Welcome to the Town of LaSalle

Statue of a ship at a round-a-boutNamed after the French explorer, René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, French settlers first established roots in the area in the mid 1700s. A mission was established in the Town of Sandwich, resulting in people settling in the Turkey Creek area. LaSalle's history and that of Essex County were very much entwined when they were officially identified as part of Upper Canada in 1792. In 1991, residents of LaSalle opted to define themselves as a Town; and, in turn, immediately became one of the larger communities of Essex County with a population of just over 30,000.

Visit the History page to find out more about the rich history of the Town of LaSalle. 

In a region of Ontario with less than 4% tree cover for the entire county, the Town of LaSalle is fortunate to still have a small but significant amount of land area consisting of Carolinian forests, provincially significant wetlands, and tall grass prairie communities. Approximately 7% of all land situated within the corporate limits of the Town of LaSalle (excluding Fighting and Grassy Islands) is wooded and/or contains plant species and wildlife habitat which, from a biological perspective, is considered to be a "natural heritage area". Natural heritage areas are defined as sites that are relatively undisturbed and which retain some ecological function such as providing habitat for wildlife or contributing to the protection and enhancement of water quality.

Considering historical trends, recent development activity in the Town and the surrounding municipalities, remaining sanitary sewage capacity and land supply, and likely future economic prospects, the most probable forecasts indicate that by the year 2016 the Town's overall population will be in the range of 32,400 to 44,500. This represents an expected average annual growth rate varying between 2.5-4.0 %.

The age profile of the Town's population has changed significantly since the early 1970s, with an increase in the number of mature adults and seniors and a corresponding decline in the number of children. The mature adult population increased from 21% in 1971 to 29% in 1991, whereas the school aged population has decreased from 35 to 24% of the Town's total population. These shifts are not unexpected, as they are primarily a result of the baby boom generation (individuals born between 1947 and 1966) moving through young adulthood to the 35 to 54 age group.

Town of LaSalle 2021 Census of Population

Essex County Municipalities

Photo Gallery: Welcome to LaSalle will appear here on the public site.