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King City | |
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  King City Location within Canada Show map of Canada King City Location within Ontario Show map of Ontario King City Location within North America Show map of North America | |
| Coordinates:43°55′43″N79°31′09″W / 43.92861°N 79.51917°W /43.92861; -79.51917[1] | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Ontario |
| Regional municipality | York Region |
| Township | King |
| Settled | 1836 |
| Government | |
| • Township mayor | Steve Pellegrini |
| • Councillors | Ward 1: Jordan Cescolini Ward 5: Debbie Schaeffer |
| • MP | Anna Roberts |
| • MPP | Stephen Lecce |
| Area | |
| • Land | 14.20 km2 (5.48 sq mi) |
| Population (2021) | |
• Total | 8,396 |
| • Density | 591.1/km2 (1,531/sq mi) |
| [2] | |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Forward sortation area | |
| Area codes | 905, 289, 365, and 742 |
| Census Tract | 0460.01 |
| NTS Map | 30M13Bolton |
| GNBC Code | FBUQL |
King City is anunincorporated Canadian community in the township ofKing,Ontario, located 40 kilometres (25 mi) north ofToronto. It is the largest community in King township, with 2,730 dwellings and a population of 8,396 as of the2021 Canadian census.[2]
In 1836, a settlement styledSpringhill was established in King.[3] With the arrival of theOntario, Simcoe and Huron railway in 1853, the settlement began to expand. In 1890, the reeve of King township (James Whiting Crossley) incorporated King City by merging the hamlets of Springhill, Kinghorn, Laskay, and Eversley.[3]
King City is characterized by rolling hills and clusteredtemperate forests in theEastern Great Lakes lowland forests ecoregion. Numerouskettle lakes and ponds dot the area. Creeks and streams from King City, the surrounding area, and as far west asBolton and as far east asStouffville are the origin for theEast Humber River.
Situated entirely on the southern slope of the central portion of theOak Ridges Moraine and its watershed,[4] numerous disputes about planning and development have occurred municipally, such as installation of a sewerage system connecting the community to the Durham-York Sewage System in the 2000s.
Numerous stables and other farms have been established on the 147.938 square kilometres (57.119 sq mi) of land area occupied by the township.
The provincially significant King-Vaughan Wetland Complex consists of 23 individual wetlands (83% swamp, 17% marsh).[5] It is composed ofclay,loam andsiltsoils on a site that ispalustrine (69%) or isolated (31%).Vegetation found on this wetland includes tall shrubs (34%),deciduous trees (28%), dead trees and shrubs (19%), and narrow-leaved emergents (12%); additionally, robust emergents and free-floating plants are found in small agglomerations.
King Forest is a 60-hectare forest with steep valleys containing the narrowflood plain of the East Humber River.[6] The valley walls are of dry-mesic nature, supportingEastern White Cedar,Eastern Hemlock andSugar Maple. It is a regenerating forest containing 85 ground-cover species. The flood plain consists primarily of Eastern White Cedar, Sugar Maple and someWhite Ash, though 26 species do thrive in the area.
The King City Wetland Complex contains eightwetlands (77% swamp, 23% marsh) over 49 hectares.[7] It is a palustrine formation composed 70% of clay, loam or silt soils, and 30% organic soils. It has varied vegetation, including tall shrubs (40%), deciduous trees (37%), robustemergents (14%), narrow-leaved emergents (4%) andsubmergent vegetation (4%).
Also, the King-Vaughan Forest straddles King City and portions ofVaughan. It is similar to the King Forest, composed of forest areas on steep valley walls containing the flood plain of the Humber River.[8] The dominant species on the valley walls are Sugar Maple and Eastern Hemlock, which are strongly regenerative in the forest. On the flood plain, a greater variety of species may be observed. Immature stands ofManitoba Maple and Eastern White Cedar, poplars andAmerican Elm can be found here, as can an extensiveHawthornscrubland.
King City has acontinental climate moderated by theGreat Lakes and influenced by warm, moistair masses from the south, and cold, dry air from the north. The Oak Ridges Moraine affects levels of precipitation: as an air mass arrives fromLake Ontario and reaches the elevated ground surface of the moraine, it rises causing precipitation.[9]
| Climate data for King City (1981–2010 normals) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 13.0 (55.4) | 14.0 (57.2) | 24.0 (75.2) | 30.0 (86.0) | 32.2 (90.0) | 34.0 (93.2) | 35.5 (95.9) | 36.0 (96.8) | 34.0 (93.2) | 27.0 (80.6) | 21.0 (69.8) | 19.0 (66.2) | 36.0 (96.8) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −3.6 (25.5) | −2.2 (28.0) | 2.7 (36.9) | 10.8 (51.4) | 17.7 (63.9) | 22.9 (73.2) | 25.7 (78.3) | 24.5 (76.1) | 20.0 (68.0) | 12.8 (55.0) | 5.6 (42.1) | −0.4 (31.3) | 11.4 (52.5) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −7.4 (18.7) | −6.1 (21.0) | −1.5 (29.3) | 6.0 (42.8) | 12.5 (54.5) | 17.7 (63.9) | 20.5 (68.9) | 19.6 (67.3) | 15.3 (59.5) | 8.6 (47.5) | 2.2 (36.0) | −3.7 (25.3) | 7.0 (44.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −11.1 (12.0) | −10.0 (14.0) | −5.8 (21.6) | 1.1 (34.0) | 7.2 (45.0) | 12.4 (54.3) | 15.2 (59.4) | 14.6 (58.3) | 10.6 (51.1) | 4.4 (39.9) | −1.2 (29.8) | −7.0 (19.4) | 2.5 (36.5) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −34.0 (−29.2) | −31.0 (−23.8) | −24.0 (−11.2) | −15.0 (5.0) | −3.5 (25.7) | 2.5 (36.5) | 5.0 (41.0) | 3.5 (38.3) | −1.5 (29.3) | −7.2 (19.0) | −17.0 (1.4) | −31.0 (−23.8) | −34.0 (−29.2) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 51.7 (2.04) | 46.0 (1.81) | 51.2 (2.02) | 64.9 (2.56) | 87.1 (3.43) | 84.8 (3.34) | 86.4 (3.40) | 88.4 (3.48) | 84.2 (3.31) | 72.9 (2.87) | 84.6 (3.33) | 55.5 (2.19) | 857.6 (33.76) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 20.7 (0.81) | 23.1 (0.91) | 30.2 (1.19) | 59.5 (2.34) | 87.1 (3.43) | 84.8 (3.34) | 86.4 (3.40) | 88.4 (3.48) | 84.2 (3.31) | 71.5 (2.81) | 71.0 (2.80) | 28.5 (1.12) | 735.3 (28.95) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 31.0 (12.2) | 22.9 (9.0) | 21.0 (8.3) | 5.4 (2.1) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 1.4 (0.6) | 13.6 (5.4) | 27.0 (10.6) | 122.2 (48.1) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.2 mm) | 11.7 | 8.9 | 9.9 | 11.4 | 11.4 | 10.6 | 9.5 | 10.9 | 11.3 | 12.0 | 12.4 | 9.7 | 129.5 |
| Average rainy days(≥ 0.2 mm) | 3.3 | 3.2 | 5.6 | 10.0 | 11.4 | 10.6 | 9.5 | 10.9 | 11.3 | 11.8 | 9.6 | 4.6 | 101.8 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.2 cm) | 8.8 | 6.2 | 5.2 | 1.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.48 | 3.7 | 5.6 | 31.7 |
| Source:Environment Canada[10] | |||||||||||||
King City does not have its own municipal government; it is represented municipally on King Township council by two councillors, inWards 1 and 5. Ward 1 covers King City east of Keele Street, and includes the communities ofEversley,Snowball andTemperanceville. Ward 5 includes the western part of King City to Highway 400.
King City was historically served by septic systems. In 2001, York Region took away control of planning for King Township's sewage collection system. The Township's council at the time opposed the installation of a sewage system in King City, and brought the issue to court. Changes to the Regional Municipalities Act in 2001 resulted in regional control of sewer and water systems by regional government. The municipal government has authority to plan and manage the local collection system. The 2003 municipal elections resulted in a council favourable to installation of a sewage system in the town and its connection to the York-Durham Sewage System. The Township subsequently applied for project provincial and federal construction grants.
Proponents of the link cited health concerns about the septic systems in the community, and the occasional spill, as reasons to link to the Durham-York system. Opponents stated that the health issues of the septic systems were embellished, and that the link would result in poorly controlled growth in the community, and henceurban sprawl.
TheKing City Sanitary Servicing Project began construction in early 2005, jointly funded by King Township and York Region. A by-law was passed in April 2005 that made it mandatory for residents to connect to the new sewer system. Installation of the near $50 million project was funded through tax receipts, which included system linkage for public facilities such as municipal offices and the library. This cost included only the provision of a sewerage connection at the property line. In addition, homeowners are required to install piping from the home to the sewerage connection at their expense. Decommissioning and infilling septic tanks is also mandatory.
Installation of the wastewater system was followed by numerous applications for development of residential subdivisions. By 2012, there were at least eight subdivision developments under construction and two expansions within King City,[11] which are expected to add 690 detached houses, 299townhouses, and a 134-unit four-storey condominium complex, as well as expanding the York Region Seniors Housing centre by 40 units.
Through traffic on King Road has become a concern in the past decade, as the number of heavy vehicles has increased significantly. Notably, dump trucks serving new subdivision construction sites in nearbyOak Ridges use King Road to reach Highway 400. Delivery trucks destined forAurora andRichmond Hill also make use of King Road as a bypass.
The Township borders onPeel Region, which has promoted the extension ofHighway 427 from its current terminus at Highway 7 north to the Bradford Bypass. This extension would border the Township, raising concerns aboutnoise pollution in the rural area.
King City has been a filming location for at least ten movies/TV shows:
King City is also the location ofShift an outdoor sculpture byRichard Serra built between 1970 and 1972.[18] The sculpture was commissioned by Roger Davidson, and is being considered for protection under theOntario Heritage Act by the Township of King Heritage Committee.[19] The work is located on land just south of the village, for which the township has received development proposals by its owner Great Gulf Group.[20]
TheSeneca College King Campus is located in King City; it is the only post-secondary education facility in King Township, and one of its major employers.
Like the rest of Ontario, King City has access to two public education systems: the regional boards are theYork Catholic District School Board and theYork Region District School Board.
King City Secondary School is a public school that serves students from all King Township. With a student body of approximately 1100, course offerings are moderate but varied. The school features a full-size 400m outdoor track and a soccer pitch.
Within the public school system,King City Public School serves the community. Holy Name Catholic School offers education within the Catholic separate school system.
Additionally, the community is served by a number of private institutions:
Traditionally, King City has been aProtestant community, butRoman Catholicism has a nearly equal number of followers (statistics for the whole Township of King are used). Protestants make up 41%of the population, whereas Roman Catholics represent 39% of residents. Both of these religions outnumber the remaining faiths in practice within King City, namely those who identify themselves asChristian Orthodox (1%),Muslim (0.5%),Jewish (0.5%),Hindu (0.5%), orSikh (0.5%). Approximately 17% of the population has no religious affiliation.
King City is home to five churches and a shrine:
The King City Community Centre and King City Arena host numerous activities, such as youth hockey league matches and yoga classes. They also host many community events throughout the year, and some public King Township meetings.
Leagues for girls and boys hockey, tennis, soccer, and baseball[21] exist, and a number of clubs provide other avenues for kids to enjoy and learn.
King City Memorial Park, next to the arena, has two baseball fields, several soccer fields, two children's playgrounds, and four tennis courts (two with lighting). An open, covered area is used for public events and picnics.
A portion of the extensive Oak Ridges Trail passes through King City. The community is creating its own trail network, theKing City Trail; the two networks are currently not connected.
Private recreation facilities include St. Edmunds Sparkling Cricket Club cricket facility operated by the Maple Leaf Cricket Club, and two golf clubs: King's Riding Golf Club[22] and King Valley Golf Club.[23]
Residents are within a ten-minute commute to recreation in other communities. The Maple Community Centre, operated by theCity of Vaughan, offers services and memberships to non-Vaughan residents. Servicesavailable include a fitness centre, a pool for lap and family swimming, and a public library. Aurora and Richmond Hill also have facilities, both private and public, easily accessible to King City residents.
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As a small town, King City doesn't have an infrastructure sufficient to support a diversified business community. The primary business sectors are construction, which employs 34% of the workforce, and education, which employs 16% of the workforce (seeEducation).
Retail establishments are small, family-run businesses, with the exception of financial and realty services. Almost all retailers are located on King Road between Keele Street and Dufferin Street, or on Keele Street south of King Road to Station Road. In the 1980s there was a proposal to build a 3,700 square metres (40,000 sq ft) mall at the northwest corner of King Road and Dufferin Street for 10 to 15 stores and commercial office space.[25] It was never built, but in 2014 construction began on that space for a mall. The project was approved by municipal council in March 2013, and will consist of 16 buildings totalling 151,056 square feet (14,033.6 m2) that will include a Coppa's Fresh Market supermarket, a gas station and drive-through convenience restaurant, and two banks.[26][27]
King City has dailyGO train service on theBarrie line. Commuters from King Township and parts of the City of Vaughan board the train atKing City GO Station, at the south end of the town. GO Transit also provides weekday bus service from King City GO Station, with destinations as far south as Toronto, and as far north asBarrie.
Bus service in King City is also provided byYork Region Transit (YRT). Routes 32, 88 and 90 make stops at Seneca College's King Campus. Also in 2005, YRT introduced the 22 King City route which travels from Seneca College across Bloomington Rd. to Yonge St. and over to King City via. King Rd and Bond Cr. where it then travels down Keele Street to the Maple GO Station in Vaughan, Ontario.
Highway 400 runs past King City along its western end; it is a major vehicular artery linking King City to numerous communities in the vicinity, and is part of the extensive400-series provincial highways. King City is at Exit Number 43, King Road.
The closest major airport to King City isToronto Pearson International Airport. The community was once served by theKing City Airport, mainly forgeneral aviation and recreational use. However, the airport closed in 1986.[28] Today the only registered aerodrome in the city is a private helipad located at theKingbridge Centre.[29]
Given its proximity to Toronto, King City has exposure to a broad variety of media. National and Toronto-area daily newspapers offer delivery to the community. Several local papers are delivered to the community, by carrier or post. These include:
Over the air television sources from Toronto, Barrie and as far away asBuffalo are generally clear. Affiliates for Canadian networksCBC,CTV andGlobal, as well as American networksABC,CBS,Fox andNBC are all available, as are public-support stationsTVOntario andPBS.
Cable TV is available fromRogers Cable.
Broadband internet access is available from Rogers via cable, andBell Canada via DSL. Many resellers of Bell's DSL also provide service in the community. Fixed wireless connections are also available.
Postal service is provided byCanada Post; King City'sForward Sortation Area isL7B.UPS andFedEx both provide weekday service to King City.
In 1985, the Research Directorate of the Atmospheric Environment Service established the first CanadianDoppler weather radar in King City.[30] In 2004, a Dual-Polarization Radar was installed for further research.[31] These systems are used for predictive purposes, and the data collected is used for weather forecasts for theGreater Toronto Area and theGolden Horseshoe. The observatory also participates in theNEODyS system,[32] which tracksNear-Earth objects. Six asteroids have been discovered at this site.
Rosannagh MacLennan won a gold medal in the2012 women's trampoline at theLondon Olympics.[33] and a gold medal in the2016 women's trampoline at theRio Olympics.
King City is the hometown of ice hockey playersJeff O'Neill,Curtis Joseph,Wendel Clark,Daniel Carcillo,Alex Pietrangelo,Rick Hampton,Davis Payne andMario Ferraro.
Rasmus Lerdorf, inventor of thePHP programming language lived in King City during his childhood.
It is also home to musicianJon Brooks, and Jordan Ullman from the R&B duoMajid Jordan had resided in the town, released a song about King City.[34]
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King, Ontario | |
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