Tucked away just 40 km north of Toronto is the town of Newmarket. Though it may be small in comparison to places like surrounding Toronto, Hamilton, or Mississauga, Newmarket has a booming population, going from around 11,000 in the 1970's to nearly 75,000 in 2006. It's estimated that by 2011, the number of residents will increase to 87,000. Though it may not be small town Ontario anymore, it's still the kind of place where you'd know just where to go to for anything from a cup of coffee to a tankless water heater. The town may grow, but the charm will always remain.
Established as a Quaker settlement in 1801, Newmarket was home to many farmers and fur traders in its formative days, and quickly earned its moniker, being the "new" marketplace to rival that of Toronto's "Old Market". Today, the town keeps that tradition alive in its historical downtown core, with a weekly Farmer's Market from late spring to mid fall, and a wide array of shops, boutiques, craft and antique stores for visitors and locals alike to enjoy. On Father's Day weekend, the town is home to a vibrant Ontario craft show, a Canadian trade mark, the Fairy Lake Artisans Festival. Artists from all disciplines and mediums come from every corner of the province to show and share their works with the locals and visitors in Newmarket. With food, entertainers, and fun for the whole family, it's an event not to be missed. So for the internet junky looking to break away from their Toronto real estate blog and take a vacation from the city, why not head up north to Newmarket this weekend and soak up a little hometown goodness!
For those looking to relocate from the busy urban lifestyle and ditch that Mississauga resale home, Newmarket is the perfect place for you. Quiet and safe with a great sense of community, the town has much to offer your growing family. With several elementary and secondary schools to choose from (including private and catholic schools), one of the province's top hospitals in Southlake Regional Hospital, and a wide variety of sports and recreational activities, Newmarket is a wonderful environment for any child to spend their formative days. Just ask some of the town's most famous residents: though he may have traded his toque and snow shovel for sandy beaches and California business cards, Newmarket was once home to famous comedian Jim Carrey, as well as 80's rockers Glass Tiger, 2-time Olympic Silver Medal figure skater Elvis Stojko, and Philidelphia Flyer's forward Steve Downie. Safe to say all the above have made Newmarket proud.
So whether you're just passing through, taking a few days to see the sights, or looking for a new place to call home, Newmarket has something to offer. It may not be Niagara Falls, it may not have the sights and sounds of metro Toronto, but one thing is for sure: if you're looking for that small town, home grown feeling, Newmarket is the place for you.
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