St Thomas Ontario History, of old heritage buildings like a short history of Balaclava Street school and Jumbo the famous African elephant

. Downtown St. Thomas Ontario Heritage Conservation District The town or city has come a long way since it was first settled in 1810. Named after Thomas Talbot, who helped promote the development of this region during the early 19th century, the city was named the seat of the new Elgin County in 1844 and was incorporated as a village in 1852, as a town in 1861 and as a city in 1881. In the late 19th century and early 20th century several railways were constructed through the town or city, and located exactly halfway between Detroit and Buffalo, St. Thomas Ontario became an important railway junction.