History

Named 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.