Kingston

Originally called Cataraqui, another indigenous name of disputed origin. By 1787, it was referred to as the King’s town which eventually became shortened to Kingston, honouring King George III of Britain.

People have been living here for somewhere between 3,000 and 9,000 years. From 1000-500 AD, there is evidence of Iroquois settlement, with permanent occupation toward the end of that time. Those permanent residents were most likely Wyandots who were later displaced by the Iroquois as they did with other Hurons in what is now Ontario.

Iroquois occupation of the area resumed after the French had established a presence here. They moved south about 1700 and the Mississauga were known to inhabit the area after that.

In 1615, Samuel de Champlain came to the area. The Governor of New France, Count Frontenac, established Fort Frontenac here in 1673. A year later, the explorer LaSalle was commander of the fort. It was destroyed in the Seven Years War and not rebuilt by the French.

The British took possession of the land in 1783 after coming to an agreement and purchasing it from the Mississauga. The area was soon used to settle refugees from the American Revolution. It became a critical naval base during the War of 1812.

In 1841, it became the first capital of Canada.