The courts of Quarter Sessions had limited judicial legislative and administrative duties, but most of the power still resided in the Governor. The Justices of the Peace were mainly concerned with maintaining the peace; their legislative duties dealt mainly with the granting of licenses for taverns and with controlling wandering domestic animals, and their administrative duties consisted of appointing minor officials (i.e. hog wardens) and setting out and superintending district roads.

Brock District was formed in 1840, the same year as the Act of Union when Canada West became known as Upper Canada. A year later (1841), representative local government was introduced to rural areas of Canada West. All existing districts were incorporated and administrative powers were exercised by a district council. Each council was composed of a warden (appointed by the Governor), and elected councilors representing the various townships in the council.

An admendment to the District Councils Act stipulated that councillors were to be paid for their attendance at meetings and that the warden was to be elected from among council members instead of being appointed by the Governor.

Other local officials, including district clerks, treasurers and surveyors, were appointed by council and district councils were given consent to raise money for the care of indigent and sick people.

With expanding populations, the new Township of Oakland was created on the eastern tip of the district, and the former Township of Oxford Upon The Thames was subdivided into North Oxford and West Oxford.

In 1849, the Legislature of Canada West passed two acts which changed the system of local government. The first statute amendment repealed all of the five previous acts dealing with local government, including acts of incorporation. The second act is known as the Baldwin Act. By this Act, the municipal structure of counties, townships, cities, towns, villages, and police villages was established. In one fell swoop, a comprehensive system for urban and rural local government was prescribed. The Baldwin Act became effective 1 January 1850, and, latterly more commonly known as the Municipal Act, remained in effect until its repeal by the Municipal Act, 2001, effective 1 January 2003.

In Oxford County, borders moved. Nissouri was split, with West Nissouri becoming part of Middlesex County, and in the east, Burford and Oakland Townships were removed to Brant County.

In 1855, a larger population in Norwich Township resulted in its division into North Norwich and South Norwich Townships. With growing populations, particularly in urban centres, demands intensified. Among the problems experienced in urban centres were poor housing, inadequate sanitary facilities, poorly maintained roads, and general overcrowding. As a result, a series of reforms were instituted over the next 80 or 100 years. Over time, many services could only be provided because local governments were sharing responsibilities with other government

With the creation of more and more special purpose boards and the dependence on upper level government funding, local governments were less able to co-ordinate activities and public accountabilitiy was problematic. The entire local government system desperately needed more comprehensive reform.

Several initiatives, including a restructuring of school boards in the mid-1960's, resulted in new government policy that emphasized a combination of urban and rural areas and the notion of urban-centered regions. Although some regional governments were established, in Oxford, plans for a county restructuring program were seen to be more proactive and progressive. Effective January 1st, 1975, Oxford became the first and only

Downloading of services from the Provincial level has created strains for local governments as they endeavour to continue to provide accessible representative government to their constituents.

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