Records from 1846 indicate that Galt had very valuable water-power that allowed for milling and manufacturing. Some of the important businesses in about 1870 included the Dickson Mills (opened in 1843), the Axe Factory forge, two furniture factories, The Dumfries iron and brass foundry, three large woolen factories, a malt factory, the Victoria Steam Carriage Works, the Dumfries Flour Mill, the Victoria Foundry making farm implements, a large soap and candles works and two steam-powered tanneries. In fact, Galt was called "Manchester of Canada" because of the extensive industry, powered by the Grand River. The town continued to grow, however, based on a large industrial base. Primarily agricultural in early years, Galt had attracted industry by 1840 and became the largest town in the Grand River area until the early 1900s. ĭickson decided to name the Post Office Galt, in honour of John Galt of the Canada Company which was developing this entire area.
The centre of the planned community was built at the junction of Mill Creek and the Grand River, then called Shade's Mills. Dickson divided the land and sold smaller lots, particularly to Scottish settlers. One speculator, William Dickson, a wealthy immigrant from Scotland, bought 90,000 acres (360 km 2) of land along the Grand River in 1816 this was later to become Galt and the Dumfries Townships. In the late 1700s, developers began to buy land around the Grand River from the Six Nations who were led by Joseph Brant. Galt is situated on land once granted to the Iroquois people by the British Crown at the end of the American Revolutionary War.
Main article: Galt, Ontario § History Old Post Office in Galt, built in 1886
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