History of Toronto

Like most cities around the world, Toronto was born because of its geographical location. Its site on the banks of Lake Ontario made it ideal for settlement and trade, attracting immigrants from many countries, who came to seek their fortune in the New World. This allure has driven Toronto’s success since its inception, and today, the city ranks as one of the world’s most diverse and vibrant communities.  

The fur trade

Native Americans had known about Toronto long before the arrival of Europeans. This was the entrance to the Toronto Trail, a major shortcut between the Upper and Lower lakes. A French fur trader was the first European to travel the trail in 1615, but it wasn’t until 1720 that the French finally established a trading post at the site, which they called Fort Toronto. 

Early conflicts

Right from the start, Toronto found itself in the middle of the fighting between the French, the British and the Americans. After the British had deposed the French from the area, they began to build Fort York on the site of present-day downtown Toronto. During the War of 1812, American troops invaded Fort York and blew up the fort along with the parliament buildings.

This act of aggression stirred up anti-American feelings among the Canadians. As a result, a group of Canadians travelled to Washington and torched the American president’s house. The Americans then whitewashed the charred exterior, thus giving rise to the name of the ‘White House’.

The transportation boom

During the early 1800s, immigrants from Ireland, Scotland and other Nonconformists began to pour in to settle the farmland around Toronto. When the Erie Canal was extended to Lake Ontario, it opened up a direct trading route with New York and things really started to take off. The foundations of an industrial city were quickly laid, with a modern water works, gas and public transportation system put into effect.

However, the city of Toronto really began to take shape during the mid-1800s, when many municipal buildings and cultural institutions were constructed. With the introduction of the railroads in the 1850s, the city’s economic status exploded. By 1860, Toronto was a major centre of the North American railroad network. 

Business is good

As more and more immigrants flooded into Toronto, the city’s business market grew accordingly. The new residents were both consumers and providers of goods, fueling a construction boom which expanded the city outwards into newly created ethnic enclaves. As Toronto became larger and wealthier, it began to stand out as a cultural and intellectual magnet. The diverse ethnic community got along well and women were already gaining status by the turn of the 20th century.

Modern Toronto

The 1960s saw an urban revival, as many people moved from the suburbs back to the city. Toronto was the fastest-growing city in North America during the 1970s and fortunately, the residents fought hard to preserve the character and heritage of their city. As development grew, the city’s heart remained intact, resulting in the Toronto we know today: a modern, culturally active metropolis with lots of historical charm.