Galt, situated within Cambridge, Ontario, Canada, in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo along the Grand River, once stood as an independent city until 1973. Established in 1915, it served as a bustling urban center until its amalgamation with Hespeler, Preston, and Blair, forming the municipality of Cambridge. As the largest constituent community, Galt is widely recognized as the heart of Cambridge, serving as its downtown core. The inaugural mayor of Cambridge was Claudette Millar.
The amalgamation orchestrated by the provincial government met resistance from the locals, fostering a sense of rivalry among the three communities. Even today, many residents continue to perceive Galt, Preston, and Hespeler as distinct entities, each with its own documented history archived in the Cambridge City Archives. Presently, population data specific to the former Galt is unavailable, as Census reports solely encompass the entirety of Cambridge.
Comprising the southern half of the amalgamated municipality, the former Galt is steeped in industrial history, nestled along the banks of the Grand River. Preston and Blair reside on the western periphery, while Hespeler occupies the northeastern reaches of Cambridge.
