Listowel in Perth County, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

The Founding of Listowel

Photographed by Tim Boyd, July 4, 2025

1. The Founding of Listowel Marker

Inscription. Among the earliest settlers on the site of Listowel was John Binning who, tradition has it, became the community's first permanent settler in 1852. Within four years D. D. Hay, one of the most enterprising early settlers, had erected a sawmill and a settlement called Mapleton had developed. On June 1, 1856, a post office named Listowel was opened and the community, with a population of 200, contained taverns and a general store operated by W. H. Hacking. Ten years later the population had increased to 800 and the settlement became an incorporated Village. The arrival of a branch line of the Wellington, Grey and Bruce Railway hastened the Village's development and it became a Town with a population of 2,054 in 1875.

Erected by Ontario Heritage Foundation.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Ontario Heritage Trust series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1852.

Location. 43° 44.015′ N, 80° 57.076′ W. Marker is in Listowel, Ontario, in Perth County. It is at the intersection of Wallace Avenue North and

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

Elizabeth Street East, on the right when traveling north on Wallace Avenue North. The marker is on the grounds of the North Perth Municipal Offices. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 330 Wallace Ave N, Listowel ON N4W 1L3, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Huron-Perth-Waterloo-Wellington Area

and in Southwestern Ontario.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 6 other markers are within 21 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Listowel Cenotaph (within shouting distance of this marker); Andrew Edward McKeever, 1895-1919 (within shouting distance of this marker); Listowel Post Office Tower (within shouting distance of this marker); The Founding of Milverton (approx. 19 kilometers away); The Founding of Harriston (approx. 20.9 kilometers away); Harriston Cenotaph (approx. 20.9

Photographed by Tim Boyd, July 4, 2025

2. The Founding of Listowel Marker

kilometers away).

1920s

3. Downtown Listowel, 1920s

Listowel Post Office Tower and Veterans’ Walk image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, July 4, 2025

4. Listowel Post Office Tower and Veterans’ Walk

Credits. This page was last revised on July 8, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 7, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 88 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 7, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.