Toronto facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Toronto
City (single-tier)
Skyline of downtown Toronto and the CN Tower Ontario Legislative Building Toronto Sign and City Hall Humber Bay Arch Bridge Casa Loma Royal Ontario Museum Scarborough Bluffs
Flag Coat of arms Logo
Etymology: From the Mohawk word tkaronto ('tree in the water there'), the name of a channel between Lakes Simcoe and Couchiching
Nicknames:  See list
Motto(s):  Diversity Our Strength
Toronto Location in Ontario Show map of Ontario Toronto Location in Canada Show map of Canada Toronto Location in North America Show map of North America
Country	Canada
Province	Ontario
Region	Southern Ontario
Established	August 27, 1793; 232 years ago (1793-08-27) (as York)
Incorporated	March 6, 1834; 191 years ago (1834-03-06) (as Toronto)
Changed division	January 20, 1953; 72 years ago (1953-01-20) (from York County to Metropolitan Toronto)
Amalgamated	January 1, 1998; 28 years ago (1998-01-01)
Communities	East York Etobicoke North York Old Toronto Scarborough York
Government
• Type	Single-tier municipality with a mayor–council system
• Body	Toronto City Council
Area
• Total	631.10 km2 (243.67 sq mi)
• Urban	1,829.05 km2 (706.20 sq mi)
• CMA	5,902.75 km2 (2,279.06 sq mi)
Lowest elevation	76.5 m (251.0 ft)
Population  (2021)
• Total	2,794,356
• Estimate  (2024)	3,273,119
• Rank	4th in North America 1st in Canada
• Density	4,427.8/km2 (11,468/sq mi)
• CMA	6,202,225 (1st)
• Region	9,765,188
Demonym(s)	Torontonian
Time zone	UTC−05:00 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−04:00 (EDT)
Postal code span	M
Area codes	416, 647, 437, 942
GDP (CMA)	CA$473.7 billion (2021)
GDP per capita (CMA)	CA$73,176 (2021)

Toronto is the largest city in Canada and the capital city of the province of Ontario. It is located on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. In 2021, the city had a population of 2,794,356 people, making it the fourth-most populous city in North America. The city is the centre of the Golden Horseshoe, a large urban area with over 9 million residents.

Toronto is known for being one of the most multicultural cities in the world. About half of the people living in Toronto were born outside of Canada. It is a major centre for business, finance, arts, and culture. The city welcomes over 26 million visitors every year who come to see its museums, festivals, and sports teams.

History of Toronto

Indigenous Peoples and Early Settlement

People have lived in the Toronto area for more than 10,000 years. The Indigenous peoples used the land for hunting and fishing. The name "Toronto" comes from the Mohawk word tkaronto, which means "where there are trees standing in the water". This name originally referred to a fishing weir (a type of trap) used by Indigenous people near Lake Simcoe.

In 1793, the British established a town called York on the site. It was named after Prince Frederick, Duke of York. The British chose this location because it had a natural harbour protected by a sandy peninsula. York became the capital of Upper Canada.

The 19th Century

An American squadron exchanging fire with Fort York during the Battle of York, 1813.

During the War of 1812, American troops attacked the town in the Battle of York. They captured the town and burned down the parliament buildings. In 1834, the town was renamed Toronto and officially became a city. William Lyon Mackenzie was elected as the first mayor.

Throughout the 1800s, Toronto grew quickly. Many immigrants arrived from Ireland and other parts of Europe. The city built railways to connect with other places, and industries grew along the waterfront. In 1867, when Canada became a country, Toronto became the capital of the new province of Ontario.

Modern Growth

Toronto in 1854. The city grew rapidly as immigrants arrived.

In 1904, a huge fire known as the Great Toronto Fire destroyed much of the downtown area. The city rebuilt quickly with better safety rules. After World War II, many people from all over the world moved to Toronto. The city expanded outward, creating suburbs like North York and Scarborough.

In 1998, the provincial government merged the old city of Toronto with five surrounding municipalities to create one large "megacity". This new single city government manages everything from police to public transit for the whole area.

In recent years, Toronto has hosted major events like the 2015 Pan American Games. The city continues to grow, with many new skyscrapers and transit lines being built.

Geography and Climate

Landscape

Satellite image of Toronto and the surrounding area in 2018

Toronto covers an area of 630 square kilometres (240 sq mi). The city is mostly flat but has a gentle slope upwards away from the lake. A unique feature of Toronto is its system of ravines. These are deep valleys with rivers and creeks running through them, such as the Humber River and the Don River. These ravines are often used for parks and nature trails.

The Toronto Islands are a group of small islands located in Lake Ontario, just south of downtown. They protect the harbour and are a popular park for visitors.

Weather

Toronto has four distinct seasons. Summers are warm and humid, with temperatures often rising above 30 °C (86 °F). Winters are cold, and temperatures usually stay below freezing. Snow is common from December to March. Spring and autumn are mild and pleasant.

The city's location next to Lake Ontario helps moderate the temperature, making it slightly warmer in winter and cooler in summer compared to areas further inland.

Cityscape and Landmarks

Downtown and Skyline

Sunset view of the Toronto skyline

Toronto is famous for its skyline, which includes many tall skyscrapers. The most famous landmark is the CN Tower. Standing at 553 metres (1,814 ft) tall, it was the world's tallest freestanding structure for over 30 years. It is a major tourist attraction and a hub for telecommunications.

The downtown area is home to the Financial District, where many of Canada's big banks have their headquarters. The Toronto City Hall is another well-known building with its two curved towers and the "Toronto" sign in Nathan Phillips Square.

Neighbourhoods

Toronto is often called a "city of neighbourhoods". It has many distinct areas, each with its own character.

• Old Toronto: The historic core of the city, including downtown.
• Yorkville: A wealthy area with fancy shops and restaurants.
• Chinatown: A bustling area with many Chinese businesses and markets.
• The Distillery District: A historic area with well-preserved Victorian industrial buildings that now house shops and galleries.
• Scarborough: A large district in the east known for its diverse food and the Scarborough Bluffs, which are tall cliffs overlooking the lake.

Culture and People

Diversity

Toronto is one of the most diverse cities in the world. People from over 200 different ethnic origins live here. While English is the main language, over 160 languages are spoken in the city. This diversity is celebrated through many festivals and cultural neighbourhoods like Greektown, Little Italy, and Little India.

Arts and Museums

The Royal Ontario Museum is a museum of world culture and natural history.

The city has many museums and galleries. The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) is the largest museum in Canada for world culture and natural history. The Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) has a huge collection of art. The Ontario Science Centre is a popular place for learning about science and technology.

Toronto is also a major centre for film. The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is held every September and attracts movie stars from around the world. The city is often used as a filming location for movies and TV shows, earning it the nickname "Hollywood North".

Sports

Toronto is home to several professional sports teams:

• Toronto Maple Leafs (Hockey): They play in the National Hockey League (NHL) at Scotiabank Arena.
• Toronto Raptors (Basketball): They play in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and won the championship in 2019.
• Toronto Blue Jays (Baseball): They play in Major League Baseball (MLB) at the Rogers Centre. They lost the 2025 World Series.
• Toronto FC (Soccer): They play in Major League Soccer (MLS) at BMO Field.
• Toronto Argonauts (Canadian football): They play in the Canadian Football League (CFL).

The city will host matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup later this year. A new WNBA team, the Toronto Tempo, will also begin playing in 2026.

Economy and Transportation

Business

Toronto is the financial capital of Canada. It is home to the Toronto Stock Exchange and the headquarters of Canada's five largest banks. The city is also a hub for technology, film production, and tourism. Many international companies have their Canadian offices in Toronto.

Getting Around

A TTC streetcar on King Street.

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) runs the city's public transport system. It includes a subway system with four lines, streetcars that run on tracks in the downtown area, and many bus routes. The subway system is expanding, with the new Line 6 Finch West having opened in 2025.

Union Station is the main transportation hub. It connects the subway with GO Transit trains that serve the suburbs and Via Rail trains that go to other cities.

The main airport is Toronto Pearson International Airport, which is the busiest airport in Canada. The smaller Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport is located on the Toronto Islands.

Government

The city is governed by the Toronto City Council. The head of the council is the Mayor of Toronto, who is elected by the people. The council makes decisions about local services like parks, libraries, garbage collection, and police.

Education

Toronto has many schools and universities. The University of Toronto is one of the top universities in the world. Other universities in the city include York University, Toronto Metropolitan University, and OCAD University. There are also several colleges, such as Humber Polytechnic and Seneca Polytechnic.

The Toronto Public Library system is the largest in Canada, with 100 branches across the city. It offers books, computers, and programs for everyone to use.

Images for kids

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  Ontario Legislative Building

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  Humber Bay Arch Bridge

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  Scarborough Bluffs

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  The second Parliament of Upper Canada building on Front Street, 1856

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  A group in front of a horse-drawn streetcar in front of Yorkville Town Hall 1870

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  The Gooderham and Worts buildings, 1896

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  Ruins on Front Street after the Great Toronto Fire of 1904

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  People in Toronto celebrating the Victory in Europe, May 1945

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  Houses uprooted by flooding of the Humber River after Hurricane Hazel passed through Toronto, 1954

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  Construction of First Canadian Place in 1975

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  Crowds navigating Union Station during the Northeast blackout of 2003

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  Damage from a fallen tree after the December 2013 storm complex

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  Leaside Bridge crossing the Don valley ravine in 2023

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  Topographical map of Toronto

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  View of the Toronto Islands

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  Map of Toronto with major traffic routes

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  Victorian-era houses in Toronto

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  Crescent Town and the surrounding area

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  Suburban neighbourhoods in Toronto

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  The Distillery District

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  The West Don Lands redevelopment

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  The Rosalie Sharp Centre for Design at OCAD University

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  Winters in Toronto are typically cold with frequent snowfall

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  Rouge National Urban Park

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  Nathan Phillips Square and Toronto City Hall

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  James Gardens

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  Population pyramid of Toronto from the 2021 Canadian census

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  View looking towards Toronto's Financial District

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  Lake freighters moored in the Port of Toronto

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  Buildings in the Financial District

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  33 Dundas Street East studio complex

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  Film production for The Boys at Pecaut Square

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  Kensington Market

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  The southern façade of the Art Gallery of Ontario

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  The Hockey Hall of Fame

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  Headquarters for the Toronto District School Board

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  University College at the University of Toronto

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  Toronto General Hospital

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  MaRS Discovery District building

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  The Toronto Reference Library

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  Crowds walk past the Royal Alexandra Theatre during the Toronto International Film Festival

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  The Cinesphere at Ontario Place

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  The grand parade for the Caribana festival

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  Queen City Yacht Club facilities

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  The Toronto Blue Jays playing at Rogers Centre

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  Scotiabank Arena

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  BMO Field

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  A Canadian football game at York University

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  Arrival of Elizabeth II at the 2010 King's Plate

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  The 2018 Grand Prix of Toronto

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  Toronto City Hall

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  A roadway with bike lanes

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  A TTC subway train

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  The Union Station Rail Corridor

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  Interior of Toronto Pearson International Airport

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  Highway 401

See also

In Spanish: Toronto para niños