Book Committee members began the enormous task of researching and writing the history of the new Town of Kingsville.

This well-researched history brings to life the fascinating story of Kingsville's and Gosfield's past, as seen by residents and tourists alike. More than 350 box stories, interspersed throughout the 539 photographs and 676 pages of text, poignantly illustrate the Town's rich social history in a delightful and often humorous manner.

The books are sold as a 2-Volume set, $35.00 for a softcover. Please forward a cheque or money order, payable to the Kingsville-Gosfield Heritage Society. 

You can also purchase these books at our Municipal office. 

Learn about Kingsville's Historical Coin series, an effort to pay homage to the people and places that shaped our community.