Thornhill
Introduction
Thornhill is a community on both sides of Yonge Street, just north of Toronto. The west side is in the City of Vaughan and the east side is in the City of Markham. Thornhill has had no municipal government of its own since 1971, when the old police village was divided between the two.
The community grew along Yonge Street, which was cleared north from Toronto in the 1790s. Benjamin Thorne arrived in 1820 and came to run a grist mill, a sawmill and a tannery. The settlement, first known as Thorne's Mills and then Thorne's Hill, received a post office in 1829 under the name Thornhill. In 1896, the Metropolitan Radial Railway reached Thornhill, and it became possible to live there and work in Toronto.
Real estate overview
Thornhill has a historic village core on Yonge Street, neighbourhoods of houses on both sides, and apartment and condominium buildings along Yonge Street and other main roads.
The Yonge North Subway Extension will take TTC Line 1 about eight kilometres north from Finch Station, with new stations planned at Steeles, Clark, Royal Orchard, Bridge and High Tech; major construction is under way. Vaughan's Yonge Steeles Corridor Secondary Plan guides redevelopment along the Vaughan side of Yonge Street and Steeles Avenue. Markham is studying the east side of Yonge Street around the Steeles, Clark and Royal Orchard stations for a future plan.
Neighbourhood highlights
- The historic village. Thornhill's business district grew along Yonge Street between Centre Street and John Street in the 1830s and 1840s, and several churches from that time still stand. Both sides of the old village are Heritage Conservation Districts, one in Vaughan and one in Markham.
- Colborne Street. A short street east of Yonge Street, which Markham's heritage plan describes as the one that best captures Thornhill's village character. The Thornhill Village Library is at 10 Colborne Street, in a heritage building from 1851.
- Heintzman House. A historic house at 135 Bay Thorn Drive, on the Markham side, expanded in 1817 and later owned by Charles T. Heintzman. The City of Markham owns it and uses it as a community hall and event venue.
- Clark Avenue West. On the Vaughan side, with the Garnet A. Williams Community Centre at 501 Clark Avenue West and the Bathurst Clark Resource Library at 900 Clark Avenue West.
Types of housing
Homes in Thornhill include detached and semi-detached houses, townhouses (freehold and condominium) and condominium apartments. Most apartment and condominium buildings are along Yonge Street and other main roads.
Properties inside the two heritage districts need a heritage permit for additions, alterations or demolition, so ask before you buy if you plan to renovate.
Lifestyle and amenities
Recreation centres. On the Vaughan side, City community centres include Garnet A. Williams, North Thornhill and Dufferin Clark. On the Markham side, the Thornhill Community Centre, Library & Fitness Centre is at 7755 Bayview Avenue, and Thornlea Pool & Gym is nearby.
Libraries. Vaughan Public Libraries has the Bathurst Clark Resource Library, the Dufferin Clark Library (1441 Clark Avenue West) and the Pleasant Ridge Library (300 Pleasant Ridge Avenue). Markham Public Library has the Thornhill Village and Thornhill Community Centre branches.
Valleys. Branches of the Don River run through Thornhill.
Getting around
YRT and Viva. Viva blue runs along Yonge Street between Finch Station in Toronto and Newmarket. Viva buses also use their own lanes on Bathurst Street and Centre Street, towards the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre and Richmond Hill.
GO Transit. Langstaff GO Station, at 10 Red Maple Road near Highway 7, is on the Richmond Hill GO line to Union Station in Toronto.
Subway. Finch Station, the north end of TTC Line 1 on Yonge Street, is in Toronto, south of Steeles Avenue; the Yonge North Subway Extension will add stations in Thornhill.
Roads. Steeles Avenue is Thornhill's southern edge, along the Toronto border, and Highway 407 crosses the area to the north.
Schools
Four school boards serve Thornhill on both the Vaughan and the Markham side: the York Region District School Board and the York Catholic District School Board (English), and Conseil scolaire Viamonde and Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir (French). School boundaries can change, so check each address with the board before you buy or rent.
Homes for sale in Thornhill
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