Modern Mississauga and Heritage Mississauga have come together to present an ongoing series called “Way Back Wednesdays."
We’ll share information about the history of Mississauga here and answer your questions.
Today’s topic is the history of Eglinton Avenue.

Originally known as “Base Line” and the “Richview Sideroad”, Eglinton Avenue in Mississauga marks the 6-mile distance from the Lake Ontario shoreline agreed to in the “First Purchase” land treaty between the Crown and the Native Mississaugas, signed on August 2nd, 1805.

As such, Eglinton Avenue marks the northern limit of the Old Survey of Toronto Township, which was completed in 1806 by Samuel Wilmot, and is the southern starting point for the New Survey of Toronto Township which was completed in 1819 by Richard Bristol. Eglinton likely takes its name from Eglinton in Londonderry, Ireland, and was first named in Toronto, possibly by veterans of the War of 1812 who settled along Yonge Street and established the village of Eglinton.
Another possible name origin is after Crown Surveyor Edward Grant Linton (E.G. Linton). Eglinton Avenue is one of the few east-west roads that uninterrupted across Mississauga and Toronto.