Harbord Village
Encyclopedia
Harbord Village is a neighbourhood in Toronto
, Canada
. It lies just to the west of the University of Toronto
, with its most commonly accepted borders being Bloor Street
on the north, Spadina Avenue
on the east, College Street
to the south, and Bathurst Street to the west. Areas west of Bathurst, as far as Ossington are also sometimes included, though they are not covered by the residents' association. The area was previously known as Sussex-Ulster, after two of the major east west streets in the area. In 2000 the residents' association decided to rename itself and the area Harbord Village, after the main street running through the middle of the community. The area is also sometimes referred to as the South Annex after the better known “Annex
” community to the north. The city of Toronto for administrative purposes places Harbord Village and most of the St. George campus into a region it calls “University.”
The area was built up in the late nineteenth century as a middle class community, not as prosperous as the mansions of the Annex to the north, but also not a poor and immigrant-heavy neighbourhood like Kensington Market
just to the south. In the 20th century it became an immigrant reception area, linked to Little Italy
just to the west. By the 1960s it was heavily populated by students and other young people linked to the university. Parts of the area were designated under the city′s slum clearance program. In 1968 this began as the block along Robert Street, south of Bloor, was demolished to make way for highrise towers, similar to those of St. James Town. The local residents organized to block this move, founding the Sussex-Ulster Residents' Association. They were successful, smaller towers were built on part of the land and the rest was given to the University of Toronto which uses it as a sports field.
Lippincott Street runs north-south through Harbord Village, and is an example of the architectural style which used to typify the area. It was originally part of lot 17 purchased in 1815 by George Taylor Denison
for the building of his new home “Belle Vue.” The residential street runs through present day Kensington Market, College Street
and Bloor Street. It includes a selection of Toronto architecture, including Victorian worker's cottages, Toronto bay-and-gable
and more modern bungalows.
s 0059.00 and 0060.00 of the 2006 Canadian census cover Harbord Village. According to that census, the neighbourhood has 5,906 residents. Average income is $40,308, almost exactly the Toronto CMA average. The ten most common native languages, after English, are:
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It lies just to the west of the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
, with its most commonly accepted borders being Bloor Street
Bloor Street
Bloor Street is a major east–west residential and commercial thoroughfare in Toronto, in the Canadian province of Ontario. Bloor Street runs from the Prince Edward Viaduct westward into Mississauga, where it ends at Central Parkway. East of the viaduct, Danforth Avenue continues along the same...
on the north, Spadina Avenue
Spadina Avenue
Spadina Avenue is one of the most prominent streets in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Running through the western section of downtown, the road has a very different character in different neighbourhoods....
on the east, College Street
College Street
College Street may refer to:*College Street *College Street *College Street *College Street -- A road in Dublin City Centre....
to the south, and Bathurst Street to the west. Areas west of Bathurst, as far as Ossington are also sometimes included, though they are not covered by the residents' association. The area was previously known as Sussex-Ulster, after two of the major east west streets in the area. In 2000 the residents' association decided to rename itself and the area Harbord Village, after the main street running through the middle of the community. The area is also sometimes referred to as the South Annex after the better known “Annex
The Annex
The Annex is a neighbourhood in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The traditional boundaries of the neighbourhood are north to Dupont Street, south to Bloor Street, west to Bathurst Street and east to Avenue Road...
” community to the north. The city of Toronto for administrative purposes places Harbord Village and most of the St. George campus into a region it calls “University.”
The area was built up in the late nineteenth century as a middle class community, not as prosperous as the mansions of the Annex to the north, but also not a poor and immigrant-heavy neighbourhood like Kensington Market
Kensington Market
Kensington Market is a distinctive multicultural neighbourhood in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Market is an older neighbourhood and one of the city's most well-known. In November 2006, it was designated a National Historic Site of Canada. Robert Fulford wrote in 1999 that "Kensington...
just to the south. In the 20th century it became an immigrant reception area, linked to Little Italy
Little Italy, Toronto
Little Italy, sometimes referred to as College Street West, is a district in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is well known for its numerous Italian Canadian restaurants and businesses. There is also a significant Latin American and Portuguese community in the area...
just to the west. By the 1960s it was heavily populated by students and other young people linked to the university. Parts of the area were designated under the city′s slum clearance program. In 1968 this began as the block along Robert Street, south of Bloor, was demolished to make way for highrise towers, similar to those of St. James Town. The local residents organized to block this move, founding the Sussex-Ulster Residents' Association. They were successful, smaller towers were built on part of the land and the rest was given to the University of Toronto which uses it as a sports field.
Lippincott Street runs north-south through Harbord Village, and is an example of the architectural style which used to typify the area. It was originally part of lot 17 purchased in 1815 by George Taylor Denison
George Taylor Denison
Lieutenant-Colonel George Taylor Denison III was a Canadian soldier and publicist.He was born in Toronto, and educated at Upper Canada College. In 1861 he was called to the bar, and was from 1865-1867 a member of the city council...
for the building of his new home “Belle Vue.” The residential street runs through present day Kensington Market, College Street
College Street (Toronto)
College Street is a principal arterial thoroughfare in downtown Toronto, connecting former streetcar suburbs in the west with the city centre. The street is home to an ethnically diverse population in the western residential reaches, and institutions like the Ontario Legislature and the University...
and Bloor Street. It includes a selection of Toronto architecture, including Victorian worker's cottages, Toronto bay-and-gable
Bay-and-gable
A bay-and-gable is a distinct architectural style of house that is ubiquitous in the older parts of Toronto, Canada. The most prominent feature is the large bay window that usually covers more than half of the front of the house, surmounted by a gable roof...
and more modern bungalows.
Demographics
Census tractCensus tract
A census tract, census area, or census district is a geographic region defined for the purpose of taking a census. Usually these coincide with the limits of cities, towns or other administrative areas and several tracts commonly exist within a county...
s 0059.00 and 0060.00 of the 2006 Canadian census cover Harbord Village. According to that census, the neighbourhood has 5,906 residents. Average income is $40,308, almost exactly the Toronto CMA average. The ten most common native languages, after English, are:
- Portuguese - 4.1%
- Cantonese - 3.7%
- Unspecified Chinese - 3.0%
- Mandarin - 1.0%
- Italian - 1.0%
- French - 0.7%
- Greek - 0.5%
- Ukrainian - 0.5%
- Slovenian - 0.4%
- Spanish - 0.3%