The town was the home of Earl Ross, the first non-American to win a NASCAR Cup Series race, which he did in 1974.

The winningest harness horse driver in the world also hails from the Ailsa Craig area.

[citation needed] With over 10,000 wins, John Campbell is one of the youngest members to enter the Harness Horseman's Hall of Fame.

In the early 20th century, Ailsa Craig was a thriving village with several hotels, mills and served as the commercial hub for the farm businesses in the area.

Located on the Grand Trunk Railway, Ailsa Craig was once the second largest cattle shipping center in all of Canada surpassed only by Calgary, Alberta.

[3] The township also contains the communities of Beechwood, Bornish, Bowood, Brinsley, Carlisle, Corbett, Greenway, Hungry Hollow, Lieury, Moray, Mount Carmel, Nairn, Sable, Springbank, Sylvan and West McGillivray.