Named after the French explorer, Rene-Robert Cavelier de la Salle, French settlers first established roots in the area in the mid 1700s. A mission was established in the Town of Sandwich, resulting in people settling in the Turkey Creek area. LaSalle’s history and that of Essex County were very much entwined when they were officially identified as part of Upper Canada in 1792. In 1991 residents of LaSalle opted to define themselves as a Town and in turn, immediately became one of the larger communities of Essex County with a population of almost 30,000.

LaSalle continues to grow rapidly and over the past three to four years, a number of restaurants, and shopping establishments including an outlet centre have taken root in the community. With its close proximity to private and public schools as well as St. Clair College and the University of Windsor, it is no surprise that LaSalle is one of the top choice locations for young families. Given the amount of natural greenery the area has retained, it is clearly a preferred area in which to live. The LaSalle Strawberry Festival is a growing family event, which takes place the first weekend in June and represents the first of this summer crop available anywhere in Canada. Water sports and marinas dominate the Detroit River area of LaSalle. LaSalle boasts over 870 public marina berths, virtually tying it with the number of marina berths in Lakeshore. The region’s premier golf venue, Essex Golf and Country Club, where PGA tournaments have been held, is located squarely within LaSalle boundaries. Although Essex Golf and Country club is a private members-only course, there are a number of other courses open to the public in the County, including the Seven Lakes Golf Course and the Dominion Golf Course.