Peterborough County - A Brief History

The County was founded as the District of Colborne in 1838, centered around Peterborough, which became the County of Peterborough in 1850. In 1862, the County was re-divided into Peterborough County, Haliburton County, and Victoria County (now the City of Kawartha Lakes). In June of that year, the district magistrates, with the Hon. Thomas Stewart ruling, approved the construction of a court house and jail. Joseph Scobell's plans for the buildings were accepted and the foundation stone was laid by Sir George Arthur, Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada on August 25, 1838. At a cost of over 7000 £, the court house was completed in 1840 and the jail in 1842 with stone quarried from Jackson's Park, adding to the community structures of notable size and design.