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History of King |
The first European to see King Township was Samuel de Champlain in
1615, while using the Toronto Carrying Place Trail, a portage route
that provided the fastest route (via the Holland and Humber Rivers)
between Lakes Ontario and Simcoe. This route had long been important to
native peoples, and would later become vital to the fur-trade as well.
King Township was named for John King, the British undersecretary of
state at the time when the township was created in 1794. European
settlers began arriving around the same time. Among the first arrivals
were Quakers from Pennsylvania, hardworking and religious people who
founded the communities of Lloydtown and Schomberg. Other settlers,
including American colonists (known as the United Empire Loyalists) who
sided with Britain during the War of Independence, soon joined them.
The rich soil provided bountiful crops, allowing the settlers to
prosper.
Most of the early communities formed along streams, which provided
power for the mills that provided for the basic needs of the
settlers---grist mills grinding grain into flour for food, and sawmills
cutting lumber for shelter. Lloydtown, Glenville, Laskay, Kettleby, and
Schomberg all owe their existence to mills. These mills provided the
impetus for development and growth. In 1811, when there were perhaps
two or three mills in the entire Township, a mere 206 people called
King home. By the 1870s, however, the number had jumped to more than
3,000.
When the importance of village mills waned in the latter years of the
19th century, King Township residents fell back on the soil to provide
for their well-being. Because the area resisted the encroachment of
industry and suburbia for so long, the towns that make up King Township
have managed to retain their character, charm and histories, much more
so than many other communities in York Region.
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King Today |
King is a beautiful township that has preserved its rural traditions
and historic roots, despite becoming a prosperous and vibrant modern
community. It boasts some of the most picturesque countryside in
Ontario, including the rolling hills of the Oak Ridges Moraine and the
flat plains of the Holland Marsh.
King Township
comprises 20% of the Regional Municipality of York, yet it remains the
most lightly populated, home to only 19,500 people. Modest growth is
anticipated over the next two decades, so that by 2026 the population
should stand at 35,000. That figure will still be York Region’s lowest
by a comfortable margin. This slow, sustainable growth allows King to
retain its small-town charm and rural character.
And yet, while rural, King is also extremely prosperous. Almost all
residents are home-owners, and 96% of homes are single-detached. The
average household income is $97,493, significantly higher than the
average York Region income of $74,272. King is home to numerous horse
farms and is one of the top equestrian regions in Canada.
Today, some 16% of the populace is still tied to agriculture, but
various light industries are being attracted to King by its low taxes.
In the industrial sector, King boasts the fourth lowest rates among 53
municipalities in Ontario, and the third lowest in the commercial
sector. Industry is also attracted by Township’s proximity to Toronto,
which is easily accessible by Highways 400 and 27, as well as by Yonge
Street to the west. York Region Transit links King to other communities
in the Regional Municipality, while GO buses provide public
transportation access to Toronto.
King is home to Seneca College, which opened a large and beautiful
campus on the former Eaton estate. The University of Toronto and Humber
College both also hold land in the area, and may soon open campuses of
their own.
Area attractions complement King’s rural charm. Several conservation
areas and world-class golf courses take advantage of the picturesque
beauty of the Oak Ridges Moraine to provide unforgettable experiences,
while history buffs will be sure to enjoy the King Township Museum and
the quaint charm of villages such as Kettleby and Lloydtown. Many area
farms offer temptations of their own, from picking apples to cutting
your own Christmas trees, to frolicking through brilliant wildflower
meadows. If you want to slow the pace down a notch, King is the place
to do it!
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