The town comprises the communities of Almonte, Appleton, Bennies Corners, Blakeney, Cedar Hill, Clayton, Galbraith, McCrearys, Montgomery Park, Pakenham, Ramsay, Snedden, The Tannery, Uneeda, and Union Hall.

Formerly a separate municipality, the town located along the Mississippi River, has had many name changes: Shepherd's Falls, Shipman's Mills, Ramsayville, Waterford and then Almonte after a Mexican general.

Most of the hamlet was destroyed by fire in the summer of 1851, and when rebuilt it had little more than a post office and general store, a few residences, a school and some trades with a population of about fifty people.

Located on the Blakeney Road, the community was first settled in 1821 at rapids along the Mississippi River.

It was originally known as Norway Pine Falls, Snedden’s Mills and Rosebank, before being formally named Blakeney in 1865.

The village is located at the intersection of Cedar Hill Side Road and the 7th Concession in the former Pakenham Township.

5 Ramsay, was on a half acre of land at the top of the hill, which Mr. Galbraith had sold to the school trustees in 1870 for $1.00.

The community itself is named for a brother-in-law to the Duke of Wellington, Major-General Sir Edward Pakenham, who was killed near the Mississippi River in the southern United States commanding British forces at the Battle of New Orleans in 1815.