It was created by the British North America Act of 1867, which divided the County of Wellington, divided into North, South and Centre Ridings. The Centre Riding consisted of the Townships of Anson, Garrafraxa, Erin, Eramosa, Nichol, and Pilkington, and the Villages of Fergus and Elora.
In 1872, it was defined to consist of the Townships of Pilkington, Elora, Nichol, Fergus, Garrafraxa West, Garrafraxa East, Peel and the Village of Orangeville. In 1882, the township Maryboro' was added to the riding.
