History of Markham, Ontario

Seasonal settlements were found from 900 BC to 1650, but traces of these first residence were buried before the area was farmed.

From 1830 on, many Irish, Scottish and English emigrated to Upper Canada to escape the famine and overpopulation of their homeland.

With improved transportation routes, such as Yonge Street and the growing population, urbanization increased.

Villages like Thornhill, Unionville and Markham greatly expanded and new, specialized industries such as wagon works, tanneries, farm implement and furniture factories sprang up.

In 1871, the Toronto and Nipissing Railway Company, with stations in Unionville and Markham, officially opened its line from Scarborough to Uxbridge.

On November 20, 1872, the Warden of York County signed the By-law of Incorporation, which provided for the election of a Council for the Village of Markham.

The increased communication with Toronto brought on by the railway and further enhanced by the development of the telegraph, the telephone and the automobile, ultimately led to the demise of the villages in the Township after the turn of the century.

Local industries were simply unable to compete with the larger manufacturers and suppliers of Toronto, and Markham soon reverted to a quiet, rural community.

From this point it stretches westward following Langstaff Road until Yonge Street, and travels south until Steeles Avenue East.

All boundaries and concessions are straight lines at slightly more than a right angle to each other, forming a geographical area roughly in the shape of two connected parallelograms.

Many high-tech industries have located in Markham for the relative abundance of land, low tax rates and good transportation routes.