The settlement of Grimsby was founded in 1790 (originally named Township Number 6 and then 'The Forty'), after a group of United Empire Loyalists settled at the mouth of 40 Mile Creek in 1787.
Robert Nelles, a politician and later lieutenant-colonel in the War of 1812, was one of the town's founders.
His home on Main Street West was used for many planning sessions during the war.
In 1816 the settlement became known as Grimsby, the name of the surrounding township, in memory of the seaport town of Grimsby in North East Lincolnshire, England.

The Village of Grimsby was officially incorporated in 1876 and became a town in 1922.
The community has gone through many changes, from being a small rural village; to a centre for the manufacture of farm machinery, hospital furniture, furnaces and other metal products; and later the hub of the Niagara Peninsula's fruit-growing industry.
Grimsby also had a successful fishing industry which lasted until the 1960s.
The Town of Grimsby and the Township of North Grimsby were amalgamated in 1970 with the formation of the Regional Municipality of Niagara.
With a number of wineries and distilleries, Grimsby now serves as the starting point for touring the Niagara wine region.

Canada's first Chautauqua-like organization (a Methodist camp) was established in 1859 in Grimsby Park on land donated by  J.B. Bowslaugh; colourful cottages were later built and some visitors spent entire summers in the area.
Two hotels and a temple were also built.
Over 50,000 visited in 1884 but by 1900 interest had declined.
By 1909 the Grimsby Park Company was bankrupt and the property was sold for use as an amusement park.
The temple and hotels were destroyed in the 1920s.
In 1910, the amusement park's first owner, Harry Wylie, added carousels, a motion picture theater, and a roller coaster.
Canada Steamship Lines bought out the business in 1916, but the park declined through the 1920s, mainly due to multiple fires that consumed many of the wooden buildings.
Operation had ceased by 1950 and the land was sold to developers who built cottages.
Many of the colourful cottages were destroyed by fire or demolished over the years but some remain to this day.
 As of 2019, Grimsby Pier, where ferries and steamships had once docked, was in a state of disrepair; the mayor said he hoped that it could be restored.

In 2011, Grimsby was struck by an F0 Tornado.

Grimsby is also the birthplace of a Hollywood director, Del Lord.
He rose to acclaim as the director of most of the Three Stooges short vaudeville comedies.
Later, under Columbia Pictures, he also directed nearly 200 feature films.
The settlement of Grimsby was founded in 1790 (originally named Township Number 6 and then 'The Forty'), after a group of United Empire Loyalists settled at the mouth of 40 Mile Creek in 1787. Robert Nelles, a politician and later lieutenant-colonel in the War of 1812, was one of the town's founders. His home on Main Street West was used for many planning sessions during the war. In 1816 the settlement became known as Grimsby, the name of the surrounding township, in memory of the seaport town of Grimsby in North East Lincolnshire, England.
The Village of Grimsby was officially incorporated in 1876 and became a town in 1922. The community has gone through many changes, from being a small rural village; to a centre for the manufacture of farm machinery, hospital furniture, furnaces and other metal products; and later the hub of the Niagara Peninsula's fruit-growing industry. Grimsby also had a successful fishing industry which lasted until the 1960s. The Town of Grimsby and the Township of North Grimsby were amalgamated in 1970 with the formation of the Regional Municipality of Niagara. With a number of wineries and distilleries, Grimsby now serves as the starting point for touring the Niagara wine region.
Canada's first Chautauqua-like organization (a Methodist camp) was established in 1859 in Grimsby Park on land donated by  J.B. Bowslaugh; colourful cottages were later built and some visitors spent entire summers in the area. Two hotels and a temple were also built. Over 50,000 visited in 1884 but by 1900 interest had declined. By 1909 the Grimsby Park Company was bankrupt and the property was sold for use as an amusement park. The temple and hotels were destroyed in the 1920s. In 1910, the amusement park's first owner, Harry Wylie, added carousels, a motion picture theater, and a roller coaster. Canada Steamship Lines bought out the business in 1916, but the park declined through the 1920s, mainly due to multiple fires that consumed many of the wooden buildings. Operation had ceased by 1950 and the land was sold to developers who built cottages. Many of the colourful cottages were destroyed by fire or demolished over the years but some remain to this day.  As of 2019, Grimsby Pier, where ferries and steamships had once docked, was in a state of disrepair; the mayor said he hoped that it could be restored. 
In 2011, Grimsby was struck by an F0 Tornado. 
Grimsby is also the birthplace of a Hollywood director, Del Lord. He rose to acclaim as the director of most of the Three Stooges short vaudeville comedies. Later, under Columbia Pictures, he also directed nearly 200 feature films.
Grimsby, Ontario