Arkona is one of the smallest communities in Ontario. Located halfway between London and Sarnia. Arkona, with the Ausable River flowing nearby, was frequently visited over the years by fur traders, natives, and voyageurs, who utilized the area to make their living by trading, trapping or travelling.

The first recorded settlers to arrive in the Arkona area were Asa Townsend and his wife. The Townsends moved to an area along the Ausable River, just east of Arkona’s village limits in 1821.

With abundant water sources and large hills in the Arkona area, mill sites flourished and formed the first major industry for the new community. Its location near Rock Glen made for a marvellous site for hydro-electricity, which was created in 1907 with the damming of the river, five full years before Ontario Hydro was formed. Rock Glen no longer serves as a source of power for the community however visitors can still hike the trails that meander through the lush countryside or view Devonian Era fossils. Today, Arkona remains a vibrant, active centre of business and life in Lambton County.