History of Galt

In 1869, Dr. Obed Harvey succeeded in getting the Western Pacific Railroad to lay track near his property. The problem was there was not a town nearby for the railroad to stop. The old town of Liberty was a mile south of the tracks. Dr. Harvey decided to build a town along the railroad right-of-way. The law stated that anyone could build a town by having the area surveyed and selling lots. The railroad donated and surveyed the land, and laid out the new town. Part of the bargain was that there be four churches, one on each corner.

The four churches still dominate the view from the railroad property today and are still active parts of our community.

It was another landowner, John Mc- Farland, who was given the privilege of naming the new town. He decided to call it Galt after a town in Canada where he had lived for a time.

It is believed the Canadian City received its name from Sir Alexander Tilloch Galt, a member of the Canadian Parliament. It was soon apparent that the new town had an advantage over the old town of Liberty. As Liberty faded away, building-by-building the frame structures were moved to Galt. The Sawyer Brothers seemed to be the official movers using horsedriven windlasses to do the job. With Liberty now only a footnote in history, the bustling little town of Galt began to come alive.

After 75 years the little town of Galt decided to become a City. A vote was taken and was 166 in favor and 70 against incorporation. Galt became a City and was officially incorporated on August 6, 1946.