Listowel was founded in 1852, and was originally called Mapleton. It was renamed in June 1856 after a post office was established, and named after the town of
Listowel, in County Kerry, Ireland. During World War II, the townspeople of Listowel raised $374,100 to fund a
Lancaster bomber, which cost $350,000. With a population of around 3,000 and an average annual income of $2,500, the average contribution per person was approximately $124.70. This bomber was in 2 missions during the war and was decommissioned in 1947–48.
Economic expansion In 1871 the
Wellington, Grey and Bruce Railway extended its line to Listowel. It was joined in 1873 by a second railway, the Stratford and Huron Railway, and Listowel soon became an important shipping point. The arrival of the railway hastened development and Listowel became a Town with a population of 2,054 in 1875 in what is now North Perth in
Perth County, Ontario. In 1877, the first elementary school opened. Electricity came to Listowel in 1897, and in 1900 the Listowel Furniture Company opened. By 1902 the population had increased to 2,661, and a woolen mill, a planing mill, a flour mill, a brewery and a dairy products exporting company were operating in the town. The arena was rebuilt and closed in 2017 following the construction of the Steve Kerr Memorial Complex. The arena was demolished on February 2, 2021. On March 17, 2011, the local dollar store caught fire and its roof collapsed, killing volunteer firefighters Ray Walter (30) and Ken Rea (56). Listowel mourned the loss, closing major streets and posting black ribbons all over town in honour of the fallen firefighters.
Paddyfest festivities continued to honour
Kinsman Ray Walter, but in a somber fashion. Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, Listowel's population grew by 26.7 percent, helping drive North Perth's population growth to 18.3 percent. ==Education==