View source for Halton Hills

{{Distinguish|Haldon Hills}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                    = Halton Hills
| official_name           = Town of Halton Hills
| settlement_type         = [[List of towns in Ontario|Town]] ([[List of municipalities in Ontario#Lower-tier municipalities|lower-tier]])
| image_skyline           = Main Street Georgetown Ontario 2010 2.jpg
| image_caption           = Main Street, Georgetown
| image_flag              = 
| image_shield            = Haltonhills_arms_bw.gif
| shield_size             = 75px
| image_blank_emblem      = Halton_Hills_logo.svg
| blank_emblem_type       = Logo
| blank_emblem_size       = 
| nickname                = 
| motto                   = Hereditas Integritas Veritas ({{langx|la|Heritage, integrity, truth}})
| image_map               = 
| mapsize                 = 200px
| map_caption             = 
| pushpin_map             = CAN ON Halton#Canada Southern Ontario
| pushpin_map_caption     = 
| coordinates             = {{coord|43|37|37|N|079|57|05|W|region:CA-ON|notes=<ref>{{Cite cgndb|FBLIE|Halton Hills}}</ref>|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type        = Country
| subdivision_name        = Canada
| subdivision_type1       = [[Provinces and territories of Canada|Province]]
| subdivision_name1       = [[Ontario]]
| subdivision_type2       = Region
| subdivision_name2       = [[Regional Municipality of Halton|Halton]]
| established_title       = 
| established_date        = 
| established_title2      = Incorporated
| established_date2       = 1974
| leader_title            = Mayor
| leader_name             = Ann Lawlor
| leader_title1           = Federal ridings
| leader_name1            = [[Milton East—Halton Hills South]] <br> [[Wellington—Halton Hills North]]
| leader_title2           = Prov. riding
| leader_name2            = [[Wellington—Halton Hills (provincial electoral district)|Wellington—Halton Hills]]
| area_footnotes          = 
| area_total_km2          = 
| area_land_km2           = 276.26
| area_urban_km2          = 39.52
| area_rural_km2          = 236.74
| elevation_footnotes     = 
| elevation_m             = 
| elevation_max_footnotes = <ref>{{Coord|43|39|25.49|N|80|3|17.98|W}}, as per [[Google Earth]]</ref>
| elevation_max_m         = 411
| elevation_min_footnotes = <ref>along [[Highway 401]], as per [[Google Earth]]</ref>
| elevation_min_m         = 197
| population_footnotes    = <ref name="census2016">{{cite web |title=Census Profile, 2016 Census: Halton Hills, Town |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=3524015&Geo2=PR&Code2=35&Data=Count&SearchText=halton%20hills&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&TABID=1 |publisher=[[Statistics Canada]] |access-date=June 14, 2019}}</ref>
| population_total        = 61,161
| population_as_of        = 2016
| population_density_km2  = 221.4
| population_urban        = 49854
| population_density_urban_km2 = auto
| population_rural        = 9154
| population_density_rural_km2 = auto
| timezone                = [[Eastern Time Zone|EST]]
| utc_offset              = −05:00
| timezone_DST            = EDT
| utc_offset_DST          = −04:00
| postal_code_type        = [[Canadian postal code|Postal Code]]
| postal_code             = 
| area_codes               = [[Area codes 905, 289, and 365|905, 289, and 365]]
| blank_name              = [[National Topographic System|NTS]] Map
| blank_info              = {{Canada NTS Map Sheet|30|M|12}}
| blank1_name             = [[Geographical Names Board of Canada|GNBC]] Code
| blank1_info             = FBLIE
| website                 = {{URL|http://www.haltonhills.ca/}}
}}

'''Halton Hills''' is a town in the [[Regional Municipality of Halton]], located in the northwestern end of the [[Greater Toronto Area]], Ontario, Canada with a population of 62,951 (2021).

There are many natural features within these bounds; they include the [[Niagara Escarpment]], and the [[Bruce Trail]]. Many of these local features are protected by the [[Conservation Halton]], [[Credit Valley Conservation]] & [[Grand River Conservation Authority]].

==Communities==
The primary population centres are [[Georgetown, Ontario|Georgetown]] and [[Acton, Ontario|Acton]]. Additionally, there are a number of [[hamlet (place)|hamlet]]s and rural clusters within the town, including Ashgrove, Ballinafad (straddling the boundary with [[Erin, Ontario|Erin]]), Bannockburn, Crewsons Corners (straddling the boundary with [[Erin, Ontario|Erin]], [[Guelph-Eramosa, Ontario|Guelph-Eramosa]] and [[Milton, Ontario|Milton]]), [[Glen Williams, Ontario|Glen Williams]], Henderson's Corners, Hornby, [[Limehouse, Ontario|Limehouse]], [[Mansewood, Ontario|Mansewood]], [[Norval, Ontario|Norval]], Scotch Block, Silver Creek, Speyside, Stewarttown, Terra Cotta (straddling the boundary with [[Caledon, Ontario|Caledon]]), and Wildwood. The area was first settled in the 1820s.

==Geography==
[[File:Haltonhills environment.jpg|thumb|left|Natural and environmental features in Halton Hills]]

Esquesing Township, of which the greatest part went to form Halton Hills, was favourably described in 1846:

{{blockquote|
This is a fine township, containing excellent land, and many good farms, which are generally well cultivated. Wheat of superior quality is grown in this and adjoining townships. The land is mostly rolling.<ref>{{cite book |last=Smith |first=Wm. H. |date=1846 |title=Smith's Canadian Gazetteer: Statistical and General Information respecting all parts of the Upper Province, or Canada West|url=https://archive.org/stream/smithscanadianga00smit#page/164/mode/2up |location=Toronto |publisher=H.&W. Rowsell |page=56}}</ref>
}}

The town is bisected by the [[Niagara Escarpment]] from southwest to northeast, and a significant portion of the rural area is located within the [[Greenbelt (Golden Horseshoe)|provincial Greenbelt]]. Above the Escarpment, a large proportion of the rural area is classified as environmentally sensitive wetlands, and there are several sites that are licensed for aggregate extraction, for which expansion requires detailed environmental assessment.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Level I and II Natural Environment Technical Report - Acton Quarry Extension, Town of Halton Hills, Ontario|url = http://www.halton.ca/common/pages/UserFile.aspx?fileId=49769|date = 2008-12-22|access-date = 2012-02-20|archive-date = 2011-12-29|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111229053359/http://www.halton.ca/common/pages/UserFile.aspx?fileId=49769|url-status = dead}}</ref> Below the Escarpment, the rural area is mainly agricultural, with the exception of an industrial area currently being developed between [[Highway 401]] and Steeles Avenue.

The town also forms part of three watersheds:

:* to the west of Acton, a small area flows toward the [[Grand River (Ontario)|Grand River]]
:* the northern half flows into the [[Credit River]], including the Black Creek<ref>{{Cite web|title = Background Report - Black Creek Subwatershed Study|url = http://www.creditvalleyca.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Sub10-BkgReport-Finalsmall.pdf|date = February 2009|publisher = [[Credit Valley Conservation]]|access-date = 2012-02-20}}</ref> and Silver Creek<ref>{{Cite web|title = Silver Creek Subwatershed Study Background Report|url = http://www.creditvalleyca.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Background.pdf|date = September 2001|publisher = [[Credit Valley Conservation]]|access-date = 2012-02-20}}</ref> tributaries
:* the southern half flows into the [[Sixteen Mile Creek (Ontario)|Sixteen Mile Creek]]<ref>{{Cite web|title = Sixteen Mile Creek, Grindstone Creek and Supplemental Monitoring|url = http://www.conservationhalton.on.ca/uploads/Homepage/Natural%20Environment/Ecology%20and%20Water%20Quality/SixteenMileGrindstone_FINAL%20CH%20LEMP%202009_OCT10.pdf|date = October 2010|publisher = [[Conservation Halton]]|access-date = 2012-02-20|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111111155344/http://www.conservationhalton.on.ca/uploads/Homepage/Natural%20Environment/Ecology%20and%20Water%20Quality/SixteenMileGrindstone_FINAL%20CH%20LEMP%202009_OCT10.pdf|archive-date = 2011-11-11}}</ref>

The [[Water Survey of Canada]] operates two hydrometric monitoring stations in the town, on the Black Creek below Acton,<ref name="Black Creek Below Acton 02HB024">{{Cite web|title = Black Creek Below Acton (02HB024)|url = http://www.wsc.ec.gc.ca/applications/H2O/report-eng.cfm?station=02HB024&report=monthly&year=2010|archive-url = https://archive.today/20120918220749/http://www.wsc.ec.gc.ca/applications/H2O/report-eng.cfm?station=02HB024&report=monthly&year=2010|url-status = dead|archive-date = 2012-09-18|access-date = 2012-02-20}}</ref> and at [[Norval, Ontario|Norval]] on the [[Credit River]].<ref>{{Cite web|title = CREDIT RIVER WEST BRANCH AT NORVAL (02HB008)|url = http://www.wsc.ec.gc.ca/applications/H2O/report-eng.cfm?station=02HB008&report=monthly&year=2010|access-date = 2012-02-20|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://archive.today/20120919032334/http://www.wsc.ec.gc.ca/applications/H2O/report-eng.cfm?station=02HB008&report=monthly&year=2010|archive-date = 2012-09-19}}</ref>

===Vegetation===

Halton Hills is located in the transition zone between the Huron-Ontario Forest Section of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence forest zone to the north and the Niagara Section of the [[Carolinian forest]] zone to the south. Both forest zones are part of the [[Mixedwood Plains Ecozone (CEC)|Mixedwood Plains Ecozone]]. The natural vegetation in the Huron-Ontario Section is dominated by mixed wood forests.  It is a transitional type between the southern deciduous forests and the northern coniferous forests. The forest communities of the Niagara Section are dominated by broad-leaved trees. Overall, Halton Hills consists predominantly of agricultural lands with scattered woodlands and wetlands. The woodlands are mainly deciduous forest and the wetlands are either [[Thuja occidentalis|cedar]] swamp or [[cattail]] marsh.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Appendix E - Halton Hills Local Refinement Area Natural Environment Setting|url = http://www.hydroone.com/Projects/BrucetoMilton/Documents/Final%20EA/Appendix_C/AppendixC_Route_Refinement_Recommendation_Report_with_Ap_02.pdf|publisher = [[Hydro One]]|access-date = 2012-02-20}}{{dead link|date=October 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

===Endangered and threatened species===

[[American ginseng]] exists in the town, and is protected under the ''Endangered Species Act, 2007''. [[Butternut (tree)|Butternut]] trees are also threatened by the butternut [[canker]]. The [[hooded warbler]] and the [[Jefferson salamander]] are also designated as threatened species.

[[Brook trout]] had been eliminated from the Black Creek watershed for many years, following the ongoing environmental disaster due to the excessive consumption of faecal mater as well as the trailer park polluting the water in the town of Erin. The trout have not returned, and anglers report that most of the fish have almost entirely disappeared from the area.<ref name="Black Creek Below Acton 02HB024"/>

===Geology===

The physiography<ref>{{Cite web|title = Aggregate Resources Inventory of the Town of Halton Hills |url = http://www.geologyontario.mndmf.gov.on.ca/mndmfiles/pub/data/imaging/ARIP046/ARIP046.pdf|year = 1983|publisher = [[Ontario Geological Survey]]|access-date = 2012-02-20}}</ref> and distribution of surface material<ref>{{Cite web|author1=J.E. Gillespie |author2=R.E. Wicklund |author3=M.H. Miller |title = Soils of Halton County - Report No. 43 of the Ontario Soil Survey |url = http://sis.agr.gc.ca/cansis/publications/surveys/on/on43/on43_report.pdf|publisher = Soil Research Institute, Canada Department of Agriculture, and [[Ontario Agricultural College]]|access-date = 2012-02-23}}</ref> in the Town of Halton Hills are the result of glacial activity which took place in the [[Wisconsinan glaciation|Late Wisconsinan Substage]] of the [[Pleistocene|Pleistocene Epoch]]. This period of time, which lasted from approximately 23,000 to 10,000 years ago, was marked by the repeated advance and melting back of massive, continental ice sheets.

The Niagara Escarpment dominates the physiography of the town and greatly influenced the pattern of glaciation in the region. The Escarpment, formed by erosion over millions of years, is a high relief bedrock scarp which trends to the north through the central part of the town. To the west, on the upper surface of the Escarpment, hummocky [[moraine|morainic ridges]] deposited by glacial ice form part of the Horseshoe Moraines physiographic region. To the southeast below the Escarpment, is a smooth glacial till plain partially bevelled by [[lacustrine plain|lacustrine]] action, which forms part of the South Slope and Peel Plain physiographic regions.

The Town of Halton Hills is underlain by [[Ordovician]] [[shale]]s of the [[Queenston Formation]] east of the Niagara Escarpment, and by [[Silurian]] [[Dolomite (rock)|dolomite]]s of the Amabel Formation west of the Escarpment. The escarpment face exposes a complex succession of [[shale]]s, [[sandstone]]s, [[limestone]]s and [[Dolomite (rock)|dolomite]]s of the [[Clinton Group|Clinton]] and Cataract Groups. Red shales of the Queenston Formation underlie the eastern half of the town and are generally covered by more than 15 m of glacial sediments, predominantly the Halton Till. There are several areas of thin drift cover south of Georgetown.

The [[quarrying]] of limestone has been undertaken since the 19th century, and the [[Calcination|lime industry]] was once quite prevalent. In 1886, the Toronto Lime Company had operations in Limehouse and Acton, employing a total of four draw [[Lime kiln|kiln]]s and eleven set kilns, producing [[calcium oxide|common lime]] and [[calcium hydroxide|water lime]].<ref name = "BI1886">{{cite book |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title= Annual Report of the Bureau of Industries for the Province of Ontario|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=XxAwAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA385|location= Toronto|publisher= Warwick & Sons|page= 385|year= 1886}}</ref> At Limehouse, rock from the Clinton formation yielded green and brown [[shale]]s and blue [[marl]], which were used in the manufacture of [[paint|mineral paint]]s.<ref name = "BI1886"/>

Small oil and gas deposits have been discovered northwest and south of Acton, and around Hornby. While exploration had occurred as early as 1908,<ref>{{cite news|title = News of local import: Halton Oil and Gas|url = http://news.haltonhills.halinet.on.ca/85910/page/3?n=7|newspaper = Acton Free Press|date = September 17, 1908|page = 3}}</ref> with oil being discovered in 1912,<ref>{{cite news|title = Oil has been struck at Milton|url = http://news.haltonhills.halinet.on.ca/86084/page/2?n=9&q=Brandon+Oil&docid=OOI.86084|newspaper = Acton Free Press|date = March 7, 1912|page = 2}}</ref> significant strikes did not occur until 1954.<ref>{{cite news|author = Gord Murray|title = Gas riches may await the gambler|url = http://news.haltonhills.halinet.on.ca/2314197/page/1?n=1&q=Halton+Oil+%2526+Gas&docid=OOI.2314197|newspaper = Acton Free Press|date = February 20, 1980|page = 1}}</ref>

The town is located in an area that is considered to be of low seismic potential, and the largest recent earthquake to take place within its limits was of [[Richter magnitude scale|magnitude 3]] on 29 June 1955.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Could the next big earthquake happen here?|url = http://hamilton.openfile.ca/hamilton/file/2011/03/could-next-big-earthquake-happen-here|date = 2011-03-21|access-date = 2012-02-21|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110325075538/http://hamilton.openfile.ca/hamilton/file/2011/03/could-next-big-earthquake-happen-here|archive-date = 2011-03-25}}</ref> There is a [[POLARIS (seismology)|POLARIS]] seismic monitoring station located just west of Acton.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.polarisnet.ca/cgi-bin/pol_soh.cgi?csta=ACTO |title=POLARIS monitoring station ACTO |access-date=2012-02-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070711065412/http://www.polarisnet.ca/cgi-bin/pol_soh.cgi?csta=ACTO |archive-date=2007-07-11 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>located at {{Coord|43.6087|N|80.0624|W}}</ref>

===Climate===

Halton Hills has a [[humid continental climate]] (Köppen climate classification ''Dfb'').

The Town has two distinct climate zones:<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://atlas.agr.gc.ca/agmaf/index_eng.html |title=Plant Hardiness Zones of Canada |access-date=2014-05-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090717031555/http://atlas.agr.gc.ca/agmaf/index_eng.html#context=phz-zrp_en.xml&extent=1176677.9257202,-595442.35501291,1375379.9017542,-365254.97931445&layers=place37M,place25M,place15M,place5M,place1M,place500K,place250K;rivers25M,rivers15M,rivers5M,rivers1M,rivers500K,lakes37M,lakes25M,lakes15M,lakes5M,lakes1M,lakes500K,Roads25M,Roads15M,Roads5M,Roads1M,Roads500K,ferry500K,bndy5-37M,bndy1M,BndyLn1-5M;PlantHardinessZone2000; |archive-date=2009-07-17 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Zone 5a - north of the Niagara Escarpment
* Zone 5b - south of the Escarpment

[[Environment and Climate Change Canada]] operates one climate monitoring station at Georgetown.

{{Georgetown weatherbox}}

== History ==
[[File:Toronto Premium Outlets.jpg|thumb|Toronto Premium Outlets, opened in 2013]]Both Georgetown and Acton, as well as the smaller communities in the rural area, have histories which go back about 200 years. Settlement began in the 1820s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.haltonhillschamber.on.ca/history-of-the-area.html |title=A community rich in history |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612211235/http://www.haltonhillschamber.on.ca/history-of-the-area.html |archive-date=June 12, 2018}}</ref>

The hamlet of Hornby was home to the large Brain Brewery, established in 1845;<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theifp.ca/news/brain-brewery-circa-1890/article_0a9bc5f3-dda2-5ef8-975a-04dd657c0edb.html|title=Brain Brewery circa 1890|date=December 12, 2013|work=The IFP |access-date=April 28, 2024|quote=}}</ref> it was eventually making 5,000 barrels of beer per year with ten employees. The facility closed when Prohibition started in 1916 and did not later reopen.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.haltonhillstoday.ca/then-and-now/hornby-once-home-to-haltons-largest-brewery-8656617|title=Hornby once home to Halton's largest brewery|date=April 26, 2024|work=Halton Hills Today|access-date=April 28, 2024|quote=}}</ref>

Halton Hills was formed in 1974 through the amalgamation of the former Towns of [[Georgetown, Ontario|Georgetown]] and [[Acton, Ontario|Acton]], together with much of the former [[Esquesing Township]], and a small portion of the Town of [[Oakville, Ontario|Oakville]] lying north of [[Ontario Highway 401]]. Originally named the Town of North Halton in the establishing legislation,<ref>{{Cite canlaw|short title =The Regional Municipality of Halton Act, 1973|abbr =S.O.|year =1973|chapter =70|section =2|subsection =1|link=https://archive.org/details/statutesofprovin1973onta/page/390/mode/2up}}</ref> provision was made for a name change to be adopted in consequence of a referendum,<ref>{{Cite canlaw|short title =The Regional Municipality of Halton Act, 1973|abbr =S.O.|year =1973|chapter =70|section =2|subsection =4|link=https://archive.org/details/statutesofprovin1973onta/page/392/mode/2up}}</ref> and Halton Hills was thus chosen in October 1973:

{| class = "wikitable" style="text-align:right;"
|-
|+Result of October 1973 North Halton name referendum<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--not stated--> |date= 3 October 1973|title= It's Halton Hills and Hill's Halton|url= https://news.haltonhills.halinet.on.ca/2313864/page/1|work= [[The Acton Free Press]]|page=1}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=<!--not stated--> |date= 3 October 1973|title= Here's how voting went|url= https://news.haltonhills.halinet.on.ca/2313864/page/3|work= [[The Acton Free Press]]|page=3}}</ref>
|- 
!rowspan="2"|Proposed Name
!colspan="5"|Votes
|-
!Ward 1
!Ward 2
!Ward 3
!Ward 4
!Total
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|Halton Hills
|615
|654
|1,073
|1,608
|3,950
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|Esquesing
|403
|1,593
|560
|376
|2,932
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|North Halton
|634
|393
|815
|732
|2,574
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|'''Total'''
|'''1,652'''
|'''2,640'''
|'''2,448'''
|'''2,716'''
|'''9,456'''
|}

On August 1, 2013, [[Toronto Premium Outlets]], the first Premium Outlets Centre in Canada, opened for business on Steeles Avenue at the south end of Halton Hills near the border of [[Milton, Ontario]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.torontosun.com/2013/08/01/opening-day-for-toronto-premium-outlets |title=Opening day for Toronto Premium Outlets &#124; Toronto & GTA &#124; News |publisher=Toronto Sun |access-date=2013-08-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mapquest.com/canada/ontario/business-halton-hills/toronto-premium-outlets-359350379 |title=Toronto Premium Outlets |website=mapquest.com}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{Historical populations
| title = Halton Hills
| type  = Canada
|align       = right
| width       = 
| state       = 
| shading     = 
| percentages = 
| footnote    = 
|1981|35190
|1991|36816
|[[Canada 1996 Census|1996]]|42390
|[[Canada 2001 Census|2001]]|48184
|[[Canada 2006 Census|2006]]|55289
|[[Canada 2011 Census|2011]]|59008
|[[Canada 2016 Census|2016]]|61161
|[[Canada 2021 Census|2021]]|62951
}}

{{Canada census
 |location = Halton Hills
 |2021_population=62,951 | 2021_pop_delta=+2.9  | 2021_land_area=276.81 | 2021_pop_density=227.4
 |2021_median_age=42.0 | 2021_median_age_m=40.8 | 2021_median_age_f=43.2
 |2021_total_pvt_dwell=22,252 |2021_occ_pvt_dwell=21,825 |2021_mean_hh_income=127,000 
 |2021_geocode=2021A00053524015 | 2021_access_date=2023-10-19
| 2016_population      = 61,161|2016_pop_delta= 3.6|2016_land_area= 276.27|2016_pop_density=221.4
| 2016_median_age      = 41.3|2016_median_age_m= 40.5|2016_median_age_f= 42.0
| 2016_total_pvt_dwell = 21,080|2016_mean_hh_income= 106,349|2016_access_date=2017-11-30
| 2011_population      = 59,008|2011_pop_delta= 6.7|2011_land_area= 276.25|2011_pop_density=213.6
| 2011_median_age      = 39.9|2011_median_age_m= 39.3|2011_median_age_f= 40.4
| 2011_total_pvt_dwell = 20,548|2011_mean_hh_income= 94,190|2011_access_date=2012-02-08
| 2006_population      = 55,289| 2006_pop_delta= 14.7| 2006_land_area= 276.26 | 2006_pop_density= 200.1
| 2006_median_age      = 37.9 | 2006_median_age_m= 37.5| 2006_median_age_f= 38.2
| 2006_total_pvt_dwell = 19,265| 2006_mean_hh_income= 85,520| 2006_access_date= 2012-02-01
| 2001_population      = 48,184 | 2001_pop_delta= 13.7| 2001_land_area= 276.35| 2001_pop_density=174.4
| 2001_median_age      = 36.3| 2001_median_age_m= 36.0| 2001_median_age_f=36.6
| 2001_total_pvt_dwell = 16,716|2001_mean_hh_income= 74,921| 2001_access_date=2012-02-01
| notes                = 
}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right;"
|+ Citizenship and immigration status
|-
! rowspan=2 colspan=2| Group
! colspan=2 | 2021 Census
! colspan=2 | 2016 Census
! colspan=2 | 2011 Census
! colspan=2 | 2006 Census
|-
! Population !! % of total !! Population !! % of Total !! Population !! % of Total !! Population !! % of Total
|-
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:left;"|Canadian citizen ||style="text-align:left;"|By birth ||50,245 ||80.6 ||50,310 ||83.6 ||colspan="2" rowspan="5" style="text-align:center;"|''No data'' ||46,380 ||84.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|By naturalization ||9,685 ||15.6 ||8,120 ||13.5 ||6,845 ||12.4
|-
| colspan="2" style="text-align:left;"|Permanent resident ||2,150 ||3.4 ||1,630 ||2.7 ||1,515 ||2.8
|-
| colspan="2" style="text-align:left;"|Non-permanent resident ||245 ||0.4 ||140 ||0.2 ||280 ||0.5
|-
| colspan="2" style="text-align:left;"|Total||62,325 ||100.0 ||60,200 || 100.0||55,020 ||100.0
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|+ Visible Minorities and Indigenous population
|-
! colspan=2 rowspan=2 | Group
! colspan=2 | 2021 Census
! colspan=2 | 2016 Census
! colspan=2 | 2011 Census
! colspan=2 | 2006 Census
|-
! Population !! % of total !! Population !! % of Total !! Population !! % of Total !! Population !! % of Total
|-
|style="text-align:left" rowspan="2"| Indigenous ||style="text-align:left"| First Nations ||1,200 ||1.1 ||635 ||1.1 ||colspan="2" rowspan="5" style="text-align:center"|''No data'' ||rowspan="2"|480 ||rowspan="2"|0.9
|-
|style="text-align:left"| Métis ||445 ||0.7 ||390 ||0.6
|-
|style="text-align:left" colspan="2"| Visible Minority ||8,450 ||13.6 ||4,475 ||7.4 ||2,235 ||4.0
|-
|style="text-align:left" colspan="2"| All other ||52,730 ||84.6 ||54,700 ||90.9 ||52,305 ||95.1
|-
|style="text-align:left" colspan="2"| Total ||62,325 ||100.0 ||60,200 ||100.0 ||55,020 ||100.0
|}

In 2021,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2022-02-09 |title=Profile table, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Halton Hills, Town (T) [Census subdivision], Ontario |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/index.cfm?Lang=E |access-date=2023-01-17 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref> Halton Hills was 84.6% white/European, 13.6% visible minorities, and 1.8% Indigenous. The largest visible minority groups were [[South Asian Canadians|South Asian]] (5.6%), [[Black Canadians|Black]] (1.7%), [[Chinese Canadians|Chinese]] (1.2%), [[Filipino Canadians|Filipino]] (1.0%) and [[Latin American Canadians|Latin American]] (1.0%).

80.8% of residents spoke [[English language|English]] as their mother tongue. The next most common first languages were [[Polish language|Polish]] (1.7%), [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]] (1.6%), [[French language|French]] (1.5%), [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]] (1.4%), [[Croatian language|Croatian]] (1.2%), [[Italian language|Italian]] (1.0%) and [[Spanish language|Spanish]] (1.0%). 2.2% of residents listed both English and a non-official language as mother tongues, while 0.5% listed both English and French.

61.4% of the population were [[Christians|Christian]], down from 72.1% in 2011.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2013-05-08 |title=2011 National Household Survey Profile - Census subdivision |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=3524015&Data=Count&SearchText=halton%20hills&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&A1=All&B1=All&Custom=&TABID=1#archived |access-date=2023-01-17 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref> 34.3% were [[Catholic Church|Catholic]], 16.8% were [[Protestantism|Protestant]], 6.2% were Christian n.o.s, 1.6% were [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Christian Orthodox]] and 2.6% belonged to other Christian denominations or Christian-related traditions. 32.2% were non-religious or secular, up from 26.3% in 2011. 6.4% belonged to other religions, up from 1.6% in 2011.The largest non-Christian religions were [[Islam]] (2.0%), [[Sikhism]] (1.9%), and [[Hinduism]] (1.5%).

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right;"
|+ Mobility over previous five years
|-
! rowspan=2 | Group
! colspan=2 | 2021 Census
! colspan=2 | 2016 Census
! colspan=2 | 2011 Census
! colspan=2 | 2006 Census
! colspan=2 | 2001 Census
! colspan=2 | 1996 Census
|-
! Population !! % of total !! Population !! % of Total !! Population !! % of Total !! Population !! % of Total !! Population !! % of Total !! Population !! % of Total
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|At the same address ||41,290 ||69.5 ||38,745 ||67.8 || 37,510|| 68.6||30,270 ||58.9 ||25,135 ||56.4 ||22,370 ||57.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|In the same municipality
| 5,350
| 9.0
| 8,125
| 14.2
| 7,460
| 13.6
| 8,480
| 16.5
| rowspan=2 | 17,540
| rowspan=2 | 39.3
| 7,175
| 18.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|In the same province
| 11,515
| 19.3
| 9,190
| 16.1
| 8,625
| 15.8
| 11,180
| 21.7
| 8,285
| 21.2
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|From another province
| 480
| 0.8
| 435
| 0.8
| 520
| 1.0
| 765
| 1.5
| rowspan=2 | 1,920
| rowspan=2 | 4.3
| 735
| 1.9
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|From another country
| 815
| 1.4
| 655
| 1.1
| 525
| 1.0
| 720
| 1.4
| 430
| 1.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|Total aged 5 or over ||59,450 ||100.0 ||57,150 || 100.0|| 54,640|| 100.0||51,420 ||100.0 ||44,595 ||100.0 ||39,000 ||100.0
|}

==Local government==

The town is divided into four wards, each of which elects two local councillors. Two regional councillors are also elected - one from Wards 1 and 2 (i.e., the area that was in the former Town of Acton and the former Township of Esquesing), and one from Wards 3 and 4 (i.e., the area in the former Town of Georgetown). The mayor is elected at large. The mayor and two regional councillors (who also serve on Halton Hills council) represent the town at the council meetings of the [[Regional Municipality of Halton]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.halton.ca/The-Region/Regional-Council-and-Committees/Halton-Regional-Council/ |title=Halton Regional Council |publisher=Halton Region|access-date=May 7, 2019}}</ref>

The current (2022-2026) membership of the town council is as follows:<ref>{{cite web|title=Halton Hills 2018 Municipal Election Results|url=https://www.haltonhills.ca/elections/pdf/OfficialFinalSummaryElectionResults2018.pdf|publisher=Town of Halton Hills|access-date=February 18, 2019|archive-date=February 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190219015611/https://www.haltonhills.ca/elections/pdf/OfficialFinalSummaryElectionResults2018.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
! Position !! Ward 1 !! Ward 2 !! Ward 3 !! Ward 4 
|-
| Mayor
| colspan = "4"| Ann Lawlor
|-
| Regional Councillor
| Colspan = "2" |Clark Somerville
| Colspan = "2" |Jane Fogal
|-
| rowspan = "2" | Local Councillor
| Alex Hilson
| Jason Brass
| Ron Norris
| Bob Inglis
|-
| Mike Albano
| ''Vacant''
| Chantal Garneau
| D'arcy Keene
|}

Halton Hills has its own fire department. However, policing is provided by the [[Halton Regional Police Services]].<ref>{{cite web |title=About Us |url=https://www.haltonpolice.ca/about/index.php |publisher=Halton Regional Police Service |access-date=May 7, 2019}}</ref> The Town has its own official plan which came into force in March 2008 and was consolidated in 2017 with the Region's plan.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.haltonhills.ca/officialplan/pdf/op/01_Town%20of%20Halton%20Hills%20Official%20Plan.pdf |title=Official Plan |publisher=Town of Halton Hills |access-date=May 7, 2019}}</ref>  The libraries in the Town are managed by the [[Halton Hills Public Library|Halton Hills Public Library Board]].

===Symbols===

In 1975, the [[Lord Lyon King of Arms]] awarded arms to the town, followed by the grant of a badge in 1984. Both were subsequently registered with the [[Canadian Heraldic Authority]] in 2005. They are specifically described as follows:<ref>[http://archive.gg.ca/heraldry/pub-reg/project-pic.asp?lang=e&ProjectID=452&ProjectElementID=1535 Canadian Heraldic Authority - Halton Hills, Ontario - Registration of Arms and Badge, March 15, 2005, Vol. IV, p. 454]</ref>
* '''Arms''': Per pale, dexter Or two bendlets wavy Sable, sinister Azure two escarpes wavy Argent, a chief per fess dancetty Azure and Argent, overall a white pine tree (''[[Pinus strobus]]'') proper;
* '''Motto''': ''Hereditas Integritas Veritas'' ({{langx|la|Heritage, integrity, truth}})
* '''Badge''': On an oval Azure a white pine tree Argent within a wreath of five oak leaves alternating with five papyrus leaves Or.

==Transportation==

The town has four main roads:
[[File:Stewarttown - Laslovarga (1).jpg|thumb|right|Stewarttown, {{Jcon|Halton|3|Trafalgar Road}}]]
'''East-west'''
* {{Jcon|Hwy|7}}  connecting Acton and Georgetown
* {{Jcon|Halton|8|[[Steeles Avenue]]}} between Milton and Brampton

'''North-south'''
* {{Jcon|Halton|25}} between Acton and Milton
* {{Jcon|Halton|3|Trafalgar Road}} between Ballinafad and Oakville
[[File:Georgetown Ontario Railway Station 2.jpg|thumb|right|[[Georgetown GO Station|Georgetown railway station]]]]
Bus service is provided by [[GO Transit]] along Highway 7 on its [[Georgetown line]] corridor. [[Via Rail]] and [[GO Transit|GO Train]] service are provided at [[Georgetown GO Station]].

The [[Grand Trunk Railway]] brought train service to the area in 1856, with stations at Acton and Georgetown. Passenger service to Acton ceased in the 1990s, but [[GO Transit|GO Train]] service is [[Acton GO Station|planned to be revived]] there in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|title = GO trains coming to Kitchener Dec. 19|url = http://www.therecord.com/news/local/article/630379--go-trains-coming-to-kitchener-dec-19|publisher = [[Waterloo Region Record]]|access-date = 2012-02-21}}</ref>

Rail freight service is also provided by [[Canadian National]] on its Halton Subdivision from Georgetown southwest through Milton to Burlington.<ref>{{Cite web|title = CN Halton Subdivision|url = http://www.trainweb.org/railsintoronto/halpeel.html|access-date = 2012-02-26}}</ref> CN's Guelph Subdivision between Georgetown and London is currently managed by [[Goderich–Exeter Railway]].

In November 2020, VIA Rail Canada rerouted some of its trains onto the Halton Subdivision through Stewarttown while their usual route was closed for signal upgrades.<ref>{{Cite web|first1=Stephen C.|last1=Host|title=Work on GO Transit line reroutes VIA trains onto freight-only trackage {{!}} Trains Magazine|url=http://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2020/11/28-work-on-go-transit-line-reroutes-via-trains-onto-freight-only-trackage|date=November 28, 2020|access-date=2020-12-01|website=TrainsMag.com|language=en|archive-date=2020-11-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129164131/https://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2020/11/28-work-on-go-transit-line-reroutes-via-trains-onto-freight-only-trackage|url-status=dead}}</ref>

From 1917 to 1931, Norval, Georgetown and Acton were also served by the [[Toronto Suburban Railway]].<ref>{{Cite web|title = Toronto Suburban Railway - Guelph Radial Line |url = http://www.trainweb.org/oldtimetrains/TSR/guelph_radial.htm|access-date = 2012-02-26}}</ref>

==Schools==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Type !! [[Halton District School Board]] !! [[Halton Catholic District School Board]] !! Independent
|- valign="top"
| Secondary school
|
* [[Acton District High School]]
* [[Georgetown District High School]]
|
* [[Christ the King Catholic Secondary School]]
|
|- valign="top"
| Primary school
|
* Centennial Public School
* Gardiner Public School
* George Kennedy Public School
* Glen Williams Public School
* Harrison Public School
* Joseph Gibbons Public School
* Limehouse Public School
* McKenzie-Smith Bennett Public School
* Park Public School
* Pineview Public School
* Robert Little Public School
* Silver Creek Public School
* Stewarttown Middle School
|
* Holy Cross
* St. Brigid
* St. Catherine of Alexandria
* St. Francis of Assisi
* St. Joseph
|
* [[Halton Hills Christian School]]
|}

==Media==

[https://HaltonHillsToday.ca HaltonHillsToday.ca] is an online local news source in Halton Hills, offering the latest breaking news, weather updates, entertainment, sports and business features, obituaries and more.

insidehalton.com is a website run by [[Metroland Media Group]], which used to publish ''Georgetown Independent'' and ''Acton Free Press''.

''[[The New Tanner]]'' was a print newspaper in Acton from 1992 to 2020. ''[[Halton Herald]]'' was an online-only news website.

Halton Hills is also covered by the following local newspapers and online media:

* ''The Halton Compass''
* ''In Georgetown Community Website''

A radio transmitter in Hornby is used by stations [[CFZM]] and [[CJBC (AM)|CJBC]].{{citation needed|date=February 2020}}

== Sister cities ==
Halton Hills has one sister city:<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-04-30 |title=Wenjiang Sister City Background {{!}} Halton Hills |url=https://www.haltonhills.ca/sistercity/ |access-date=2023-06-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170430040919/https://www.haltonhills.ca/sistercity/ |archive-date=2017-04-30 }}</ref>

* [[Wenjiang District|Wenjiang (Chengdu)]], [[Sichuan]], China

==See also==
*[[List of townships in Ontario]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline}}
*{{official website|http://www.haltonhills.ca}}

{{Geographic location
| Centre    = Halton Hills
| North     = [[Caledon, Ontario|Caledon]]
| East      = [[Brampton]]
| Southeast = [[Mississauga]]
| South     = [[Milton, Ontario|Milton]]
| West      = [[Guelph/Eramosa, Ontario|Guelph/Eramosa]]
| Northwest = [[Erin, Ontario|Erin]]
}}
{{Greater Toronto Area}}
{{Halton region}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Halton Hills| ]]
[[Category:Lower-tier municipalities in Ontario]]
[[Category:Towns in Ontario]]
[[Category:Lime kilns in Canada]]