| This township lies
upon the shore of Long Point Bay, having Woodhouse Gore to the east,
Windham and Middleton on the north, and Walsingham on the west. It has
several large streams running through it, the principal of which are
Young's Creek on the south east, Kent's Creek on the northeast, and a
portion of Big Creek on the northwest. The peninsula of Turkey Point
stands in a southwesterly direction from about the centre of the south
boundary. The soil is chiefly a sandy loam, with tracts of clay loam.
Towards the south there is a tract of several square miles where nothing
but "blow sand" is found.
In 1817 the population amounted to
about 9oo, the number of houses to 130. In 1850 the population had
increased to 2,498, and there were 3 grist and 7 saw mills, 3
carding mills, 1 tannery. The produce of 1849 was 33,700 bushels of wheat.
Charlotteville has been in days
past a fine field for the lumberman. Even yet there are some fine groves
of pine, and some excellent hardwood.
The villages are numerous.
Vittoria is the largest, and was a place of much importance even 60 years
ago. Up to the year of 1820 the courts of the London district were held at
Turkey Point, but from 1816 until 1827 they were held at Vittoria. The
courthouse at this place was a fine structure and cost $9,000. Building
operations in those days were costly. In 1827 the offices were removed to
London. The registry office was also at Vittoria for many years, when it
was removed to Simcoe.
At present Vittoria is a very
pleasant village, with a remarkably large proportion of valuable and
elegant private residences. It contains a large number of excellent
general stores and shops of various kinds, and is a natural business
centre. It has 2 Baptist churches, 1 Church of England, 1 Presbyterian
church, 1 town hall, and a good brick school-house.
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