Prior to the arrival of
European settlers, what is now Newton was the territory of
Coast Salish peoples of the
Katzie,
Kwantlen, and
Semiahmoo first nations. Newton is named after settler Elias John Newton (January 29, 1841 – August 1, 1907), a saddler and harness-maker, who settled in the area in 1886 after being raised in
Richmond, Ottawa, Ontario. His real name was Villeneuve (which translates to "New Town" from French), but surrounded by
anglophone neighbours, he translated his last name to its English equivalent. In the 19th century, much of the
coniferous forest in Newton was
logged to provide space for farms. Settlement increased greatly at the end of
World War I, when settler farmers built farms surrounding the
stumps remaining from previous logging. The
BC Electric Railway stimulated Newton’s growth and helped to establish the corner of 72 Avenue and
King George Boulevard when they opened the Newton Station in 1910. Newton Elementary opened in 1914, with further city services opening later in the 1970s and 80s. ==Geography==