Introduction to Geography of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario, the provincial capital of Ontario and one of the largest cities in Canada. It is the chief commercial, industrial, and cultural center in the English-speaking part of Canada.
Toronto is situated on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario, across from New York State, in one of the most densely populated parts of Canada. Near the lakefront is the central business district, facing a harbor virtually enclosed by islands. Greater Toronto—the city and its suburban area—is the most populous metropolitan area in Canada.
Economy
Toronto grew first as a lake port and a railway and manufacturing center and more recently as a financial, commercial, communications, and air and highway hub. Particularly prominent are banking, investment, insurance, manufacturing, and mining companies. The Toronto Stock Exchange surpasses all other Canadian exchanges in daily trading volume and is one of the main exchanges in North America. Also important to the city's economy are wholesale and retail trade, printing and publishing, television and radio broadcasting, tourism, and conventions.
The Toronto metropolitan area is the leading manufacturing region in Canada, both by employment and by value of output. Products include machinery, transportation equipment, electrical and electronic items, wood and paper products, rubber goods, plastic items, foods, beverages, chemicals, and clothing.
Toronto is served by numerous expressways; by buses, streetcars, and an extensive subway system; by two railways, and by the St. Lawrence Seaway. In most years Toronto's Pearson International Airport is the nation's busiest air terminal.
Major Attractions
Numerous high-rise office buildings, including the twin-towered City Hall, cluster in the downtown area. Rising far above them is the 1,815-foot (553-m) CN (Canadian National) Tower, the tallest free-standing structure in the world. Nearby are Ontario Place, a recreation and entertainment complex; Exhibition Place, site of the annual Canadian National Exhibition; the Hockey Hall of Fame; Fort York, a historic fortification prominent in the War of 1812; and the Sky-Dome stadium, site of sports events, concerts, conventions, and trade shows. The Maple Leafs (professional hockey) and the Raptors (professional basketball) play at the Air Canada Center. The Blue Jays are Toronto's professional baseball team.
The Ontario Science Centre features scientific and technological exhibits that allow visitor participation. The Metro Toronto Zoo and Casa Loma, a 98-room mansion built in the style of a castle, attract many visitors. Among the city's many parks offering a variety of recreational facilities are Toronto Islands Park, in Lake Ontario, and High Park. In Queen's Park are the Ontario Parliament Buildings.
Cultural institutions include the Royal Ontario Museum, with renowned art, ethnological, and natural history exhibits, and the Art Gallery of Ontario, known for its modern sculptures. The Hummingbird Centre for the Performing Arts is the home of the Canadian Opera Company and the National Ballet of Canada. The Toronto Symphony performs in Roy Thomson Hall. The Toronto Centre for the Performing Arts and the Royal Alexandra Theatre are also in Toronto.
Prominent among educational institutions in metropolitan Toronto are the University of Toronto, the largest university in Canada; York University; and the Ryerson Polytechnic University.
History
Before the arrival of Europeans, the site of what is now Toronto was the southern end of an important Indian trail connecting Lakes Huron and Ontario. In 1615 Étienne Brulé, a French explorer, discovered the site. About 50 years later, an Indian village was built there, on the banks of what is now the Humber River. Late in the 17th century, French fur traders founded a settlement and adopted the name Toronto.
British fur traders contended with the French for control of the territory. To protect the Toronto portage, the French built Fort Rouillé, 1750–51. They burned it in 1759 to prevent its capture by the British. Toronto remained nearly deserted until settled by large numbers of Loyalists who fled the United States after the Revolutionary War.
In 1787 Sir Guy Carleton, governor of Canada, purchased the region for the British from the Mississauga Indians. In 1793 the capital of the new province of Upper Canada was built on the site and was named York. During the War of 1812, United States forces burned most of the town. It was rebuilt and in 1834 was incorporated as a city under its original name, Toronto. William Lyon Mackenzie, the first mayor, favored a republican form of government. In 1837 he led a brief and unsuccessful revolt against the Crown.
Toronto grew rapidly after railways began to link the city with other parts of Canada in the 1850's. When Canadian Confederation came in 1867, Toronto became the capital of the new province of Ontario. By the beginning of the 20th century, Toronto was the major manufacturing and financial center of Canada. The period of its greatest development, however, began after World War II. In the 1950's, the St. Lawrence Seaway opened the city to ocean shipping. Beginning in the 1960's and continuing into the 1980's, Toronto experienced an economic surge highlighted by a construction boom. In 1998, the municipalities of East York, Etobicoke, Scarborough, North York and York became a part of the city of Toronto.
Population: 2,481,494.