Vaughan
Vaughan (2001 population 182,022) is a city in York Region north of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Vaughan is the fastest growing municipality in Canada, having nearly doubled in size since 1991. Vaughan is part of the Greater Toronto Area.
History
The first European to make his way through Vaughan was the intrepid French explorer Étienne Brûlé, who traversed the Humber Trail in 1615. His course was soon retraced by numbers of his countrymen who set forth to engage in the lucrative fur trade with the local Native population. The French, however, had no interest in colonizing what would later come to be known as Ontario, and consequently Vaughan would not witness settlement until well into the next century. In 1763, Britain defeated France in the Seven Years War and took possession of "French Canada". Yet, settlement was still not forthcoming.
British North America (divided in 1791 into Upper and Lower Canada) required settlers to develop the colony. This was particularly the case for sparsely populated Upper Canada (roughly today's Ontario), and thus its first Lieutenant Governor, John Graves Simcoe, divided Upper Canada into 19 counties in 1792 for ease of administration and proceeded to lay out a network of roads which would divide the counties into smaller sections called townships.
These roads would facilitate the speedy movement of troops, and open up the hinterland to settlers and would thereafter provide the latter with lines of communication and supply. Yet, while basic dirt roads were constructed, for many years they remained impassible, turning into virtual quagmires whenever it rained. Moreover, plank roads did not come into existence until 1846, and were expensive to maintain. This situation, coupled with the labour intensive activities of building a cabin, clearing land almost entirely covered by trees, having no churches, doctors, or schools to speak of, has led one historian to describe life in early Vaughan as "an arduous grind".
Despite the inherent hardships of pioneer life, settlers came to Vaughan in considerable numbers. The population grew from 19 men, 5 women, and 30 children in 1800 to 4300 in 1840. The first people to arrive were mainly Pennsylvania Germans, with a smaller number of families of English descent and a group of French Royalists being represented. This migration from the United States was by 1814 superseded by an influx of immigrants from Britain. Unlike their predecessors, not all of these individuals were agriculturalists. This was rather fortunate, as Vaughan required the skills of millers, blacksmiths, merchants, carpenters, etc. in order for the community to be self-sustaining, and because by 1840 all arable lands in the area were occupied. Churches of a multiplicity of denominations soon sprang up in order to minister to the spiritual needs of Vaughan's growing populace.
Around the facilities established by this group arose a number of hamlets, the oldest of which was Thornhill, which witnessed the construction of a saw-mill in 1801, a grist mill in 1815, and boasted a population of 300 by 1836. Other such enclaves included Kleinburg, Coleraine, Maple, Richmond Hill, Teston, Claireville, Pine Grove, Carrville, Patterson, Burlington, Concord, Edgeley, Fisherville, Elder's Mills, Elgin Mills, Jefferson, Nashville, Purpleville, Richvale, Sherwood, Langstaff, Vellore and Burwick (Woodbridge).
Vaughan Township changed relatively little, from the 1840s when the number of inhabitants stood at 4300 to 1935 when it had 4873 residents. However, World War II sparked an influx of immigration, and by 1960 the population stood at 15,957.
As well, the ethno-cultural composition of the area began to change with the advent of groups such as the Italians, Jews and Eastern Europeans to name but a few.
A new mind-set also started to emerge at this time, one that embraced the concept of commercial and industrial development, while at the same time preserving the area’s heritage. Individuals such as Vaughan Township Reeve and first Mayor of the Town of Vaughan, Garnet A. Williams, came to personify this new philosophy, and as such heralded the inception of a new era, one that continues to date.
Law/Government
Vaughan's mayor is Michael Di Biase. Mayor since 2002, Di Biase has been involved in the city's political sphere since he was elected as local Councillor in 1985. The City of Vaughan’s Council is made up of eight members - one Mayor, two Regional Councillors and five Local Councillors. The Mayor, elected at large by electorate, is the head of Vaughan Council and is also a representative on York Region Council. Two Regional Councillors are elected to represent Vaughan at both the local and the regional levels of government. Five Local Councillors are elected, one from each of Vaughan’s five wards, to represent those wards on Vaughan Council.
Geography
Vaughan is bounded by Brampton, Ontario to the west, King, Ontario and Richmond Hill, Ontario to the north, Markham, Ontario to the east, and Toronto, Ontario to the south. It is located at 43° 50'N, 79° 30'W.
Universities/Colleges
York University in North York, Ontario lies on the Toronto side of the Toronto-Vaughan border. It is a major comprehensive university, with more than 43,000 students enrolled through ten different faculties.
Neighbouring Colleges
^NorthKing | Richmond Hill |
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VAUGHAN | East > Markham |
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