Picton, Ontario, is an unincorporated community nestled in the heart of Prince Edward County. Located approximately 160 km east of Toronto, it is the county's largest community and former seat. The town is named after Lieutenant General Sir Thomas Picton, a British Army officer who served during the Peninsular War and was killed at the Battle of Waterloo. Today, Picton is home to the Picton Pirates of the Provincial Junior Hockey League Tod Division.
Originally named Hallowell, Picton was first settled in the 1780s by Loyalists from the Thirteen Colonies. Before its incorporation in 1837, the modern-day town of Picton was divided into two separate villages, Hallowell Bridge and Picton, which occupied opposite sides of Picton Bay.
The town has a profound and rich history, with notable figures such as Sir John A. Macdonald managing a law office for his uncle, Lowther P. MacPherson, in the area. In 1998, the town and all other municipalities in the county were dissolved and amalgamated into a single-tier municipality, the Corporation of the County of Prince Edward. Today, Picton is recognized as Ward 1 of the county.
During the Second World War, the United Kingdom required training facilities outside the British Isles for the thousands of pilots needed for its defence. Prince Edward County, with its geographical similarities to Great Britain, was considered an ideal location for a Royal Air Force Bombing and Gunnery School.
After the war, the Canadian Army maintained a training facility at the old aerodrome, which was renamed "Camp Picton" in 1960. In 1969, the base was closed down and sold as part of the consolidation and downsizing of the Canadian military. Today, the airfield is known as Picton Airport and serves many diverse functions, including being a filming location for several productions and hosting various motorsports events.
Picton Airport is a general aviation airport used primarily for recreational flying and Canadian Air Cadet flight training during the summer season. Highway 33, also known as the Loyalist Parkway, serves as Picton's main link to the larger Ontario highway system.
Picton also has extensive small-craft docking facilities and boat launch ramps. However, there are no facilities for heavy shipping at the tip of the bay, so large commercial vessels are generally not seen in the portion of Picton Bay near the town.
In the past, electrical services in Picton were managed by the local utilities commission. However, in recent years, this was eliminated and electrical power is now managed by Hydro One, a former Government of Ontario Crown corporation.
