Unionville | |
|---|---|
Suburban district | |
 Aerial view of old Unionville: Main Street Unionville (centre), Toogood Pond Park (top) and Crosby Park (top left) | |
 Unionville within Markham | |
| Coordinates: 43°51′53″N 79°18′37″W / 43.86472°N 79.31028°W | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Ontario |
| Regional Municipality | York |
| City | Markham |
| Founded | 1794 |
| Incorporated | 1907? (Police village) |
| Changed Municipality | 1971 York Region from York County |
| Annexed | 1971 into Markham (as Town); 2012 (as City) |
| Government | |
| • Founder | William Berczy |
| • MP's | Paul Chiang (Markham—Unionville) |
| • MPP's | Billy Pang (Markham—Unionville) |
| • Councillors | Reid McAlpine (Ward 3) Karen Rea (Ward 4)* Amanda Yeung Collucci (Ward 6)* *Commonly considered Unionville, although the City of Markham designates Unionville as only within Ward 3 |
| Elevation | 177 m (581 ft) |
| Forward sortation area | |
| NTS Map | 030M14 |
| GNBC Code | FCYXB |
Unionville is a suburban district and former village in Markham, Ontario, Canada, 2 km (2.5 mi) northeast of Downtown Markham (the City of Markham's modern downtown), 2 km (2.5 mi) west of Markham Village (Markham's historic downtown), and 33 km (20.5 mi) northeast of Downtown Toronto, centred around the intersection of Highway 7 and Kennedy Road. The boundaries of Unionville are not well-defined. Several nearby neighbourhoods are claimed to be part of it however, this has been disputed between the various wards.[1][2] The Unionville Ratepayers Association designates Rodick Road as its western boundary.
Unionville was founded north of 16th Avenue in 1794 as the farms on and around Kennedy Road. Main Street Unionville; originally part of the course of Kennedy Road, runs through Unionville village, with a new alignment of Kennedy running 300 metres (330 yd) to the east. Rouge River runs north of the village and to the southeast. Highway 404 is to the west, with the nearest interchange with Highway 407 is 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) south on Kennedy Road. Unionville is predominantly residential except for the south central industrial area, which is slated for massive intensification.
Tourism is a major part of Unionville's economy. The village itself still resembles the small town that developed over a century or so starting in the early 1840s (when Ira White erected his Union Mills) through the middle to late 20th century. Now a 'heritage conservation district', it attracts thousands of visitors each year — as of 2006 it boasted nine restaurants, including three pubs. Main Street (originally the laneway from the village's first grist mill) also has a number of "century homes" dating back to the 19th century. Each year, thousands of people visit Unionville during the Unionville Festival.[3]
The main street has been a stand-in for fictional Connecticut town Stars Hollow during the first season of Gilmore Girls television show, and for other television and movie backdrops.
Most of the historic buildings in Unionville are included in List of historic buildings in Markham, Ontario.
- ^ "Markham Wards". Retrieved 30 May 2012.
- ^ Hsieh, Tiffany (7 July 2011). "Will the real Unionville please stand up?". Economist and Sun. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
- ^ "Unionville Festival". Retrieved 30 May 2012.