Tillsonburg, ideally located midway between Hwy. 401 and the beaches of Lake Erie, is a thriving community just as George Tillson intended when he founded the settlement in 1824. Initially called Dereham Forge, the community quickly became known as Tillsonburg and in 1872 was officially incorporated as a town. Whether you are in a hurry or have time to spend, Tillsonburg is a place you want to visit.