HISTORY OF OAKVILLE

Oakville`s first industries included ship-building, timber shipment, and wheat farming. In the 1850s, there was an economic recession and the foundry, the most important industry in town, was closed. Basket-making became a major industry in the town, and a railway was built through it. The town eventually became industrialized with the opening of the Petro-Canada refinery, the Procor factory, and, most importantly, the Ford Motor Company Canadian headquarters and factory. In 1962 the town of Oakville merged with its neighbouring villages (Bronte, Palermo, Sheridan, and Trafalgar) to become the new Town of Oakville.