Major centres included the former capital of Upper Canada, Niagara (now Niagara-on-the-Lake), and the town of Ancaster.

When originally created in 1792, Lincoln County had been composed of four ridings, each sending a member to the Upper Canada Legislative Assembly.

The first riding is to be bounded on the west by the easternmost line of the county of York, on the south by the Grand river, to be called the Ouse, thence descending the said river until it meets an Indian road leading to the forks of the Chippawa creek, which creek is to be called the Welland, thence descending the said creek until it meets the continuation of the easternmost boundary of the late township No.

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the townships of Clinton, Grimsby, Saltfleet, Barton, Ancaster, Glanford, Binbrook, Gainsborough and Caistor, do constitute and form the first Riding of the County of Lincoln.28.

[8] This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Proclamation, Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe, July 16, 1792.

This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: An act for the better division of this province, SUC 1798, c. 5, ss.