Burlington, Ontario History: 10 Key Moments That Shaped the City

The history of Burlington, Ontario stretches from thousands of years of Indigenous presence to a lakeside village that grew into a city of nearly 187,000 people. Along the way came a famous land grant, busy harbour towns, a legendary big-band dance hall, and a bridge that changed how the region moves. This Burlington history timeline walks through 10 key moments that shaped the city we know today, and shows where you can still see that history for yourself.

Early History of Burlington: Indigenous Roots and the Brant Tract

Long before there was a Burlington on any map, people were living, fishing, and travelling along this stretch of Lake Ontario and the escarpment behind it.

1. Indigenous Peoples Have Called This Land Home for Thousands of Years

Indigenous peoples have lived in the Burlington area for thousands of years, including the Neutral, the Haudenosaunee, and the Anishinaabeg, among them the Mississauga. The land that is now Burlington is covered by four separate treaties, and that Indigenous history remains part of the city's story today.

2. 1792: Burlington Bay Gets Its Name

In 1792, John Graves Simcoe, the first lieutenant governor of Upper Canada, named the western end of Lake Ontario "Burlington Bay" after the town of Bridlington in Yorkshire, England. The name stuck, and by the turn of the 19th century the area was already commonly called Burlington.

3. The Late 1790s: Joseph Brant and the Brant Tract

The most important name in early Burlington history is Joseph Brant, or Thayendanegea, a Mohawk military and political leader. In recognition of his service to the British during the American Revolutionary War, he was granted the Brant Tract, 3,450 acres on Burlington Bay, in the late 1790s. Brant spent his later years in the area and died in 1807.

Because of that grant, Brant is often called the founder of Burlington. His name is everywhere in the city, from Brant Street to the Joseph Brant Museum, and Burlington still marks Joseph Brant Day in early August.

How Burlington Grew: Harbour Towns, a New Village, and Farm Country

After Brant's death, the land along the lake was divided and settled, and two small ports became the seeds of a downtown.

4. Wellington Square and Port Nelson Become Busy Lakeside Ports

After Brant's death, his friend James Gage bought part of the estate and laid out a townsite that became known as Wellington Square, which makes up much of today's downtown Burlington. Nearby Port Nelson grew up alongside it. Both communities were built near present-day Brant Street, and farm produce, grain, and lumber were shipped out from their docks. By 1846, there were 17 sawmills in Nelson Township alone.

5. 1873: The Village of Burlington Is Born

On September 9, 1873, Wellington Square and Port Nelson merged to form the Village of Burlington, the name the whole community has carried ever since. The new village had a population of just over 750 people, and Burlington became known as one of Ontario's finest fruit-growing districts.

6. 1914: Burlington Becomes a Town

By 1914, Burlington had grown into a town of about 2,100 people and elected its first mayor, Maxwell Charles Smith. Railways had replaced the old harbour wharves as the main way of moving goods, and by 1906 the community already had its own newspaper, a library, and a local rail line.

20th-Century Burlington: Big Bands, Bridges, and a New City

The 20th century brought glamour to the waterfront, highways across the bay, and a population boom.

7. The Brant Inn Puts Burlington on the Entertainment Map

On the lakefront at 1400 Lakeshore Road, the Brant Inn became one of the biggest venues in Canada for international performers. In its heyday in the 1940s and 1950s it hosted big-band stars such as Benny Goodman, along with legends like Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, and Liberace. Today the site is part of Spencer Smith Park, so a stroll along the waterfront is a walk across Burlington's old dance floor.

8. The QEW and the Burlington Skyway Connect the Region

The Queen Elizabeth Way arrived in 1939, and in 1958 the Burlington Bay Skyway opened on October 30. At the time it was billed as the longest bridge in Canada, and it carried a toll until 1973. A second, parallel span was added in 1985, and the bridge was officially renamed the Burlington Bay James N. Allan Skyway in 1988, though locals still just call it the Skyway. These routes helped turn Burlington into a commuter-friendly, fast-growing community.

9. 1958 and 1974: Modern Burlington Takes Shape

On January 1, 1958, the Town of Burlington amalgamated with Nelson Township and part of East Flamborough Township, including Aldershot, creating the city's modern boundaries. Growth continued after the Second World War, and by 1967 the last cash-crop farm within the city had given way to a shopping centre. In 1974, with a population above 100,000, Burlington officially became a city.

Where to Experience Burlington's History Today

10. Visit the Heritage Sites That Still Tell the Story

Burlington's past is easy to explore in person. The Joseph Brant Museum at 1240 North Shore Boulevard East is named for the city's first citizen and includes a replica of his homestead. Ireland House Museum at 2168 Guelph Line, built in the 1830s for early settler Joseph Ireland, was restored to show life in the 1850s, 1890s, and 1920s. For a behind-the-scenes look at heritage buildings and local businesses, watch for Doors Open Burlington, an event that opens up some of the city's most interesting spaces to the public.

Pair a museum visit with a walk through downtown and along the waterfront, where Spencer Smith Park, the Brant Street Pier, and the Burlington Canal Lift Bridge add even more local landmarks to the story.

Burlington History FAQ

When Was Burlington, Ontario Founded?

Burlington traces its start to the late 1790s Brant Tract grant. The Village of Burlington was formed in 1873, it became a town in 1914, and it became a city in 1974.

Why Is It Called Burlington?

The name comes from Burlington Bay, which John Graves Simcoe named in 1792 after Bridlington, England. The community that grew beside the bay took the name, and it became official when Wellington Square and Port Nelson merged in 1873.

Who Was Joseph Brant?

Joseph Brant, also known as Thayendanegea, was a Mohawk military and political leader who received the Brant Tract in recognition of his service to the British during the American Revolutionary War. He is often called the founder of Burlington.

How Big Is Burlington Today?

According to the 2021 census, Burlington has a population of 186,948 people, making it one of the larger cities in Ontario.

Explore More of Burlington's Story

Burlington's history is all around you, from the lakefront to the escarpment. Follow Burlington 365 for more local stories, events, and things to do around Burlington.