Exeter

Exeter is a group in the region of South Huron, in the southern part of Huron County, Ontario, Canada, found roughly 50 kilometers north of London. The people group announces itself the "Home of the White Squirrel", attributable to the nearness of the uncommonly hued warm-blooded animals. Exeter's mascot, "Willis The White Wonder", can be seen on numerous group occasions consistently, including Canada Day festivities, the Exeter Rodeo, and the Santa Claus Parade.

In 1826 the CANADA COMPANY was granted over 400 000 ha of land in Upper Canada known as the Huron Tract on which it was expected to settle pioneer farmers. Other more accessible lands in the Huron Tract was taken up sooner, but by 1832 the first settlers, James Willis, and his family were clearing the land on which the community of Exeter would develop.

This part of Ontario was heavily treed and clearing the land for farming was extremely difficult, but other families, many from the Devon area in England, also moved into the vicinity. When a small community began to grow in the mid-1850s, it was named Exeter after a city in Devon. In 1873 it had a large enough population to be incorporated as a village. In 1951 Exeter received town status but it is now part of the town of South Huron 2001.