Toronto - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toronto Coordinates: 43°42′N 79°24′W From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Toronto (/tɵˈrɒntoʊ/, local /ˈtrɒnoʊ/) is the most populous city in Canada and the provincial capital of Ontario. It is located in Toronto Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. The City history of Toronto began in the late 18th century when the British Crown purchased its land from the Mississaugas of the New City of Toronto Credit. The settlement established there became York, which lieutenant governor John Graves Simcoe designated as the capital of Upper Canada. The city was ransacked in the Battle of York during the War of 1812. In 1834, York became a city and renamed to Toronto. It was damaged in two huge fires in 1849 and 1904. Since 1954, the city occasionally expanded its borders through amalgamation with surrounding municipalities, most recently occurring in 1998. According to the 2011 Census, the city has 2.6 million residents, making it the fifth-most populous city in North America. However, in 2012, the municipal government published a population estimate of 2,791,140, which led to media reports claiming Toronto as the fourth most populous city in North America and the most populous Great Lakes city, surpassing Chicago.[2][3] The census metropolitan area (CMA) had a population of 5,583,064,[4] and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) had a population of 6,054,191 in From top left: Downtown Toronto featuring the CN Tower and the 2011 Census.[5] Toronto is at the heart of the Greater Toronto Financial District from the Toronto Islands, City Hall, the Ontario Area, and of the densely populated region in Southern Ontario Legislative Building, Casa Loma, Prince Edward Viaduct, and the Scarborough Bluffs known as the Golden Horseshoe. Its cosmopolitan and international population[6] reflects its role as an important destination for immigrants to Canada.[7] Toronto is one of the world's most diverse cities by percentage of non-native-born residents, with about 49% of the population born outside Canada. Flag [6][7][8] As Canada's commercial capital, it is home to the Toronto Stock [9] Exchange and the five largest banks in the nation. Leading Logo economic sectors in the city include finance, business services, Coat of arms telecommunications, aerospace, transportation, media, arts, Nickname(s): T.O., T-Dot, Hogtown, The Queen publishing, software production, medical research, education, City, Toronto the Good, The City Within a Park [10][11] tourism, and engineering. Toronto is considered an alpha Motto: Diversity Our Strength world city by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network and is placed among the Global Leaders in the Global Financial Centres Index.[12][13] The city is also consistently rated as one of the world's most liveable cities by the Economist Intelligence Unit and the Mercer Quality of Living Survey.[14][15] 1 History 1.1 Before 1800 Location of Toronto and its census metropolitan area in the province 1.2 1800–1945 of Ontario 1.3 Since 1945 1 of 25 7/21/2014 3:40 AM Toronto - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toronto 2 Geography 2.1 Topography 2.2 Climate 3 Cityscape 3.1 Architecture 3.2 Neighbourhoods 3.2.1 Old Toronto 3.2.2 Suburbs Toronto 3.3 Industrial Location of Toronto in Canada 3.4 Public spaces Coordinates: 43°42′N 79°24′W 4 Culture Country Canada 4.1 Tourism Province Ontario 4.2 Sports Districts East York, Etobicoke, North York, Old Toronto, 4.3 Media Scarborough, York 5 Economy Established August 27, 1793 (as York) 6 Demographics Incorporated March 6, 1834 (as Toronto) 7 Government Amalgamated January 1, 1998 (from Metropolitan Toronto) 8 Crime Government 9 Education • Type mayor-council 10 Infrastructure • Mayor Rob Ford 10.1 Health and medicine • Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly 10.2 Transportation • Council Toronto City Council • MPs List of MPs 11 International relations • MPPs List of MPPs 12 See also 13 References Area[1] 2 13.1 Bibliography • City 630 km (240 sq mi) • Urban 2 14 External links 1,749 km (675 sq mi) • Metro 7,125 km2 (2,751 sq mi) Elevation 76 m (249 ft) Population (2011)[1] • City 2,615,060 (1st) Before 1800 • Density 4,149/km2 (10,750/sq mi) • Urban 5,132,794 (1st) When Europeans first arrived at the site of present-day Toronto, • Metro 5,583,064 (1st) the vicinity was inhabited by the Iroquois people,[16] who by then Demonym Torontonian had displaced the Wyandot people people that had occupied the region for centuries before c. 1500.[17] The name Toronto is likely Time zone EST (UTC-5) derived from the Iroquois word tkaronto, meaning "place where • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4) trees stand in the water".[18] This refers to the northern end of Postal code span M what is now Lake Simcoe, where the Huron had planted tree Area code(s) 416, 437, 647 saplings to corral fish. A portage route from Lake Ontario to Lake NTS Map 030M11 Huron running through this point, the Toronto Carrying-Place GNBC Code FEUZB Trail, led to widespread use of the name. In the 1660s the Iroquois established two villages within what is today Toronto, Website www.toronto.ca Ganatsekwyagon on the banks of the Rouge River and (http://www.toronto.ca/) Teiaiagonon the banks of the Humber River. By 1701, the Mississauga had displaced the Iroquois, who abandoned the Toronto area at the end of the Beaver Wars.[19] 2 of 25 7/21/2014 3:40 AM Toronto - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toronto French traders founded Fort Rouillé on the current Exhibition grounds in 1750, but abandoned it in 1759.[20] During the American Revolutionary War, the region saw an influx of British settlers as United Empire Loyalists fled for the unsettled lands north of Lake Ontario. In 1787, the British negotiated the Toronto Purchase with the Mississaugas of New Credit, thereby securing more than a quarter million acres (1000 km2) of land in the Toronto area.[21] In 1793, Governor John Graves Simcoe established the town of York on the existing settlement, naming it after Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany. Simcoe chose the town to replace Newark as the capital of Upper Canada,[22] believing that the new site would be less vulnerable to attack by the US.[23] Fort York was constructed at the entrance of the town's natural harbour, sheltered by a long sandbar peninsula. The town's settlement formed at the eastern end of the harbour behind the peninsula, near the present-day intersection of Parliament Street and Front Street (in the Corktown–St. Lawrence area). 1800–1945 In 1813, as part of the War of 1812, the Battle of York ended in the town's capture and plunder by US forces.[24] The surrender of the town was negotiated by John Strachan. US soldiers destroyed much of Fort York and set fire to the parliament buildings during their five-day occupation. The sacking of York was a primary motivation for the Burning of Washington by British troops later in the war. York was incorporated as the City of Toronto on March 6, 1834, reverting to its original native name. The population of only 9,000 included escaped African American slaves, some of Map of Toronto, 1894 whom were brought by the Loyalists, including Mohawk leader Joseph Brant.[25] Slavery was banned outright in Upper Canada in 1834. Reformist politician William Lyon Mackenzie became the first Mayor of Toronto and led the unsuccessful Upper Canada Rebellion of 1837 against the British colonial government. The city grew rapidly through the remainder of the 19th century, as a major destination for immigrants to Canada. The first significant population influx occurred when the Great Irish Famine brought a large number of Irish to the city, some of them transient and most of them Catholic. By 1851, the Irish-born population had become the largest single ethnic group in the city. Smaller numbers of Protestant Irish immigrants were welcomed by the existing Scottish and English population, giving the Orange Order significant and long-lasting influence over Toronto society. Toronto was twice for brief periods the capital of the united Province of Canada: first from 1849 to 1852, following unrest in Montreal, and later 1856–1858 after which Quebec became the capital until 1866 (one year before Confederation); since then, the capital of Canada has remained Ottawa.[26] As it had been for Upper Canada from 1793, Toronto became the capital of the province of Ontario after its official creation in 1867, the seat of government located at the Ontario Legislature located at Queen's Park. Because of its provincial capital status, the city was also the location of Government House, the residence of the vice-regal representative of the Crown in right of Ontario. In the 19th century, an extensive sewage system was built, and streets became illuminated with gas lighting as a regular service. Long-distance railway lines were constructed, including a route completed in 1854 linking Toronto with the Upper Great Lakes. The Grand Trunk Railway and the Northern Railway of Canada joined in the building of the first Union Station in downtown. The advent of the railway dramatically increased the numbers of immigrants arriving, commerce and industry, as had the Lake Ontario steamers and schooners entering port before which enabled Toronto to become a major gateway linking the world to the interior of the North American continent. Yonge Street in 1900 Toronto became the largest alcohol distillation (in particular, spirits) centre in North America; the Gooderham and Worts Distillery operations became the world's largest whiskey factory by the 1860s.