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The city of Vaughan is situated to the north of Toronto, Ontario. Located in the York Region, the city claims to be the country’s fastest growing municipality. Vaughan has almost doubled in size for the last two decades, accounting now for a total population of about 235,000, and the area of 275 sq. km. The municipality consists of 4 smaller towns: Maple, Kleinburg, Thornhill and Woodbridge. Vaughan is home to the country’s Wonderland, a huge Vaughan Mills mall and the McMichael Art Collection, holding the largest amount of the Group of Seven's pieces of art amongst all the galleries throughout the globe. Besides, the city is one of Canada's largest culturally centers, hosting lots of annual events. Administratively Vaughan is divided into five large districts, each of which has distinct image.
They are Woodbridge, Maple, Thornhill, Kleinburg, and Concord. Thornhill enjoys the best location; it occupies a corridor along Yonge Street and Bathurst Street, which makes it a natural extension of Toronto. Traditionally, this area is considered to be Jewish, because Jews represent considerable share of its residents. In turn, another district called Woodbridge is considered an Italian district, because for long time it had been a place where Italians preferred to settle. Woodbridge is the very district that formed modern image of all the suburb of Vaughan and made it an attractive place for living. Kleinburg also has its ethnical distinction, for it used to be inhabited by people coming from Germany. Recently Kleinburg saw active coming of Italians moving here from the district of Woodbridge.
This is largely the area of big houses and expensive condominiums. Another district of particular interest for us is Maplle. Last years it has been demonstrating mass development, and many of our fellow nationals settle here these days. In general, Vaughan is considered one of the best suburbs of Toronto. The video review tells more about this suburb, its places of interest, and each of its separate districts Woodbridge Like many other Ontario settlements, Woodbridge appeared around a waterway. Its Humber River offered the residents a convenient transportation system as well as the power source needed for the community’s economic growth. The settlement rapidly became the centre of the excellent farming land. During the very start of 1800s some development began in the neighboring areas: eighth concession of Vaughan has got a new school; Pine Grove featured a flour mill and store, and Smithsville emerged out of the many houses growing around Hayhoe Mills.
The community of the same kind appeared near the mill owned by John Brown and was named Brownsville. Nevertheless, Woodbridge didn’t turn into a village until the Rowland Burr arrived in 1837. He is considered a founder of Woodbridge as we know it today. At the time, another community started to grow between the two existing settlements of Smithsville and Brownsvill, which also appeared around a flour mill owned by Rowland Burr, therefore taking the name of Burwick. Later, in 1838, Rowland Burr also built a textile mill and saw mill, making him the most prosperous businessmen in the area by the 1840s. With the Burwick’s population keeping increasing, the government had to establish a post office there, which could lead to the confusion of the settlements with the other ones having the same name.
That’s why in 1855 it was decided to rename Burwick into Woodbridge. After this, it took Woodbridge a decade to experience an extraordinary growth, associated with the establishment of the Abell Agricultural Works. The factory of John Abell started operating with only 20 employees, which increased ten times by 1874. The factory produced steam-powered agriculture machines, which even received several awards at the 1880 Toronto Industrial Exhibition. By this year a fast developing settlement appeared around different business entities of Woodbridge. Aside from the business mentioned above, the settlement also got 2 general stores, 2 churches, 2 hotels (the Inkerman and the Burwick), 2 newspapers (the Woodbridge Enterprise and the Woodbridge Free Press), a carriage works, a school, a library, and a post office. Another clear sign of rapid economic growth at the time was the presence of a significant range of professions and trades in the village: from surgeon to a watchmaker.
