Bolton
History:
Bolton is named after James Bolton who first settled this land in 1814. By the 1820s Bolton and his nephew George had established a complex of mills along the Humber River which formed the nucleus of this community. Bolton was a prosperous place with a remarkable amount of successful manufacturing companies operating within such a small area. In addition to the mills, there was a farm equipment manufacturer, a woolen factory, a carriage and wagon factory, a soap and candle factory and a tannery. There were also five hotels and a busy general store
By 1873 the population was large enough to warrant incorporation as a village. In the Illustrated historical atlas of the County of Peel, published in 1877 Bolton is described as “a picturesque village being situated in a valley, with the Humber River flowing through it; and so completely surrounded by hills.” In 1974 Bolton amalgamated with the neighbouring townships of Albion and Caledon to form the newly minted Town of Caledon. However; Bolton would retain its own distinct identity. It enjoyed its largest period of growth in the 1960s and 1970s and again in the 2000s.
Overview:
Bolton is situated in the southeast part of Caledon. It is the largest village in Caledon with an abundance of residential housing, and a vibrant commercial corridor. Downtown Bolton centred at King and Queen Streets sets the tone for the whole community. This is Caledon’s first Heritage Conservation District. This charming village filled with historic homes, buildings and churches from the 1800s, is situated in a picturesque valley setting with steep hills to the north and south. The Humber River courses its way through the downtown. The Humber Valley Heritage Trail connects Bolton residents to the river that shapes their village. The downtown is vibrant and hosts sidewalk sales, monthly music and dance festivals, plus annual events like Art in the Park and Taste of Bolton. The new parts of Bolton to the north, south and east of the downtown are defined by new home subdivisions with curvi-linear streetscapes and a hilly topography shaped by the Oak Ridges Moraine. There is also a large commercial corridor along Highway 50, south of the downtown corridor, that features a plethora of shopping plazas, big box shops and car dealerships. Bolton is an excellent choice for commuters as it is close to the 400 series highways that service the Greater Toronto Area.
Lifestyle:
Royal Courtyards is conveniently situated in the heart of Bolton at the crossroads of King and Queen Streets. Designed in the heritage style with lion statues at the entranceway and a pretty stone fountain in the interior courtyard this outdoor shopping plaza features restaurants, shops and professional offices.
There are a plethora of shopping plazas along Highway 50 in the south end of Bolton. Anchors include the likes of Walmart, Canadian Tire, Home Depot and Staples to name a few. There are also a number of fast food restaurants, car dealerships and national chain stores.
Homes:
Downtown Bolton has a large number of well preserved heritage homes that date from the mid to late 1800s. In town you will also find frame sided, cottage style bungalows, ranch style bungalows, split-level homes, traditional two-storey houses and some infill custom homes. There is even a few small boutique condo buildings.
The new part of Bolton outside the downtown has a number of newer subdivisions featuring detached homes with elaborate portico entranceways, stone and brick exteriors and attached garages.
Recreation:
Albion and Bolton Community Centre located at 150 Queen Street South, near the downtown, has a myriad of recreational facilities including a fitness facility, ice hockey and skating arena, and a public library. Each summer the expansive grounds surrounding this complex host two very popular community events; the Truck and Tractor Pull and the Bolton Fall Fair
Arts:
Caledon in general is an artists dream with the beautiful Oak Ridges Moraine and Niagara Escarpment topography providing the inspiration for many local artists.
Bolton Stats
Walkability:
High
Bikeability:
Medium
Public Transit:
Medium
Affordability:
Medium
Greenspace:
High
Recreation:
High
Legend: Low, Medium, High
Commute Times
* All commuting times provided are approximate times only. Commute times may increase or decrease depending on where you live within the neighbourhood and the time of day i.e rush hour versus off hour commutes. Time estimates to public transit are based on walking distance or bus line connection whichever is quicker. All other commute times on the chart above are based on drive times.