Thornhill Vaughan

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History:

Thornhill’s first settlers arrived in 1794. The community takes its name from Benjamin Thorne who settled here in 1820. Thorne operated a gristmill, a sawmill, and a tannery in the area. Not surprisingly the settlement became known as Thorne’s Mills, and subsequently Thorne’s Hill, and finally Thornhill. Thornhill’s location along Yonge Street was a major impetus for its growth as it provided access to the City of Toronto to the south. This access was accelerated with the arrival of the electric street railway along Yonge Street in 1898 and further enhanced in the 1920s, with the arrival of the automobile. In 1931, Thornhill became a “Police Village”. Essentially a Police Village is a small village with a population too small to warrant incorporation and formal municipal government The Police Village designation allowed citizens to appoint Reeves who would help maintain law and order. When York Region was created in In 1971, the former Police Village of Thornhill was dissolved. However; Thornhill would retain its village identity in part thanks to the post office which retained the Thornhill name. Old Thornhill which straddles Yonge Street, is a designated Heritage Conservation District. It contains over one hundred historic buildings that stand as reminders of Thornhill’s past. The Thornhill Historical Society has commemorated fifteen of these homes with historic plaques

Overview:

Thornhill enjoys the unique distinction of being situated in two different cities; the City of Vaughan west of Yonge Street and the City of Markham east of Yonge Street. Thornhill shares its southern boundary with the City of Toronto. The old village of Thornhill is clustered around Yonge Street between Centre and John Streets. This bucolic setting is highlighted by the east branch of the Don River which meanders downstream through the village and adjacent ravine parkland. The new Thornhill which has branched out from the old village is a collection of new home subdivisions surrounded by shopping centres, community centres, and highly ranked schools. Thornhill features a large Jewish, Eastern European and Italian population. Thornhill landmarks include the historic Thornhill Village heritage area, Uplands Golf and Country Club, the Bayview Golf and Country Club and the Promenade Shopping Centre.

Lifestyle:

The Promenade Shopping Centre located on Bathurst Street in Thornhill has over 175 shops including popular names like: Old Navy, American Eagle Outfitters and Coach.

Homes:

There is a new home subdivion in Thornhill to suit just about everyone’s taste and budget. There is also a wide selection of condominium buildings and townhomes to choose from here. Thornhill has some palacial executive homes on premium lots in enclaves such as Olde Thornhill, and Westmount. The gated mansions on Thornbank Road are among the largest and most lavish homes in the GTA. At the north end of Thornhill, the massive Thornhill Woods subdivision north of Highway 407 between Bathurst and Dufferin Streets has proven to be especially popular with young families.

Recreation:

Thornhill has an excellent mix of indoor and outdoor recreation facilities: The North Thornhill Community located at 300 Pleasant Ridge Avenue offers a myriad of amenities that include: Cycling studio, aerobics studio, sauna, swimming pool and whirlpool. Pay-as-you-go and membership options available. There are also a number of culture and faith based centres available to residents. The Thornhill Park Tennis Club located at 26 Old Yonge Street is one of the most active tennis clubs in the City of Vaughan. The public parkland surrounding these courts makes for a pretty setting. Golfers will delight in having so many courses to choose from in Thornhill. These include the Uplands Golf and Ski Club, The Bayview Country Club, and The Ladies’ Golf Club of Toronto.

Sugar Bush Heritage Park in Thornhill Woods is a huge greenspace with a naturalized trail in a forest setting and a paved walking trail that overlooks a pond. There is also a community agriculture garden, children’s playground and historic Baker House.

Arts:

The City Playhouse Theatre located at 1000 New Westminster Dr., showcases both professional and community based theatre performances in dance and music, as well as art exhibitions and multicultural events. Theatre education and outreach programs are also part of the City Playhouse mandate – opening their doors and establishing long-term connections with the community.