King, Ontario
Encyclopedia
King is a township
Township (Canada)
The term township generally means the district or area associated with a town. However in some systems no town needs to be involved. The specific use of the term to describe political subdivisions has varied by country, usually to describe a local rural or semi-rural government within the county...
in York Region north of Toronto
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...
, within the Greater Toronto Area
Greater Toronto Area
The Greater Toronto Area is the largest metropolitan area in Canada, with a 2006 census population of 5.5 million. The Greater Toronto Area is usually defined as the central city of Toronto, along with four regional municipalities surrounding it: Durham, Halton, Peel, and York...
in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, 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...
.
The rolling hills of the Oak Ridges Moraine
Oak Ridges Moraine
The Oak Ridges Moraine is an ecologically important geological landform in the Mixedwood Plains of south-central Ontario, Canada. The moraine covers a geographic area of between Caledon and Rice Lake, near Peterborough...
are the most prominent visible geographical feature of King. The Holland Marsh
Holland Marsh
The Holland Marsh is a wetland and agricultural area north of Toronto, Ontario. It lies entirely within the valley of the Holland River, stretching from the northern edge of the Oak Ridges Moraine near Schomberg to the river mouth at Cook's Bay, Lake Simcoe. In its entirety it comprises about or...
, considered to be Ontario's "vegetable basket", straddles King Township and Bradford West Gwillimbury
Bradford West Gwillimbury, Ontario
Bradford West Gwillimbury, a town in south-central Ontario, in the County of Simcoe in the Greater Toronto Area on the Holland River. West Gwillimbury takes its name from the family of Elizabeth Simcoe, née Gwillim....
. King is known for its horse and cattle farms.
Though King Township is predominantly rural, most of its residents are concentrated in the communities of King City
King City, Ontario
King City is an affluent, unincorporated village in King Township, Ontario, Canada, located just north of Toronto. It is the largest community in King Township, with 1,629 dwellings and a population of 4,902.-History:...
, Nobleton
Nobleton, Ontario
Nobleton is an unincorporated village in southwestern King, Ontario, Canada. It is the third-largest community in the township, after King City and Schomberg. Located south of the Oak Ridges Moraine, Nobleton is surrounded by hills and forests...
, and Schomberg
Schomberg, Ontario
Schomberg is an unincorporated village in northwestern King, Ontario, Canada. Situated north of the Oak Ridges Moraine and south of the Holland River, the village is surrounded by natural attractions....
.
History
King Township is named for Major John King, an English Under-Secretary of StateParliamentary Under-Secretary of State
A Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State is the lowest of three tiers of government minister in the government of the United Kingdom, junior to both a Minister of State and a Secretary of State....
from 1794 to 1801 for the Home Department
Home Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
in the Portland administration
William Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland
William Henry Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland, KG, PC was a British Whig and Tory statesman, Chancellor of the University of Oxford and Prime Minister. He was known before 1762 by the courtesy title Marquess of Titchfield. He held a title of every degree of British nobility—Duke,...
. The township was created as part of the subdivision of York County
York County, Ontario
York County is a historic county in Upper Canada, Canada West, and the Canadian province of Ontario.York County was created in 1792 and was part of the jurisdiction of Home District of Upper Canada...
, itself a subdivision of the Home District
Home District
The Home District was one of four districts of the Province of Quebec created in 1788 in the western reaches of the Montreal District and partitioned in 1791 to create the new colony of Upper Canada. Known as Nassau District until 1792, it was composed of the areas along western Lake Ontario and...
. The lands were originally acquired by the British in an agreement with the Mississaugas
Mississaugas
The Mississaugas are a subtribe of the Anishinaabe-speaking First Nations people located in southern Ontario, Canada. They are closely related to the Ojibwa...
, known as the Toronto Purchase
Toronto Purchase
The Toronto Purchase was an agreement between the British crown and the Mississaugas of New Credit in 1787. The Mississaugas of New Credit exchanged 250,808 acres of land in what became York County The Toronto Purchase was an agreement between the British crown and the Mississaugas of New Credit...
; it was enacted in British parliament as the Toronto Purchase Act in 1787. Approximately 86840 acres (351 km²) of land were administered by the township in 1878, according to the Historical Atlas of York County, but by 1973 this had been reduced to 82,000; some of its land has been ceded to what are now known as Newmarket
Newmarket, Ontario
Newmarket is a town in Southern Ontario located approximately 50 km north of downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is part of the Greater Toronto Area and is connected to Toronto by freeway, and is served by three interchanges along Highway 404. It is also connected to Highway 400 via Highway 9...
, Aurora
Aurora, Ontario
Aurora is an affluent town in York Region, approximately 20 km north of Toronto. It is partially situated on the Oak Ridges Moraine, and is a part of the Greater Toronto Area and Golden Horseshoe of Southern Ontario.Many Aurora residents commute to Toronto and surrounding communities.In the...
and Oak Ridges
Oak Ridges, Ontario
Oak Ridges is an unincorporated community in Ontario, Canada, and has been part of Richmond Hill's administrative area since its annexation in 1971. Although physically separate and distinct from Richmond Hill, it forms the northern portion of the municipality's boundary. Located about 16.5 km...
.
Lieutenant-Governor John Graves Simcoe
John Graves Simcoe
John Graves Simcoe was a British army officer and the first Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada from 1791–1796. Then frontier, this was modern-day southern Ontario and the watersheds of Georgian Bay and Lake Superior...
planned Yonge Street
Yonge Street
Yonge Street is a major arterial route connecting the shores of Lake Ontario in Toronto to Lake Simcoe, a gateway to the Upper Great Lakes. It was formerly listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest street in the world at , and the construction of Yonge Street is designated an "Event of...
, which was built between 1793 and 1796 by the Queen's Rangers
Royal Canadian Armoured Corps
The Royal Canadian Armoured Corps is the armoured branch of service of the Canadian Army, including regular force and reserve regiments.-History:...
. By 1801, Timothy Rogers, a Loyalist
Loyalist (American Revolution)
Loyalists were American colonists who remained loyal to the Kingdom of Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War. At the time they were often called Tories, Royalists, or King's Men. They were opposed by the Patriots, those who supported the revolution...
from Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
, had travelled the road and found an area on its western boundary immediately southwest of Newmarket very appealing. He applied for and received a grant for land totalling 40 farms, each of 200 acre (0.809372 km²), and subsequently returned to Vermont to recruit families to operate those farms. By February 1802, he had set out for King Township with the first group of settlers for those forty farms. A second group followed later that month.
The area would become known as Armitage, the first of King's settlements, and now part of Newmarket. Soon after the establishment of Armitage, the communities of Kettleby and Lloydtown
Lloydtown, Ontario
Lloydtown is a hamlet located in King Township, Ontario, Canada. It is often associated with the surrounding and larger Schomberg, though it has its own unique characteristics and heritage.-History:...
were established to the west. More settlers arrived from New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, and other Loyalist enclaves over the subsequent years to populate the region, drawn by the abundant, fertile land being apportioned relatively cheaply to newcomers.
In 1851, the township annexed from West Gwillimbury the portion of land north of its extant and east of the Holland River
Holland River
The Holland River is a river in Ontario, Canada that drains the Holland River watershed into Cook's Bay, the southern extremity of Lake Simcoe. It is named after Captain Samuel Holland, , Dutch born first Surveyor General of British North America. The river flows generally north, and its...
as a result of the formation of Simcoe County.
The first survey of King Township, conducted in 1800 by Hessian soldier Johann Stegmann, indicated a population of twenty residents. By 1809, the population had increased sevenfold, to 160.
There is some evidence of a large Huron encampment at Hackett Lake. Residents in the area in the 1950s and 1960s would discover arrowheads and other archaeological items indicating a Huron presence. This is consistent with the fact that the Toronto Carrying-Place Trail
Toronto Carrying-Place Trail
The Toronto Carrying-Place Trail, also known as the Humber Portage and the Toronto Passage, was a major portage route in Ontario, Canada, linking Lake Ontario with Lake Simcoe and the northern Great Lakes...
, a major route used in the 17th and 18th centuries, passes through the township. The route was used by explorer Étienne Brûlé
Étienne Brûlé
Étienne Brûlé , was the first of European French explorers to journey along the St. Lawrence River with the Native Americans and to view Georgian Bay and Lake Huron Canada in the 17th century. A rugged outdoorsman, he took to the lifestyle of the First Nations and had a unique contribution to the...
, who first travelled along the trail with twelve Huron guides in 1615.
Early settlements in the area developed primarily around gristmill
Gristmill
The terms gristmill or grist mill can refer either to a building in which grain is ground into flour, or to the grinding mechanism itself.- Early history :...
s and sawmill
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
s. These were important economic engines in the region during the 19th century, which resulted in the establishment of other communities and businesses nearby. Some settlements have since been abandoned, or are no longer communities per se, including Bell's Lake, Davis Corners, and King Ridge.
In 1971, with the formation of the Regional Municipality of York and dissolution of York County
York County, Ontario
York County is a historic county in Upper Canada, Canada West, and the Canadian province of Ontario.York County was created in 1792 and was part of the jurisdiction of Home District of Upper Canada...
, the township's boundaries were changed, shifting west by one concession
Concession road
In Upper and Lower Canada, concession roads were laid out by the colonial government through undeveloped land to define lots to be developed; the name comes from a Lower Canadian French term for a row of lots. Concession roads are straight, and follow an approximately square grid, usually oriented...
from Yonge Street to Bathurst Street, and north by one lot from the King-Vaughan town line.
Geography
- East: Bathurst St.
- South: a line north of the King-Vaughan Road
- West: the Caledon/King Townline, which connects two roads (Caledon/King Townline North and Caledon/King Townline South) in a roughly straight line
- North: Highway 9Highway 9 (Ontario)King's Highway 9, also known as Highway 9, is a provincially maintained highway in the Canadian province of Ontario. Often cited as an example of poor planning, Highway 9 has been divided into two segments since January 1, 1998, when the segment between Harriston and Orangeville was downloaded to...
from the Caledon/King Townline to slightly east of Highway 27Highway 27 (Ontario)Highway 27, formerly known as King's Highway 27, was a provincially maintained highway in southern Ontario that is now cared for by the city of Toronto, York Region and Simcoe County. It is considered an undivided expressway in Toronto's municipal expressway network...
, then cuts north following branches of the Holland RiverHolland RiverThe Holland River is a river in Ontario, Canada that drains the Holland River watershed into Cook's Bay, the southern extremity of Lake Simcoe. It is named after Captain Samuel Holland, , Dutch born first Surveyor General of British North America. The river flows generally north, and its...
until it meets Bathurst St.
The majority of King is located on the Oak Ridges Moraine, which is the origin for the headwaters of many rivers throughout its extent, including the Humber River
Humber River (Ontario)
The Humber River is one of two major rivers on either side of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, the other being the Don River to the east. It was designated a Canadian Heritage River on September 24, 1999....
in King. Numerous interconnected provincially- and regionally-significant areas
Natural areas in King, Ontario
There are numerous natural areas in King, a township in Ontario, Canada. These areas are zones officially designated by the Government of Ontario that are within the township and exhibit provincially- or regionally-significant features representative of the region...
are located in the township. The most prominent are seven Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest
Area of Natural and Scientific Interest
An Area of Natural and Scientific Interest is an official designation by the provincial Government of Ontario in Canada applied to contiguous geographical regions within the province that have geological or ecological features which are significantly representative provincially or regionally...
, and the many wetland complexes adjacent to or within those areas.
Government
King Township was incorporated in 1850 as The Corporation of the Township of King. Its current mayor is Steve Pelligrini, who was sworn in to office in December 2010. The Town Council includes the mayor and six councillors representing the township's six wards. The mayor is also a member of York Regional CouncilYork Regional Council
York Regional Council is the political body for the Regional Municipality of York in Ontario, Canada. Created in 1970 it consists of 20 representatives: the mayors of each of its nine municipalities , and an additional eleven councillors from the more populous municipalities—four from...
.
| Position | Councillor | Communities represented |
|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Steve Pellegrini | All King Township |
| Ward 1 | Cleve Mortelliti | Eastern King City King City, Ontario King City is an affluent, unincorporated village in King Township, Ontario, Canada, located just north of Toronto. It is the largest community in King Township, with 1,629 dwellings and a population of 4,902.-History:... , Eversley, Snowball Snowball, Ontario Snowball is a Canadian hamlet in the township of King, Ontario, at the crossroads of Wellington Street W. and Dufferin Street. It is located north of Eversley. Snowball is part of electoral Ward 1 in King.-History:... , Temperanceville Temperanceville, Ontario Temperanceville is a hamlet in the Regional Municipality of York in Ontario, Canada, straddling two geopolitical jurisdictions, King and Richmond Hill. It is located at the southeastern edge of King and northwestern part of Richmond Hill, east of King City and adjacent to the western part of Oak... |
| Ward 2 | Peter Grandilli | Nobleton Nobleton, Ontario Nobleton is an unincorporated village in southwestern King, Ontario, Canada. It is the third-largest community in the township, after King City and Schomberg. Located south of the Oak Ridges Moraine, Nobleton is surrounded by hills and forests... , King Creek King Creek, Ontario King Creek is a hamlet located in King Township, Ontario, Canada. It is a small area with few homes, located immediately east of Nobleton. To the east is King City.-Environment:... , Laskay, Strange Strange, Ontario Strange is a hamlet on the western outskirt of King City located in King Township, Ontario, Canada. It is directly north of Laskay, and is a sparsely populated agricultural area.... |
| Ward 3 | Linda Pabst | Hammertown Hammertown, Ontario Hammertown is a community located in the township of King, in Ontario, Canada. It was once a small hamlet which had a general store, blacksmith shop, a schoolhouse, and a post office. People who live in Hammertown provision most of their goods and services from Nobleton, Bolton or Schomberg... , Happy Valley, Holly Park, Linton, New Scotland |
| Ward 4 | Bill Cober | Schomberg Schomberg, Ontario Schomberg is an unincorporated village in northwestern King, Ontario, Canada. Situated north of the Oak Ridges Moraine and south of the Holland River, the village is surrounded by natural attractions.... , Pottageville Pottageville, Ontario -External links:* from the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority... , Lloydtown Lloydtown, Ontario Lloydtown is a hamlet located in King Township, Ontario, Canada. It is often associated with the surrounding and larger Schomberg, though it has its own unique characteristics and heritage.-History:... |
| Ward 5 | Debbie Schaeffer | Western King City King City, Ontario King City is an affluent, unincorporated village in King Township, Ontario, Canada, located just north of Toronto. It is the largest community in King Township, with 1,629 dwellings and a population of 4,902.-History:... , Heritage Park, Kettleby, Kinghorn |
| Ward 6 | Avia Eek | Ansnorveldt Ansnorveldt, Ontario Ansnorveldt is a hamlet located at the northeastern edge of King Township, in Ontario, Canada. It is located in the Holland Marsh, north of Highway 9... , Glenville and northeastern King Township |
2010 municipal election
In the 2010 municipal election, four candidates contested the mayorship — Gordon Craig, Jeff Laidlaw, Steve Pellegrini, and the incumbent Margaret Black. Cleve Mortelliti was acclaimed for Ward 1 owing to no opposing candidates. Candidates for the other wards were:- Ward 2: René Bindi, Peter Grandilli and Jim Streb
- Ward 3: Jeff Jackson, Judith Link, and the incumbent Linda Pabst
- Ward 4: Greg Locke and the incumbent Bill Cober
- Ward 5: Paul Greco and Debbie Schaeffer
- Ward 6: Avia Eek and the incumbent Jack Rupke
The elected candidates were Steve Pelligrini (mayor), Cleve Mortelliti (acclaimed, ward 1), Peter Grandilli (ward 2), Linda Pabst (ward 3), Bill Cober (ward 4), Debbie Schaeffer (ward 5), and Avia Eek (ward 6).
Budget
The township draws revenues from various sources. The most significant in 2007 were municipal taxes (67.9% of revenue), fees and service charges (14.0%), water charges (4.3%), grants (3.5%) and reserves (2.9%). The most significant expenditures for 2007 are general municipal government (27.6%), recreation and culture (21.7%), transportation (17.8%), protection (16.6%) and environmental projects (11.6%).The Township offices reside at the King City Plaza, though a more appropriate permanent location is being investigated.
Provincial and federal politics
The federal riding of Oak Ridges—MarkhamOak Ridges—Markham
Oak Ridges—Markham is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 2004. Its population in 2006 was 169,645., with 136,755 electors, the highest of any riding in Canada...
is currently represented by Paul Calandra
Paul Calandra
Paul Calandra is a Canadian politician. He was elected to represent the electoral district of Oak Ridges—Markham in the 2008 Canadian federal election...
, a member of the Conservative Party of Canada
Conservative Party of Canada
The Conservative Party of Canada , is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. It is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
. This riding was created for the 2004 election because of rapid growth in York Region. Before 2004, King was in the riding of Vaughan—King—Aurora
Vaughan—King—Aurora
Vaughan—King—Aurora was a federal electoral riding in Ontario, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1997 to 2004, and was a provincial electoral riding represented in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1999 to 2007....
. The portion of King north of Highway 9
Highway 9 (Ontario)
King's Highway 9, also known as Highway 9, is a provincially maintained highway in the Canadian province of Ontario. Often cited as an example of poor planning, Highway 9 has been divided into two segments since January 1, 1998, when the segment between Harriston and Orangeville was downloaded to...
is part of the York—Simcoe
York—Simcoe
York—Simcoe is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1968 to 1979, from 1988 to 1997 and since 2004.It covers part of the region north of Toronto by Lake Simcoe....
electoral district, represented by Peter Van Loan
Peter Van Loan
Peter Van Loan, PC MP is a Canadian politician who is the Member of Parliament for the electoral district of York—Simcoe. He has been the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons since May 18, 2011, a role he previously held from 2007 to 2008.-Biography:Born in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Van...
of the Conservative Party of Canada.
The provincial riding of Oak Ridges—Markham is currently represented by Helena Jaczek
Helena Jaczek
Helena Jaczek, is a Canadian politician. She was originally elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in the 2007 provincial election and was re- elected in the 2011 provincial election representing the riding of Oak Ridges—Markham. She is a member of the Liberal Party.-Background:Jaczek was...
, a member of the Ontario Liberal Party
Ontario Liberal Party
The Ontario Liberal Party is a provincial political party in the province of Ontario, Canada. It has formed the Government of Ontario since the provincial election of 2003. The party is ideologically aligned with the Liberal Party of Canada but the two parties are organizationally independent and...
. It was created as part of Ontario's re-districting to match provincial electoral districts with their federal equivalents. King was part of the Vaughan—King—Aurora electoral district from 1999 to 2007, York—MacKenzie from 1995 to 1999, and York North
York North
York North was an electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from Confederation in 1867 until 2004. It is also an electoral district that was represented in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1867 to 2007...
from Confederation
Canadian Confederation
Canadian Confederation was the process by which the federal Dominion of Canada was formed on July 1, 1867. On that day, three British colonies were formed into four Canadian provinces...
to 1995. The portion of King north of Highway 9 is part of the York—Simcoe electoral district, represented by Julia Munro
Julia Munro
Julia Munro is a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, representing the Greater Toronto Area riding of York—Simcoe for the Progressive Conservative Party....
of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
The Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario , is a right-of-centre political party in Ontario, Canada. The party was known for many years as "Ontario's natural governing party." It has ruled the province for 80 of the years since Confederation, including an uninterrupted run from 1943 to 1985...
.
Demographics
Originally settled by United Empire LoyalistsUnited Empire Loyalists
The name United Empire Loyalists is an honorific given after the fact to those American Loyalists who resettled in British North America and other British Colonies as an act of fealty to King George III after the British defeat in the American Revolutionary War and prior to the Treaty of Paris...
in the late 18th century, King is now influenced by the significant immigration and diversification resultant from its proximity to Toronto.
King Township's population grew by 1.7% between 1996 and 2001, most new residents settling in the communities of King City, Nobleton or Schomberg. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
is 55.6 people per square kilometre; however, the Township is characterized by areas of extremely low density farming communities and the much higher density of its three major villages.
The median age of residents is 39.4; 30% of the population over 15 years of age is still single. Foreign-born residents accounted for 20% of the population. Only 3% of residents identify themselves as visible minorities
Visible minority
A visible minority is a person who is visibly not one of the majority race in a given population.The term is used as a demographic category by Statistics Canada in connection with that country's Employment Equity policies. The qualifier "visible" is important in the Canadian context where...
.
Of residents 15 years of age or older, 28% have a university certificate, diploma or degree. Another 18% have a college certificate or diploma, and 10% have a trade certificate or diploma. However, there is variability between age groups, as younger people are increasingly participating in higher levels of education.
Work
Nearly 15% of all employed residents work from home. Almost 3% walk or bike to work sites within the community; 5% use public transit, and 75% drive or are passengers in private vehicles, to reach work destinations within the Greater Toronto Area.The participation rate in the work force is 72.4%, with a 3.6% unemployment rate. The largest industries are:
- Construction and Manufacturing: 24%
- Business services: 23%
- Wholesale and Retail Trade: 17%
- Health and Education: 12%
- Finance and Real Estate: 8%
The median income for two-parent families is $90,364. For single-parent families, the median income is $43,673. The average value of a dwelling in King is $386,416.
Religion
The township's residents have the following religious affiliation:- 39.8% Protestant
- 38.3% Roman Catholic
- 17.1% atheist, agnostic or other non-theism
- 2.9% other Christian
- 0.1% Jewish
- 1.8% other religion
Transportation
The Township of King is located half-way between TorontoToronto
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...
and Barrie
Barrie, Ontario
Barrie is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada, located on the western shore of Lake Simcoe, approximately 90 km north of Toronto. Although located in Simcoe County, the city is politically independent...
, stretching from Bathurst Street to just east of Highway 50. King is accessible by Highways 400, 27
Highway 27 (Ontario)
Highway 27, formerly known as King's Highway 27, was a provincially maintained highway in southern Ontario that is now cared for by the city of Toronto, York Region and Simcoe County. It is considered an undivided expressway in Toronto's municipal expressway network...
, 9
Highway 9 (Ontario)
King's Highway 9, also known as Highway 9, is a provincially maintained highway in the Canadian province of Ontario. Often cited as an example of poor planning, Highway 9 has been divided into two segments since January 1, 1998, when the segment between Harriston and Orangeville was downloaded to...
and 11.
Public transportation is provided by York Region Transit
York Region Transit
York Region Transit is the public transit operator in York Region, Ontario, Canada. Its headquarters are in Richmond Hill, at 50 High Tech Road....
(bus service) and GO Transit
GO Transit
GO Transit is an inter-regional public transit system in Southern Ontario, Canada. It primarily serves the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area conurbation, with operations extending to several communities beyond the GTHA proper in the Greater Golden Horseshoe...
(bus and train services), but their services are limited in the township due to low population density. King City GO Station is the only train station in the township. York Region Transit's services are confined to the southeastern area, and GO bus serves the Nobleton and King City communities.
Most air travel is served by Toronto Pearson International Airport
Toronto Pearson International Airport
Toronto Pearson International Airport is an international airport serving Toronto, Ontario, Canada; its metropolitan area; and the Golden Horseshoe, an urban agglomeration that is home to 8.1 million people – approximately 25% of Canada's population...
, Canada's largest airport, located south of the township in Mississauga.
Education
Public schools with classes from kindergarten through grade twelve are administered by the York Region District School BoardYork Region District School Board
The York Region District School Board, also known as YRDSB, is the English-language public school board for York Regional Municipality located in Ontario, Canada. The York Region District School Board is currently the province's third largest school board, with an enrollment of over 115,000 students...
and the York Catholic District School Board
York Catholic District School Board
The York Catholic District School Board is the publicly funded English-language Catholic school district authority for the Regional Municipality of York in Ontario, Canada. Its head office is in Aurora....
. The only public secondary school in King, King City Secondary School
King City Secondary School
King City Secondary School, or KCSS, is a secondary education facility in King City, Ontario, Canada. It is a secular public school administered by the York Region District School Board. The school is located at 2001 King Road, and the current principal is Teresa Micone.- Campus :KCSS is located...
, serves students residing in a relatively large geographic area, including some from border towns. A private Catholic high school, St. Thomas of Villanova College
St. Thomas of Villanova College
St. Thomas of Villanova College is a middle school and high school in King City, Ontario, Canada. It was established at Mary Lake by lay educators Paul Paradiso and Grant Purdy in 1999 at Mary Lake Augustinian Monastery as a Catholic school together with the Order of Saint Augustine's friars of...
, and private secular high school, The Country Day School
The Country Day School
The Country Day School or CDS is an independent, non-profit university-preparatory school in King City, Ontario, Canada.It was founded in 1972. It is a member of the Canadian Association of Independent Schools , the Conference of Independent Schools of Ontario and the Canadian Educational...
, are also located in the township.
Seneca College
Seneca College
Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology is a Canadian public college in the greater Toronto area. Seneca College is currently Canada's largest college with approximately 108,000 students.-History:...
owns a campus located in the northeastern portion of King Township, where the College offers a broad range of programs.
Settlements
King's earliest settlement, Armitage, is now part of Newmarket, and was quickly succeeded by Lloydtown and Kettleby. Subsequent settlements were founded proximally to rivers, which provided the energy necessary to operate various mills. The earliest were based in Laskay, Kinghorn, and Eversley. The hamlet of Springhill was established later and flourished; it was renamed King City, now the largest population centre in the township.Eversley is a hamlet that, although it has its own historical development, has slowly been subsumed into King City. It lies on King City's north-eastern edge, just south of Snowball.
Glenville is a hamlet located in northeastern King, just south of the community of Ansnorveldt.
Heritage Park is a community of King City. It is a natural and wildlife park characterized by ravines and creeks, some of which feed the East Humber River. Portions of the park are in the King City Trail.
Kinghorn is a hamlet community of King City, located at the Jane Street-King Road intersection. It is a sparse residential area adjacent to Highway 400, and is home to the King Township Museum and The Kingbridge Centre.
Laskay is a hamlet located just west of King City and south of the King Road—Weston Road intersection.
Snowball
Snowball, Ontario
Snowball is a Canadian hamlet in the township of King, Ontario, at the crossroads of Wellington Street W. and Dufferin Street. It is located north of Eversley. Snowball is part of electoral Ward 1 in King.-History:...
is a growing hamlet located just north of Eversley, west of Aurora.
Other hamlets in King include Elm Pine Trail, Holly Park, Linton, and New Scotland.
Heritage sites
In the township, there are eleven sites designated Heritage Sites, including:- King Station was built in 1852 along the Northern RailwayNorthern Railway of CanadaThe Northern Railway of Canada was a historical Canadian railway located in the province of Ontario. It was eventually acquired by the Grand Trunk Railway, and is therefore a predecessor to the modern Canadian National Railway.- Early history :...
to serve Springhill (now King City). It was moved in 1989 to the grounds of the King Township MuseumKing Township MuseumThe King Township Museum in King City, Ontario, Canada is a local history museum for the township of King at 2920 King Rd. It was previously known as Kinghorn Museum, and is located on what was once known as Kinghorn, now subsumed by King City....
. It is believed to be the oldest surviving railway station in Canada, and was designated a heritage site in 1990. - King Emmanuel Baptist Church, formerly the King Christian Church until 1931, it was moved to the grounds of the King Township Museum in 1982, and designated a heritage site in 1992.
- King City Cemetery, established in 1886, was designated a heritage site in July 2007.
- King City Cemetery Dead House built circa 1887 was designated a heritage site in 2001. It is an octagonal structure that was used to preserve the dead during the winter, during which grave-digging was not feasible. Octagonal dead houseDead houseA dead house or deadhouse is a structure used for the temporary storage of a human corpse before burial or transportation, usually located within or near a cemetery. Such edifices were more common before the mid-20th century in areas with cold winter climates, before which time grave excavation...
s were unique to the area bordering Yonge StreetYonge StreetYonge Street is a major arterial route connecting the shores of Lake Ontario in Toronto to Lake Simcoe, a gateway to the Upper Great Lakes. It was formerly listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest street in the world at , and the construction of Yonge Street is designated an "Event of...
north of Toronto during the late 19th and early 20th century. - Eversley Presbyterian Church, a stone structure built in 1848, demonstrates the Scottish influence common in the area's early development. It was designated in 1984.
- Glenville Methodist Church, a small frame structure built in 1859, which remained operational until 1952. It was designated in 1983 as a township heritage site.
- King Christian Church Cemetery was the first burial grounds for Kettleby, built in 1850. It was designated a heritage site in 1986.
- Laskay Temperance Hall, built in 1859 by the Sons of TemperanceSons of TemperanceThe Sons of Temperance was a brotherhood of men who promoted the temperance movement and mutual support. It began spreading rapidly during the 1840s throughout the United States and parts of Canada....
. It had been operated by the Laskay Women's Institute since 1910, and is now operated by the municipality. It was designated a Heritage Site in 1986.
Public services
The township's municipal tax revenue is divided into three streams. One portion is combined with that from other municipalities for education purposes, a second portion is used to finance regional projects managed by York Region, and the last portion is used for local services.The most significant cultural service provided via municipal funding is the King Township Public Library
King Township Public Library
The King Township Public Library is a public library system that serves King Township, Ontario in Canada. It consists of four branches located at:* King City* Nobleton* Schomberg* Ansnorveldt...
, which operates four branches in the township.
Waste management is provided through the region, and is co-ordinated with programs offered in other towns in York Region. Weekly green bin
Green bin
A green bin is a short, rigid container used to collect biodegradable waste or compostable materials as a means to divert waste from landfills. In some localities green bins are also used to contain unsorted municipal waste...
compost collection began in September 2007 to complement the weekly Blue Box collection of recyclable material; collection of all other waste was reduced to once every two weeks. Water and wastewater management is operated by the township, though these services are not available ubiquitously; some areas rely on well water and septic tanks.