It no longer exists, erased from the landscape with the stroke of a pen, but so many people still have such vivid memories of the old County of Wentworth and its many communities which spread out and surrounded what was in earlier days known as the Head-of-the-Lake. Wentworth County can trace its roots back to 1816 when it was created as part of the Gore District, but as the political landscape changed over the years, it developed its own identity in 1853, encompassing back then the townships of Ancaster, Barton, Beverly, Binbrook, East Flamborough, Glanford, Saltfleet and West Flamborough. While various communities within Wentworth County developed at a rapid pace during the early 1800s, aided to a large degree by the numerous mills which sprang up along the escarpment, the growth of Hamilton was much slower to develop - and grow into a dominant community. All that changed with the completion of the Burlington Shipping Canal in 1832, with Hamilton becoming a major port on the Great Lakes, soon to be followed by the railways. As Hamilton grew - it became a town in 1833, and a city in 1846 - it became the dominant population and commercial centre at the Head of the Lake, and with that came its status as the county seat for the County of Wentworth. The courthouse was located in Hamilton, as well as the registry office, and the meetings of the Wentworth County council were held in Hamilton. But as the years passed, the townships, as well as the communities, large and small within the county, developed a sense of personality. Residents were proud of their communities; fiercely loyal; fighting annexation and amalgamations over the years as they strived to maintain their traditions, and independence. The creation of the Regional Municipality of Hamilton-Wentworth in 1973 could have been the first step towards the loss of identity, but that was not to be despite the loss of some political and administrative independence. Then, in 2001, with the formation of the new City of Hamilton, Wentworth was no more, as the mega-city swallowed up the entire county becoming indeed a super city. But although the name was gone, the memories if anything became more entrenched. Communities within the old Wentworth County refused to let their community identity die, instead highlighting their historic characteristics within the new city. Today, while the names and identities of the historic communities have been preserved, those living in the former Wentworth County have fond memories, memories of communities rooted in the depths of history. And yes, they all live in Hamilton today, but try telling that to the loyal residents of those historic communities clustered around the Head of the Lake. For them, they’re still at home in Wentworth County.