Johnstown District, Upper Canada


The Johnstown District was a historic district in Upper Canada which existed until 1849.

Historical evolution

In 1798, the new Parliament of Upper Canada divided the territory of the Eastern District in two, which went into force in January 1800, and the following counties were withdrawn to form the Johnstown District:
CountyTerritory

Carleton		the township of Nepean, with the tract of land to be hereafter laid out into townships, between Nepean and a line drawn north fifteen degrees from the north-west angle of the township of Crosby, until it intersects the Ottawa River, with such of the islands in the said river as are wholly, or in greater part opposite thereto

Grenville		the townships of
together with such of the islands in the River Saint Lawrence as are wholly, or in greater part opposite thereto

Leeds		the townships of
  • Elizabeth-Town
  • Yonge
  • Landsdowne
  • Leeds
  • Crosby
  • Bastard
  • Burgess
  • Elmsley
  • Kitley
together with such of the islands in the River Saint Lawrence as are wholly, or in greater part opposite thereto

The district town was originally Johnstown, but it was transferred to Elizabethtown in 1808.
The District's territory was subsequently reduced in several steps:
  1. In 1822, Carleton County was withdrawn and transferred to the new Bathurst District.
  2. In 1838, upon the creation of the new Dalhousie District, the township of North Gower and Marlborough were transferred to Carleton County, and the township of Montague, together with those portions of the townships of Elmsley and Burgess lying north of the Rideau River, were transferred to Lanark County.
Effective January 1, 1850, Johnstown District was abolished, and the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville replaced it for municipal and judicial purposes.