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Whitchurch-Stouffville |
Whitchurch Township was created by Governor John Graves Simcoe in 1792,
and named after the hometown of his wife in their native England. When
originally surveyed, Whitchurch extended all the way to Yonge Street
and included the eastern portions of Newmarket and Aurora. These
municipalities have since seceded from the Township, pushing
Whitchurch’s boundaries east to Highway 404.
The first settlers began to arrive in Whitchurch Township as early as
1794. Some were Quakers, others German soldiers who had fought for the
British during the American Revolution and were given land in
appreciation of their services, and a few were Mennonites. Later, after
the War of 1812, English settlers began arriving in great numbers and
changed forever the cultural identity of Whitchurch.
Abraham Stouffer immigrated to Canada from Pennsylvania in 1804, and
settled in what is now the heart of Stouffville. There he built saw and
grist mills, and was soon joined by other settlers and businesses. The
village that developed was originally called Stoufferville, but was
shortened to its current form in 1832.
One of the most important events in the township’s history, and that of
Stouffville in particular, was the arrival of the railway in 1871. As a
railway junction of the two main lines heading north from Toronto by
1877, Stouffville was incorporated as a village with more than 1,000
inhabitants.
The main industry in Whitchurch was lumber harvested from the dense
forests of the Oak Ridges Moraine and destined for the United States
and Europe. A boom period ensued, lasting until the timber was played
out at the end of the century. Whitchurch suffered economic stagnation
afterwards and reverted to its agricultural roots.
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Whitchurch-Stouffville |
These roots remain firmly entrenched today, and are part of the unique
character of Whitchurch-Stouffville. Since the end of World War II, the
Town has not been free of urban and industrial development, but it’s
been remarkably subdued compared to the rest of York Region. The result
is a setting ideal for those who like country living.
And yet, all
the amenities of modern city-life are available in
Whitchurch-Stouffville or extremely close at hand in nearby Markham and
Toronto. In fact, an outstanding transportation network serving the
community makes the GTA mere minutes away. Highways 404 and 48 provide
access to Markham in about 15 minutes and to downtown Toronto, in less
than an hour. In addition, GO Trains take passengers from Stouffville
station to downtown Toronto, while GO Bus and York Region Transit
provide another link to Toronto and to the other communities in York
Region.
The Markham Stouffville Hospital serves the two adjacent municipalities
and is located 10 minutes south of Stouffville on the Ninth Line. A
modern facility which opened in 1990, it deals with over 30,000
emergency patients every year.
Whitchurch-Stouffville is home to 25,000 people, making it one of the
most lightly populated municipalities in York Region. With an annual
growth rate of 3.7%, almost double that of the 1990s, the community is
expected to see modest growth in the coming years, reaching perhaps
35,000 in 2021. While Whitchurch-Stouffville may be one of the less
urbanized areas in York Region, it’s also one of the most prosperous.
Average household income is $110,000, 66% above the national average.
As a result, the vast majority of residents are home-owners, and 90% of
these homes are single-detached.
While the Town is experiencing only a modest increase in population,
its economy is growing at a healthy pace--- average annual business
growth is 5.7%. Small firms comprise the majority of local businesses,
but a growing number of medium and large firms are being attracted to
Whitchurch-Stouffville as well. The period 1998-2003 is indicative of
this trend. During that time, the number of small firms increased by
25%, while the number of medium and large firms increased by more than
31%.
Besides being a great place to live and work, the Town of
Whitchurch-Stouffville is a great place to play as well. Attractions
include gorgeous and challenging golf courses amongst the hills of the
Oak Ridges Moraine, history in the form of the Whitchurch-Stouffville
Museum and York-Durham Heritage Railway, several tranquil hiking
trails, and Ontario’s premier flea market, the Stouffville Country
Market.
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