The former Township of Maria was historically part of the amalgamated entity now called Head, Clara and Maria. Situated along the Ottawa River in Renfrew County’s far northwest, Maria is heavily influenced by Crown timber licensing and seasonal settlement patterns. Early attempts to establish agriculture were limited by poor soils and heavy forests, leading the region to be dominated instead by logging operations from the 1860s onward.

Maria's shoreline along the Ottawa River once hosted stopping places for timber rafts and river steamboats, with some patented lots set aside for timber depots and camps. The region's remote location meant that road access was minimal until the early 20th century.

Surveying in Maria typically involves interpreting complex patent layers—some issued as timber limits, others as seasonal camp allotments, and still others as speculative grants. Riparian boundaries here are critical, with fluctuating river levels and informal shoreline uses complicating retracements. Surveyors often rely on both provincial land registry records and forestry maps from Crown agencies.