Aurora, Ontario, a town nestled in the heart of the Greater Toronto Area, is a vibrant community with a rich history and a promising future. As of 2021, Aurora boasts a population of 62,057, making it the 92nd largest municipality in Canada. The town is twinned with Leksand, Sweden, and is part of the Golden Horseshoe region of Southern Ontario.
The history of Aurora, Ontario, dates back to 1793 when Lieutenant-Governor John Graves Simcoe ordered the extension of Yonge Street to Holland Landing. This marked the beginning of the community that would eventually become Aurora. The first house in Aurora was built in 1795 at the intersection of Yonge Street and Catherine Avenue. By 1801, the community had grown to include fourteen homes.
In 1804, Richard Machell became the first merchant at the crossroads of Yonge and Wellington, and the hamlet soon became known as Machell's Corners. Charles Doan, another early businessman, became the first postmaster and later the first reeve. The post office was originally known as "Whitchurch". As postmaster, Doan played a significant role in renaming the village Aurora, after the Roman goddess of dawn. By 1851, the community, initially known as Machell's Corners, had grown to 100 residents.
Aurora was incorporated as a village in 1863, with Charles Doan serving as the first reeve. By 1881, the population had grown to 1,540, and by 1888, it had reached 2,107. Despite a downturn at the turn of the century, Aurora experienced a boom in development after the Second World War due to its proximity to Toronto. Notably, Aurora was the childhood home of Lester B. Pearson, Prime Minister of Canada from 1963 to 1968.
In the 21st century, Aurora has expanded eastward beyond Industrial Parkway to Highway 404. This growth has shifted the economic focal point within the town increasingly eastward towards Highway 404. Despite economic challenges, Aurora has been recognized for its commitment to preserving its historical built form. In 2008, it was awarded The Prince of Wales Prize for Municipal Heritage Leadership, and in 2009, it received the Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage Award for Community Leadership in heritage conservation and promotion.
Aurora is located just north of the Oak Ridges Moraine and borders Newmarket in the north, Richmond Hill in the south, King City in the west, and Whitchurch–Stouffville in the east.
Aurora, Ontario, is home to several distinct communities and neighbourhoods. These include Cherry, a residential area located northwest of Bloomington Road and Yonge Street; Aurora Village, the town's main strip located on Yonge Street at Wellington Street; Hills of St. Andrew, a residential area developed in the 1980s; Petchville, a former community centred along Wellington Street and Leslie Street; and White Rose, a community near Lebovic Golf Club on Leslie Street north of Bloomington Road.
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Aurora had a population of 62,057 living in 21,506 of its 22,253 total private dwellings. The town is one of Canada's most affluent, with an average household income of $155,463 in 2010. The most common ethnic origins in Aurora are Chinese, English, Irish, Scottish, and Italian.
A large area in the southeastern part of Aurora is designated as protected under Ontario Government's Greenbelt legislation. Future growth is expected to occur along Leslie Street and St John's sideroad, along with intensification within existing built-up areas. The town's Official Plan includes major office growth in the area.
The Aurora Promenade is a plan developed in 2010 as part of the town's Official Plan review. It is anticipated that 2,930 additional residents will live along the Yonge and Wellington Street corridors, close to new major transportation systems being implemented by Viva.
In 2020, the Aurora Town Council approved and commenced the construction of Aurora Town Square, a new Town Square to be located directly between the Aurora Public Library building and the Aurora Cultural Centre.
The Aurora Public Library, established in 1855, is located in the northeast corner of the intersection of Yonge Street and Church Street.
Aurora is serviced by several major roads, including Bathurst Street, Yonge Street, Bayview Avenue, Leslie Street, Bloomington Road, Wellington Street, and St. Johns Sideroad. The town is also serviced by Highway 404 and York Region Transit (YRT), including several local routes as well as its Viva Blue Bus Rapid Transit service.
Aurora has a long history of theatre, with its own community theatre group, Theatre Aurora. Founded in 1958, the group currently produces five shows each year, along with two youth shows.
Aurora is home to several notable architectural landmarks, including the Aurora armoury, a recognized Federal Heritage building, and Hillary House and Koffler Museum of Medicine, recognized by the National Historic Sites and Monuments Board as one of Canada's best examples of Gothic Revival architecture.
Aurora, Ontario, is twinned with Leksand, Dalarna County, Dalarna, Sweden.
