SWOX Township celebrates 50th anniversary

SWOX celebrated its 50th anniversary on May 24 with a special day at the Mt. Elgin Community Centre. A variety of vendors were present for the event. (Debbie Kasman Photo)

Debbie Kasman, Tillsonburg Post Correspondent

The Township of South-West Oxford (SWOX) celebrated its 50th anniversary on Saturday, May 24th at the Mount Elgin Community Centre. Local vendors and services were in attendance along with non-profit service clubs, artisans, bakeries, food trucks and entertainment.

History of the township

SWOX Township originally belonged to Dereham Township, Upper Canada. Dereham Township was created in 1792 as part of Norfolk County. In 1798, Dereham Township was transferred to Oxford County, a brand new county at the time. In 1975, Dereham Township disappeared in a restructuring of Oxford County and SWOX was formed through the amalgamation of Dereham and West Oxford Townships and the village of Beachville, making SWOX 50 years old this year.

SWOX Township extends north from the middle of Oxford County and runs along the Thames River, except where lands were annexed to extend the boundary of Ingersoll in 2001. The northern boundary in Beachville includes a small parcel of land north of the river to include all of the village of Beachville’s developed areas. SWOX Township also extends south to Tillsonburg where another piece of land – about 165 acres – were transferred to Tillsonburg in 2020.

The township is located in a significant agricultural area. At its north end, the township is underlain with an unusually pure limestone deposit centred between Ingersoll and Beachville. Open-pit mining of the limestone and kiln-firing to produce lime has been underway along the Thames River since pioneer days.