The Wendat, also known as the Huron, occupied the Credit River valley - extending from the niagara Escarpment to Lake Ontario, and including what is now Halton Hills - for centuries. The arrival of the Europeans in the 1600s brought disease, and the Wendat population was decimated through a series of epidemics.

In the mid-1600s, warfare with the Haudenosaunee further dispersed the Wendat population. This left the land open to the Mississaugas, who were still present when the first European settlers arrived.

In 1818, the British Government negotiated a purchase ("Treaty 19") of land from the Mississauga Nation. Lieutenant Governor Maitland named the township Esquesing, a name used by the Mississaugas. The township was named Esquesing from 1818 to 1974 (before the incorporation of the present Town of Halton Hills), which translates to either "Last Creek Out" or "Land of the Tall Pines."

Following the 1818 purchase, the area was surveyed in 1819 by Loyalist Charles Kennedy and surveyor Richard Bristol, with settlement starting shortly thereafter. Acton was settled in 1825, although it was previously known as Danville and Adamsville, the latter in honour of its founders Rev. Ezra, Rev. Zenas and Rufus Adams. The first postmaster, Robert Swan, renamed the settlement to Acton in 1844.

The area today known as ‘Acton’ was first settled by Rev. Ezra, Rev. Zenas, and Rufus Adams in 1825. The brothers retired from saddlebag Methodists preaching to farm life. They settled a lot approximately where Mill and Main, Highway 7 and Highway 25, intersect today.

The settlement was officially established in 1828 when The York (Toronto) to Guelph road, an early predecessor to Highway 7, came through the area. The settlement received the name ‘Danville’ after a store clerk named ‘Dan’ who worked at Wheeler Green’s dry goods store.

By 1835, Rev. Ezra Adams started up a grist and flour mill on Mill Street West – a site that is still used for milling. Originally, the mill was powered by a pond that was created from diverting the Black Creek which later became known as ‘Fairy Lake’.

A year later, the settlement received its second name of ‘Adamsville’, recognizing the original family that settled the area.

In 1842, the tanning industry would arrive when Abraham Nelles started a small tannery which later became the largest tannery in all the British Empire under the ownership of Beardmore – an industry that was associated with Acton for 144 years, closing in September 1986.

It was in 1844 when ‘Adamsville’ was renamed ‘Acton’ when a post office opened with Robert Swan being the first postmaster. The name was changed to ‘Acton’ in honour of Swan’s birthplace, situated near London, England.

In 1856, the grand Trunk Railway came through Acton, giving easier access to trade and travel.

On January 3rd, 1874, Acton became incorporated as a village and formed its own government, separate from Esquesing Township, with WH Storey becoming the village’s first Reeve. By 1950, the population had reached 3,000 allowing Acton to upgrade to Town status with Amos Mason elected as Acton’s first mayor.

Since 1974, Acton, along with the neighbouring town of Georgetown, was amalgamated with the rest of Esquesing Township to form the present day Town of Halton Hills. Today, Acton continues to be a historically rich community that is home to many businesses and residents.