Campbellford's History and Heritage
Campbellford is an area rich in history. Our community is very proud of our past and we are incorporating "Industrial Heritage" as the theme for our new Waterfront Development Boardwalk along the east side of the river.The Campbellford/Seymour Heritage Society is an active group working to preserve the areas history for generations to come. Gleanings is the book that they have produced on this area after years of extensive research. Some exerpts from that book are condensed under "History & Heritage" below.
Champlain travelled through this area in 1615. The initial settlement of Europeans in the Trent Valley started after the end of the American Revolution in 1783. In the early 1800's, the British government offered land grants to retiring army and navy officers to encourage settlement. In 1831, two Scottish born brothers, Lieut. Col. Robert Campbell and Major David Campbell were granted 2200 acres of land in Seymour Township. Here at Campbell's Ford a settlement developed because it was the calmest and shallowest stretch of the river. Today, that settlement is known as Campbellford.