Huron Tract
44.8°N 82.4°WThe Huron Tract Purchase also known as the Huron Block, registered as Crown Treaty Number 29, is a large area of land in southwestern Ontario bordering on Lake Huron to the west and Lake Erie to the east. The area spans the counties of Huron, Perth, Middlesex and present day Lambton County, Ontario in the province of Ontario.
| Huron Tract | |
|---|---|
Huron Tract Purchase area, located in southern Ontario, highlighted in yellow | |
| Area | |
| • 1833-1953 | 2,756,960 acres (11,157.0 km2) of land |
| Population | |
| • 685. | 1833 |
| • 4804 | 1839 |
| History | |
| • Origin | In 1825 in negotiations with the Chippewas of Chenail Ecarte, the Ausable River, and St. Clair River. |
| • Created | 1827 |
| • Abolished | 1835 |
| • Succeeded by | Surveyed townships transferred to Huron, Middlesex and Kent counties |
The Huron Tract was purchased by the Canada Company, an agent of the British government, to be distributed to colonial settlers of Upper Canada. Influenced by William "Tiger" Dunlop, John Galt and other businessmen formed the Canada Company. The Canada Company bought one million acres (4,000 km2) of land west of the then London district and called it the Huron Tract. The Canada Company was the administrative agent for the Huron Tract.
An Act of Parliament in 1825 incorporated the Canada Company with the Huron Tract settlement objective as its primary goal. The Canada Company received its Charter in 1826, ceased business in 1951 and was dissolved in December 1953. Private enterprise and the ruling elite never quite separated in the case of the Huron Tract, the Canada Company and the Family Compact being almost synonymous until after the Rebellions of 1837.