Woodbridge is a large suburban community in the City of Vaughan, just north of Toronto in Southern Ontario. It was once an independent town before being amalgamated with nearby communities to form the city in 1971. Its traditional downtown core is the Woodbridge Ave. stretch between Islington Avenue and Kipling Avenue north of Highway 7. Woodbridge has a large Italian immigrant population but has been experiencing a growth of other cultures since 2000 with increased housing development.

The community had its origins with the British Crown granting the west half of lots six and seven, concession 7 of Vaughan Township to Jacob Philips and Hugh Cameron in 1802. During the early half the 19th century, a school was built on Vaughan's eighth concession, a flour mill and store flourished at Pine Grove which is among the oldest areas of the city. A scattering of houses arose around Smith's mill (presently Hayhoe Mills on Pine Grove). Smith's mill later became known as Smithsville, but was eventually incorporated into the town of Woodbridge. A similar settlement, known as Brownsville, came into being around a mill run by John Brown on the Humber River on what is today Wallace Street in today's downtown Woodbridge business section. Woodbridge proper, however, did not begin to take the form of a settlement or village until the arrival of Rowland Burr in 1837^.. The town's name was changed to Woodbridge in 1855 because there was already a settlement named Burrwick. The name was taken from the wooden bridge that crossed the Humber River as an entry point into town. The historic bridge was located close to what is today Islington Avenue and Langstaff Road, on Langstaff looking north. A replica bridge circa 1930 made out of concrete remains close to the original bridge location and is accessible from Boyd Park and to a city maintenance facility. However, it has not been maintained for decades and is actually quite dangerous to stand on.

Construction of Highway 7 began in the 1920s, passing south of the business section and through an underpass of the Canadian Pacific. The original railway bridge spanned the valley of the Humber River, while construction of Highway 407 has undermined the banks of the river on both sides, requiring a third overpass for the railway.Hurricane Hazel in the 1950s ruined a bridge over Highway 7 and devastated much of the community. During much of this time, the land surrounding much of Woodbridge was used for farming. Slowly the area became populated with custom country houses.

The housing developments in mid-1990s expanded Martin Grove Road northward. Woodbridge Highlands was formed in the northwest, east of Highway 27 in the 1990s. In 1994 housing developments reached to Rutherford and continued until 1996 except for the northeast and the southeastern part. The condominiums began construction and now appear between Woodbridge Avenue and the Humber. Sonoma Heights at Islington and Rutherford and the Vellore area at Weston and Rutherford have been developed. The Vellore area includes Vellore Village developed by builders such as Greenpark Homes, Aspen Ridge Homes and Remington Homes. The Vellore Woods area was developed by Arista Homes and Fieldgate Homes. Development in the west end of Woodbridge then followed with Weston Rd and Rutherford becoming a major focal point for the building of additional residential units stretching north to Major Mackenzie. Land on both sides of Weston Road to Major Mackenzie were completely filled in. As an example of the scope of the development process, as of 2009 the entire area between Pine Valley Drive and Jane Street from Rutherford to Teston Road will eventually become houses. Houses were also built inside the Islington, Hwy 27, Major Mackenzie, and Rutherford quadrant. In addition, Vaughan Mills and a newer business section occupy the lands east of the 400, south of Rutherford. It is estimated that over 15,000 homes were built in less than 12 years with continued growth expected. All of these areas were previously fields less than 10 years ago with Canada's Wonderland previously sitting adjacent to hectares of empty farm land.

Woodbridge Avenue between Islington Avenue and Kipling Avenue was once home to some of the historical buildings from the late 19th century in addition to newer 1920s-1960s buildings, but is rapidly being reconstructed. Two examples of a histoic buildings include a Tinsmith Shop and Masonic Lodge (circa 1850) and the Burwick family home (from 1844 on Pine Street) that were moved to Black Creek Pioneer Village. Market Lane remains the commercial hub of this area, with several other shops and stores lining Woodbridge Avenue. Since 2000, there has been an increase in condominiums and apartment buildings on the historic avenue. Much of the avenue will be dominated by condominiums in the future as previous landowners have sold to developers.

Real Estate in Woodbridge

Woodbridge has always been considered a great place to bring up a family. A safe community that has it all. Close proximity to all major highways, future Viva transit system expansion to help getmake the commuter quicker and more efficiently. Woodbridge is home to many great shopping power centres. A very attractive area to move up buyers. It has been the choice of many to live there. Being part of Vaughan, families are offered a great deal of activities from sports to the arts to community offerings. Most homes in Woodbridge are detached homes on modest lots that are affordable for young families. New condo developments have popped up over the years around Market Lane and now new developments are planned at Highway 7 and Jane in the City Centre area

Price Range of detached homes in Woodbridge range from $500,000 to well over a million in north Woodbridge

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Schools

• Blue Willow Public School
• Dayley's Mills Public School
• Padre Dave Cheapola
• Emily Carr Secondary School
• Father Bressani Catholic High School
• Fossil Hill Public School
• Elders Mills Public School
• Holy Cross Catholic Academy
• Immaculate Conception Catholic Elementary School
• Lorna Jackson Public School
• Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Elementary School
• Pine Grove Public School
• San Marco Catholic Elementary School
• St. Agnes Of Assisi Elementary School
• St. Andrew Catholic Elementary School
• St. Angela Merici Catholic Elementary School
• St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Elementary School
• St. Clare Catholic Elementary School
• St. Clement Catholic Elementary School
• St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Elementary School
• St. Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Elementary School
• St. Gregory the Great Academy
• St. Jean de Brebeuf Catholic High School
• St. John Bosco Catholic Elementary School
• St. Margaret Mary Catholic Elementary School
• St. Padre Pio Catholic Elementary School
• St. Peter Catholic Elementary School
• St. Stephen Catholic Elementary School
• Toronto District Christian High School
• Vellore Woods Public School
• Woodbridge College
• Woodbridge Montessori School (Private Elementary)
• Woodbridge Public School

Places of Interest

• Colossus Movie Theatre
• Wendel Clark's Bar
• Club Links Golf
• Market Lane
• Memorial Hill with a tower
• Pierre Berton Library
• Toronto Board of Trade Country Club
• Woodbridge Fairgrounds
• Dave & Busters
• AJ Sportsworld
• The National Golf Club of Canada
• Boyd Conservation Area
• Kortright Centre