Ancaster

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Ancaster is a community within south-central Ontario located in the greater area of Hamilton City. Located on the Niagara escarpment, Ancaster is a picturesque community of about 33,000 people. Ever since 1970, it has doubled in size. In the 1700s, it had the largest population in Upper Canada, with slightly more inhabitants compared to nearby Hamilton and Toronto. Ancaster still retains its historic village core. It is famous for its recreational trails and interesting shopping areas with various pubs and restaurants.

Bruce Trail is a famous trail which winds through the community and links the areas of Tobermory with Queenston. The trail enters the Dundas Valley Conservation Area, while also crossing the Hamilton to Brantford Rail Trail. The trail system provides year-round opportunities for walking, cycling, horse riding, snowshoeing and cross country skiing. Fieldcote Memorial Park and Museum provides a venue for local history, fine arts, gardens and walking paths.

The town was officially founded during 1793, making Ancaster amongst the first European settlements established within the province. The only other establishments within the region of Upper Canada consisted of Windsor, established in the year 1749; Kingston, founded during the year 1780; Niagara-on-the-Lake, established during the year 1792; and Toronto, established in 1793. Ancaster's location along the Niagara escarpment created access to water power. That, along with its location near existing historical trading routes, attracted settlers to the area in the late 1700s. By the year 1823, Ancaster had become the largest trading and industrial centre within Upper Canada. This historic town played a part in the Underground Railroad, a network of communities which helped African-Americans fleeing slavery.

With the development of various kinds of water power, proximity to the Lake Ontario waterfront became more important to water-powered businesses, and Ancaster's significance gradually declined. In the 19th century, the townships located near Lake Ontario outpaced Ancaster's development and growth. The invention of the stationary steam engine likewise made Ancaster less important. By the 1820s, Ancaster's influence had begun to lessen.

The geography around Ancaster has influenced the settlement patterns that could be observed still to this day. The Niagara Escarpment is a limestone geographical formation that has been formed from ancient fossilized sea organisms. This landform extends from the State of New York through Ontario to the State of Illinois. The Escarpment offered a formidable barrier to transportation for the indigenous peoples who resided within this region for thousands of years. If it weren't for a natural break in this landform, in the area that would eventually become Ancaster village, there would have been no way for individuals to traverse the escarpment. The break provided a gateway which was quite simple to navigate by land. It provided access from the head of Lake Ontario to the nearby land on the escarpment.