Burford, at one time known as Claremont, was the largest community in the former Burford Township (land area 71,122 acres (287.82 km2), population (1996) 5858), which included Cathcart, Harley, Princeton and other smaller communities. Burford Township was part of the County of Oxford before the formation of Brant County in 1851, and due to its location on the primary roadway leading into Oxford, built upon the ancient footpath leading from Burlington Bay through Brant's Ford to the Thames River known as the Detroit Trail, Burford was Oxford's gateway community. In the days before automobiles it served a great many travellers, but now is hardly noticed by motorists with distant destinations. Burford's 'downtown', the intersection of Maple Avenue and King Street (Highway 53), now includes only a stop light, several small businesses and a post office.