While they planned to settle in New York, disputes over finances and land tenure led Berczy to negotiate with Simcoe for 26,000 ha (64,000 acres) in what would later become Markham Township in 1794.

[5] Since the 1970s, Markham rapidly shifted from being an agricultural community to an industrialized municipality due to urban sprawl from neighbouring Toronto.

As of 2010[update], "business services" employed the largest proportion of workers in Markham – nearly 22% of its labour force.

[10][11] Several multinational companies have their Canadian headquarters in Markham, including: Honda Canada, Hyundai,[12] Advanced Micro Devices,[13] Johnson & Johnson, General Motors, Avaya,[14] IBM,[15] Motorola,[16] Oracle,[17] Toshiba,[18] Toyota Financial Services,[19] Huawei, Honeywell, General Electric[20] and Scholastic Canada.

[4] The southwest corner of Markham is included in Treaty 13, known as the Toronto Purchase of 1787, which transferred roughly 250,800 acres of land from the Mississauga people to the British Crown for 10 shillings and fishing rights on the Etobicoke river.

[25] Each family was granted 81 ha (200 acres) of land; however the lack of roads in the region led many to settle in York (present-day Toronto) and Niagara.

These highly skilled craftsmen and knowledgeable farmers settled the region and founded Reesorville, named after the Mennonite settler Joseph Reesor.

By 1830, many Irish, Scottish and English families began immigrating to Upper Canada and settling in Markham.

[citation needed] The township's many rivers and streams soon supported water-powered saws and gristmills and later wooden mills.

"[32] In 1871, with a township population of 8,152,[33] the Toronto and Nipissing Railway built the first rail line to Markham Village and Unionville, which is still used today by the GO Transit commuter services.

Many high-tech companies have established head offices in Markham, attracted by the relative abundance of land, low tax-rates and good transportation routes.

Top countries of origin for the immigrant population were China (33.8%, excluding 16.4% from Hong Kong), India (7.2%), Sri Lanka (6.4%), Philippines (3.6%), Iran (3.5%), Pakistan (2.7%), Vietnam (1.8%), Jamaica (1.8%), Guyana (1.6).

[47] The most common ethnic or cultural origins as per the 2021 census are as follows: Chinese (43.3%), Indian (7.0%), Canadian (4.0%), English (3.8%), Hong Konger (3.7%), Sri Lankan (3.3%), Tamil (3.1%), Irish (3.1%), Scottish (3.1%), Filipino (2.9%), Italian (2.8%), Pakistani (2.1%), and Iranian (2.0%).

Scarpitti replaced Don Cousens, a former Progressive Conservative MPP for Markham and a Presbyterian church minister.

Residents elected the current members of council to a four-year term of office, in accordance with standards set by the province.

The city council is at the Markham Civic Centre at the intersection of York Regional Road 7 and Warden Avenue.

The Mayor's Youth Task Force was created to discuss issues facing young people in the city and to plan and publicize events.

Markham is also home to Shouldice Hospital, one of the world's premier facilities for people suffering from hernias.

[59] Seneca College has a campus in Markham, at Highway 7 and the 404 near Woodbine Avenue/Leslie Street, in the York Region business district.

[60] This location opened in 2005, offering full and part-time programs in business, marketing and tourism, and also the college's departments of Finance, Human Resources and Information Technology Services.

Today, it claims to be "Canada's Hi-Tech Capital" with a number of key companies in the area, such as IBM, Motorola, Toshiba, Honeywell, Apple, Genesis Microchip, and is home to the head office of graphics card producer ATI Technologies (in 2006 merged with AMD).

[70] Some branches offer unique digital tools such as a Digital Media lab with graphic designs software, a recording studio with video editing / audio editing software and a green screen, and a maker space with 3D printers, virtual reality, and laser cutters.

[71] With a library card, user can take free online courses,[72] borrow household tools and equipment[73] and educational toys.

These pathways include 12 bridges allowing walkers, joggers, and cyclists to make use and enjoy the sights it has to offer.

Markham's green space includes woodlots, ravines, and valleys that are not only enjoyable to its residents, but are important for the continued growth of the region's plants and animals.

Here a just few places of interest: Heritage streets: There are still farms operating in the northern reaches of the town, but there are a few 'theme' farms in other parts of Markham: Markham's heritage railway stations are either an active station or converted to other uses: Events taking place annually include the Night It Up!

On Highway 7, between Woodbine and Warden Avenues, is First Markham Place, containing numerous shops and restaurants; this is several kilometres east of Richmond Hill's Chinese malls.

Areas east of Donald Cousens Boulevard either serve new residential developments or are largely rural and/or agricultural.

[79] On April 8, 2019, GO Transit added ten midday train trips to Mount Joy GO Station, replacing the need for passengers to change to buses at Unionville GO.

The Royal Canadian Air Cadets Gliding Program formerly used the airport for glider operations in the spring and fall.