The Modern History of Toronto
| The following is a chart outlining significant historical developments in the history of the town that became Toronto. | |
Date |
Developments |
1615 |
Etienne Brulé and a party of Hurons arrive at Toronto, a site that had been occupied or used by native people from the end of the last ice age. |
1720 |
Le Magasin Royal, the first formal French trading post, is in operation. |
1750 |
Fort Toronto is built. |
1750 1759 |
Fort Rouillé is built; |
1787 |
The Toronto Purchase is negotiated between the British and the Mississaugas. |
1788 |
A plan is developed for the site of a potential new town. |
1775 1783 |
American Revolutionary War: Loyalists begin to come to the area. |
1791 |
Old Province of Quebec is divided into Upper and Lower Canada; John Graves Simcoe is named Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada, |
1792 |
First statute of Upper Canada introduced English civil law; except the poor laws; Simcoe introduces antislavery legislation. |
1793 |
Surveyor Alexander Aitkin sets out his town plan; Fort York construction begins; Name of Toronto is changed to York, and the town is chosen as temporary capital; The first houses and roads constructed, including the beginnings of the first “highways” — military roads to the north (Yonge Street) and to the west (Dundas Street). |
1796 |
Land set aside for a market and church. |
1798 |
Parliament buildings are constructed; bricks made on site; Berkeley Street blockhouse is built at Parliament site; Population: 241. |
1799 |
First jail is built in York. |
1803 |
Construction of first church begins; First brewery begins operation. |
1807 |
First church opens; Home District Grammar School is started in rector’s home. |
1809 |
First brick house is built in York. |
1812 |
United States declares war on Britain and its North American colonies. |
1813 |
York invaded; British troops blow up Fort York and retreat to Kingston; First Parliament buildings burned to the ground; The church is used as a hospital for the wounded; Population: 650. |
1814 |
War of 1812 comes to an end. Britain retains possession of the Canadas. |
1815 |
First courthouse is built. |
1816 |
York’s first post office, a log building, is built at what is now 43 Frederick Street. |
1818 |
Second Parliament buildings built on site of the first. |
1819 |
First market is started. |
1820 |
First hospital building begins construction; First stone house is built. |
1823 |
First public well is opened. |
1824 |
The Colonial Advocate begins publication; Second Parliament buildings burn down; Enoch Turner’s brewery begins operation. |
1826 |
York Fire Company is established (church bell is used to sound the alarm). |
1827 |
King’s Park subdivided and sold. |
1828 |
Church of York is consecrated to St. James |
1829 |
Upper Canada College is founded; Osgoode Hall is constructed; Third Parliament Buildings are built in the New Town on Front Street West. |
1830 |
The York Mechanics’ Institute is founded — the first trade school. |
1832 |
First cholera outbreak; Gooderham’s windmill is built for his grist mill (later converted to a distillery). |
1833 |
Fugitive slaves Thornton and Lucie Blackburn escape to York from Detroit; Population: 9,000. St. James Church rebuilt. |
1834 |
York incorporates as the City of Toronto extending west to Dufferin Street, and north to Bloor Street; First city council is elected, With William Lyon Mackenzie as Mayor. |
1835 |
First full time police force is created — five constables are hired. |
1836 |
First taxi service started by fugitive slave Thornton Blackburn. |
1837 |
The Rebellion of Upper Canada is led by Mackenzie and defeated by government forces. |
1839 |
St. James’ Church burns in January, and reopens in December as a Cathedral as the diocese separates from Quebec. |
1842 |
Consumers’ Gas Company, Toronto’s first public utility, is founded. |
1843 |
Little Trinity Church is built. |
1848 |
The city receives a large influx of Irish immigrants, and Corktown grows rapidly; Enoch Turner schoolhouse is constructed (Toronto’s first free school). |
1849 |
First public transportation system — William’s Bus Lines — begins operation; University of Toronto is founded; Fire destroys large sections of the city including, Church, Jarvis and King Streets, City Hall, the Market and St. James’ Cathedral. |
1851 |
St. Lawrence Hall is constructed on the site of the first city hall and farmers’ market |
1853 |
Railways arrive in Toronto; Shoreline parks along Front Street are surrendered for development. |
1861 |
Toronto Street Railway begins operation. |
1865 |
Toronto’s population near 60,000. |
1867 |
Confederation: Toronto becomes the capital of the new province of Ontario. |
1871 |
Major depression in the 1870s; School attendance was made compulsory. |
1872 |
Typographical workers go on strike, demanding a nine-hour day. |
1881 |
Neighbouring communities such as the Town of Yorkville are annexed during the 1880s. |
1884 |
The light bulb is invented by Charles Woodward at the comer of King Street East and Ontario Street. |
1887 |
The Toronto Humane Society is founded for the protection of children and animals; |
1891 |
Children’s Aid Society is created. |
1892 |
Fourth Parliament Buildings (at Queen’s Park) are built. |
1899 |
New City Hall (today’s Old City Hall) constructed; architect: E.J. LcnnE |
1904 |
Toronto’s population: 226,365. Great Fire destroys huge tracts along Front and Bay Streets. More areas annexed by the City between 1905-1939. |
1914 |
Toronto’s population: 470,15 1. World War I begins. |
1929 |
The Great Depression: one in five of the total population is unemployed. |
1939 |
Toronto’s population: 649,123. World War II begins. |
1945 |
World War II ends and the modern economic and industrial deVelopment of Toronto moves ahead. |
2001 |
Toronto’s population: estimated at 3.5 million |