Markdale was first settled in the mid 1800's by George Walker and Joseph Price.  The village was named in honour of one of it's prominent early settlers, Mark Armstrong, whose family organized and established a veneer plant, furniture and cheese box factories and a foundry.  By the time the village was incorporated in 1888, it had become what the village's historical records refer to as "a thriving business centre which included 3 churches, a school, a bank, a wagon shop and a drug store".  In 2001 became part of the amalgamated Municipality of Grey Highlands and today the village serves the needs of a large agricultural community of some 1400 residents.

     Attractive parks, a vibrant main street which plays host to street festivals in both the summer and winter, a lovely Ontario Early Years facility for youngsters, a golf and country club as well as a beautifully modern senior's residence and plans for a new and improved hospital, all help to make Markdale a truly great location for a home, or a home-away-from-home.

     Markdale is home to a Terra Footwear factory outlet, the Barrhead Saw Mill (still on it's original Rocky Saugeen River site), a post office, modern library, three banks, medical clinics, a veterenary clinic, 2 grocery stores, 2 hardware stores, a flosrist and other small businesses including Peek Thru My Window, County Line, PJ Knickerbocker's, the Bargain Centre, and Mountain Top Chimney Sweep, as well as acting as home base for Chapman's Ice Cream which naturally led to the establishment of the village's annual Ice Cream Festival.  Other favourite events include July's Rotary Street Frolic, an Antique Car Show, the Fall Fair (usually held in late August), and a pre-Christmas Midnight Madness along Main Street in December.

     A Chamber of Commerce Visitor's Information booth is open during the spring and summer at the Old Fire Hall on Highway 10, just past the traffic lights.