Of the three major Muskoka towns (the others being Gravenhurst and Bracebridge), Huntsville has the largest population (21,147 per 2021 census) and land area (710.64 square kilometres (274.38 sq mi)).

[5] Huntsville serves as the western gateway to Algonquin Provincial Park via Ontario Highway 60 and was the host to the 36th G8 summit in June 2010, at Deerhurst Resort.

The first European who settled in the area in 1869 was George Hunt, who built a small agricultural centre.

The central Ontario community became an important industrial area in the late 19th century and had several saw, planing, and shingle mills, as well as a tannery.

Today, the many lakes and hills in the area, combined with the town's proximity to both Algonquin Park and Toronto, make Huntsville and the Muskoka region a major tourist destination.

The 26 July 1906 issue of the Huntsville Forester reported the sale of the hotel to Robert T. McNairney and D. Kehoe, who demolished it to expand it three stories.

From 1947 to 1948, the Mascioli brothers renovated and expanded the facility, removing the porches, adding street level retail units, and erecting the adjoining four-story red brick building.

During the construction of the town hall in the 1920s, skeletal remains were unearthed, which showed that not everything had been moved to the new Locks Cemetery site.

On 17 December 2019, Terziano was appointed to fill the vacancy of the mayor's office because of Scott Aitchison's resignation to become a federal MP for Parry Sound-Muskoka.

On 24 February 2019, the council appointed Councillor Nancy Alcock to serve as Deputy Mayor.

Former Fire Chief Steve Hernen, incumbent Town and District Councillor Tim Withey, taxi stand owner Ruben Bullion and incumbent Deputy Mayor Nancy Alcock ran for the office.

Huntsville is located in the snowbelt region of Central Ontario, near the Great Lakes, causing snowy winters and lake-effect snow.

The town has comfortable summer temperatures and occasional heatwaves accompanied by high humidity and active thunderstorm weather.

[16] In addition to the city centre, the communities of Allensville, Ashworth, Aspdin, Britannia Road, Canal, Centurion, Etwell, Grassmere, Hidden Valley, Hoodstown, Ilfracombe, Lancelot, Martins, Melissa, Muskoka Lodge, Newholm, Norvern Shores, Parkersville, Port Sydney, Ravenscliffe, Stanleydale, Utterson, Vernon Shores, Williamsport, and Yearley are located within the municipal boundaries.

The ghost town of Emberson was a rural postal village from 1874 to 1924 serving near by bush farms and logging camps.

Today, the area is covered over and reached by foot from the northern terminus of Brunel Sideroad 1.

Famed Canadian artists such as Tom Thomson and his successors, the Group of Seven, painted frequently in Huntsville.

Other local arts activities include the annual Muskoka Novel Marathon, started by Canadian authors Martin Avery and Mel Malton in 2001, the Film North – Huntsville International Film Festival which had its inaugural year in 2010, and most recently Nuit Blanche North, produced by the Huntsville Festival of the Arts and Edge of the Woods Theatre.

They hold an annual traveling outdoor theatre event, as well as facilitate many different arts education projects for local seniors and youth within the community.

This facility was utilized by researchers and students of the University of Waterloo and the Northern Ontario School of Medicine.

[26] Due to the influx of tourists during the summer months and the abundance of seasonal residents, Huntsville's economy is primarily service based.

Major employers in Huntsville include Deerhurst Resort, Trillium Lakelands District School Board, and Kimberly Clark.

Reflections of Muskoka at 49E Main Street East was originally a Simpson-Sears retail location.

[27] Huntsville Place Mall, on Main Street East, features retailers including The Source, Winners, Hallmark, Metro, Northern Reflections, Anthony's Hair Design, Becker Shoes, Maurices, Scotiabank, Ron Henry Jewellers, Pearle Vision, Huntsville Place Mall Pharmacy, Sport Chek, Dollarama and the Habitat for Humanity Restore.

Huntsville Transit provides local bus service in the town on a single east–west route.

The Don Lough Arena is named after the beloved Huntsville citizen who was a key advocate for opening the rink.

The Summit Centre's second arena, the Jack Bionda, is named after a local sports icon.