Unionville, Ontario, a suburban district and former village in Markham, Canada, is a charming destination located 2 km west of Markham Village and 33 km northeast of Downtown Toronto. The boundaries of Unionville are not well-defined, with several neighborhoods claiming to be part of it. Founded in 1794, Unionville is predominantly residential, with a south central industrial area slated for massive intensification.
Unionville's name was derived from Ira Allen White's Union Mills, built in 1839. The mill was named for the Act of Union 1840 of Upper Canada and Lower Canada. Unionville was a police village within Markham Township until the end of 1970, when the county was reorganized into the Regional Municipality of York. Unionville and the two other police villages in the township, Buttonville and Thornhill, were amalgamated with Markham Township, which was reincorporated as the Town of Markham.
Tourism is a major part of Unionville's economy. The village still resembles the small town that developed over a century starting in the early 1840s. Now a 'heritage conservation district', it attracts thousands of visitors each year. Main Street Unionville, which was Kennedy Road in the mid-to-late 20th century, runs through Unionville while the new Kennedy Road runs 300 metres to the east.
Unlike other communities in Markham, Unionville proper does not have a community centre. Crosby Memorial Arena, an indoor rink built in 1928, is the only major sports venue in the area. The Unionville Festival was first organized in 1969 to raise awareness and money to fight the provincial plan to run a four-lane road up the middle of the town. Today the festival continues to offer visitors access to handcrafts, small vendors, live music and community groups.
Unionville, Ontario is well-connected with various modes of transportation. It is served by Highway 407 ETR, York Region Transit, Viva Green and Viva Purple routes, and GO Train/Bus at Unionville GO Station. The Toronto Transit Commission also operates bus routes 68 Warden, 43 Kennedy, and 17 Birchmount.
According to Statistics Canada, the population of Unionville, Ontario increased from 7368 to 8906 individuals between 2006 and 2011. The increase in 2nd generation Canadian citizens moved from 970 to 2330 individuals. However, for first generations, the increase was from 4955 to 6225.
Unionville, Ontario is home to the Stiver Mills Farmers' Market, which operates every Sunday from June to October. The market was founded by Bob Stiver, a descendant of the Stiver brothers. The Stiver family has resided in Unionville and Markham since 1794 as part of the wave of migrants brought over by William Berczy. The market is located next to the historic Stiver Mill, a grain mill built in 1916 and operated as Stiver Brothers until 1968.
