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| Old City of Toronto | |
|---|---|
| Name | Old City of Toronto |
| Settlement type | Former city |
| Official name | City of Toronto (Old City) |
| Established title | Incorporated |
| Established date | 1834 |
| Abolished title | Amalgamation |
| Abolished date | 1998 |
| Area total km2 | 7.5 |
| Population total | 238532 |
| Population as of | 1996 |
| Subdivision type | Country |
| Subdivision name | Canada |
| Subdivision type1 | Province |
| Subdivision name1 | Ontario |
| Subdivision type2 | Municipality |
| Subdivision name2 | Toronto |
Old City of Toronto The Old City of Toronto was the central municipal entity that comprised the historical core of Toronto prior to the 1998 amalgamation that created the current City of Toronto. It originated with the incorporation of Toronto in 1834 and encompassed much of what is now Downtown Toronto including the Financial District, Harbourfront, and parts of Queen Street. The area played a central role in the development of Ontario, Canada West, and national institutions such as Toronto General Hospital, University of Toronto, and the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.
The municipal establishment of the Old City of Toronto followed the purchase of the Toronto Purchase lands and settlement patterns influenced by figures like John Graves Simcoe, William Lyon Mackenzie, and Francis Gore. Early civic events included the incorporation of Toronto (1834), rebellions related to the Upper Canada Rebellion (1837–1838), and urban growth tied to the completion of the Welland Canal, the expansion of the Grand Trunk Railway, and the arrival of the Canadian Pacific Railway and the Canadian National Railway. The city experienced major fires such as the Great Fire of Toronto (1849) and infrastructure projects including the construction of the Toronto harbour piers, the St. Lawrence Market development, and the establishment of Toronto Police Service and the Toronto Fire Services precursor. Industrialization and immigration from places like Ireland, England, Scotland, Italy, Portugal, China, India, and Ukraine reshaped neighborhoods, while institutions including the Metropolitan Toronto federation and debates over amalgamation culminated in the 1998 consolidation under the Mike Harris provincial government and the provincial statute that created the current City of Toronto.
The Old City of Toronto occupied the waterfront lands along Lake Ontario including the Toronto Islands frontage, bounded by municipal limits and former city wards such as St. Lawrence (Toronto ward), St. Patrick (Toronto ward), St. Andrew (Toronto ward), and St. George (Toronto ward). Key geographic features included the Don River, Garrison Creek (Toronto), the Toronto Harbour Commission lands, and the original Town of York survey grid. Adjacent municipalities included York, Ontario (former municipality), East York, Scarborough, North York, and Etobicoke prior to the Metropolitan Toronto era.
Municipal governance in the Old City of Toronto evolved from the first Toronto City Council under Mayor William Lyon Mackenzie to later leaders such as Robert John Fleming, Nathan Phillips, Allan A. Lamport, John Sewell, Art Eggleton, and Barbara Hall. The city's bureaucracy interfaced with provincial authorities including the Legislative Assembly of Ontario and agencies like the Toronto Transit Commission and Toronto Parking Authority. Administrative institutions included the Old City of Toronto Board of Health, the Toronto Hydro-Electric System, and civic commissions such as the Toronto Harbour Commission and the Toronto Public Library Board.
Population patterns in the Old City of Toronto reflected waves of immigration and internal migration, with neighborhoods home to communities tied to Little Italy (Toronto), Chinatown, Toronto, Kensington Market, Cabbagetown, Toronto, The Annex, and Greektown, Toronto. Census data recorded diverse origins including migrants from United Kingdom, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, China, India, Philippines, Poland, Jamaica, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam. Religious institutions such as St. Michael's Cathedral Basilica, Holy Blossom Temple, Trinity-St. Paul's United Church, BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (Toronto), and Jamaica Primitive Baptist Church illustrate diversity. Educational institutions including University of Toronto, Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University), and colleges contributed student populations and demographic churn.
The Old City of Toronto was the commercial and financial hub of Canada, hosting the Toronto Stock Exchange, headquarters of corporations such as Rogers Communications, Sun Life Financial, Ontario Power Generation, BCE Inc., Scotiabank, Royal Bank of Canada, Toronto Dominion Bank, Bank of Nova Scotia, and major law firms clustered in the Financial District. Industrial land use along the Don River and Lake Shore Boulevard gave way to redevelopment into mixed-use towers, condominiums, and tech campuses for companies like Shopify, BlackBerry Limited (historical presence), and startups tied to MaRS Discovery District. Cultural economies centered on venues such as Royal Alexandra Theatre, Theatre Passe Muraille, Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, Hockey Hall of Fame, and festivals like Toronto International Film Festival, Caribana (Toronto), and Pride Toronto.
Architectural heritage ranged from Georgian and Victorian buildings like Gooderham Building (Flatiron), Distillery District mills, and St. Lawrence Market sheds, to modernist and postmodern skyscrapers such as First Canadian Place, TD Centre, and One King West. Landmarks included CN Tower, Union Station (Toronto), Casa Loma, Fort York National Historic Site, Hockey Hall of Fame, Harbourfront Centre, Rogers Centre, and public spaces like Nathan Phillips Square, Yonge-Dundas Square, and High Park (adjacent). Conservation efforts involved organizations such as the Ontario Heritage Trust, Heritage Toronto, and the National Trust for Canada.
Transportation networks pivoted on Union Station (Toronto), the Toronto Transit Commission subway and streetcar network, commuter rail services by GO Transit, and regional connections via Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport and the Port of Toronto. Major road arteries included Yonge Street, Queen Street, King Street, Bathurst Street, and Lake Shore Boulevard. Projects and proposals that shaped mobility encompassed the Gardiner Expressway, the Spadina Avenue extensions, bike infrastructure advanced by groups like Cycle Toronto, and intercity rail services operated by VIA Rail Canada.
Civic and cultural institutions anchored city life: Art Gallery of Ontario, Royal Ontario Museum, Bata Shoe Museum, Aga Khan Museum (regional reach), Toronto Reference Library, Four Seasons Centre, Canadian Opera Company, National Ballet of Canada, and community organizations including United Way Centraide Toronto, Toronto District School Board, and Toronto Public Health. Neighborhood cultural hubs included Kensington Market, St. Lawrence Market, Queen Street West, Distillery District, Little Italy, Greektown (Toronto), and Chinatown, Toronto. Media outlets such as The Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, CBC Toronto, Citytv, and CP24 reported on civic life, while sports institutions like Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors, Toronto Blue Jays, and Toronto FC contributed to public culture.
Category:Former municipalities in Ontario