The history of North Dumfries is closely tied to that of the old City of Galt, now part of the City of Cambridge but which in the early 19th century was part of Gore District. Galt was founded on the east bank of the Grand River by Absalom Shade on behalf of William Dickson of Niagara. Dickson had bought of land in 1816 for 24,000 pounds, and named it after his hometown of Dumfries in Scotland. The Nith River passes through Dumfries in Canada just as the River Nith passes through Dumfries in Scotland. That same year, he had the land surveyed and opened it for settlement. By 1817, a number of sawmills were operating in the district and the population, comprising 38 families, had reached 163. In 1819, the first municipal meeting for the Township of Dumfries North was held.