As Ontario’s 4th largest city, Brampton is a Toronto suburb which gives its diverse residents access to big city amenities without compromising too much on personal space.
Read on to learn everything you need to know about Brampton if you’re considering buying property here, selling your home and relocating, or simply interested in this vibrant & historic Greater Toronto community.
History
The story of Brampton begins with John Elliott, a man living in what was then a small settlement called “Buffy’s Corner” after the only significant building in the area – a tavern. In 1834 Elliott allotted parcels of land and named the region after the English town of the same name.
By 1853 Brampton was officially incorporated as a village and boasted a population of 50 residents. 20 years later in 1873, Bramptons population jumped up to 2,000 residents and earned the village official recognition as a town.
Part of the reason for this rapid growth was the Grand Trunk Railway which began passing through the village in 1858, making Brampton’s mark on the map. Two other landmarks from this time period which made Brampton a significant population centre are the Peel County Courthouse Jail and Registry offices, both of which are now part of the Peel Heritage Complex in downtown Brampton.
Growth would continue over the next hundred years as Brampton gained its nickname as “The Flower Town of Canada,” for its predominant industries – flower nurseries and greenhouses, the first of which was established back in 1863.
By the mid 1970’s, Brampton had amalgamated several peripheral townships and even parts of Mississauga. Soon after the city would get a large growth spurt due to immigration which made it one of the most diverse cities in Canada.
Overview
This north-western suburb in the Greater Toronto Area has a large immigrant population coming predominantly from the Indian subcontinent and making the city one Canada’s most diverse population centres.
Life in Brampton grows out from around the primary major intersection of
The 410 and 107 highways, the latter of which is lined with shopping, restaurants, and Bramalea city centre.
Brampton attracts young families and professionals of all kinds, in part because it gives residents the opportunity of living in a sizable city without being too far away from Toronto. As of 2017, Brampton was named the youngest community in the GTA with a media resident age of 33.7.
Although industry in Brampton has moved away from the greenhouses which gave the town its nickname, it remains a large economic centre. The primary industries operating in Brampton today include advanced manufacturing, communication technology, logistics, life science, & more.
On the cultural side of things, Brampton may not boast the same amenities as neighbouring Toronto yet offers plenty for its residents in the form of the Peel Art Gallery, the Rose Theatre performing arts venue, and a number of museums & archives housed in historic 19th century buildings.
Real Estate in Brampton
Since Brampton’s population exploded close to the turn of the 21st century, many of the properties in the Peel region are newer or recently renovated. These newer homes are built in the sub-division style, more often situated on a gently curving cul-de-sacs and crescents than the grid-type structure you’re likely to find in Toronto.
The highest density of housing is in suburbs away from major highways, and the vast majority of these homes are fully-detached single family homes. Another perk to the relatively modern design of Brampton neighbourhoods is plenty of greenspace & parks between communities to give residents plenty of living space.
For all of its modernity, Brampton still holds on to a bit of the past. Historic neighbourhoods such as Nelson St. West and Washington block surround the Four Corners intersection. A stunning range of historic mansions also remain, many converted or repurposed into single family dwellings or administrative buildings over the years.
If you’re thinking of buying or selling real estate in Brampton, consult our Brampton community real estate listings to get an idea of the current real estate market conditions.
As always, you can count on Frank Leo & Associates for advice on your individual circumstances. Simply contact us and let us know how we can help.
Shopping
Brampton’s primary shopping venues can be grouped into two types of shopping districts.
There are the large suburban commercial centres like the Bramalea Mall that are common to any suburban city and a “main street” shopping district in the city’s historic Four Corners downtown area.
Bramalea City Centre serves as the largest shopping mall in the area, similar to Mississauga’s Square One and Toronto Eaton Centre. It provides the standard big box store fare as well as major clothing, sports, and electronics stores. Food options also abound with all the big names available.
Peppered throughout Brampton you’ll find smaller malls, shopping centres, and plazas which provide a similar shopping experience but on a smaller scale.
The Four Corners downtown shopping district provides a more traditional shopping experience at the intersection of Main & Queen Streets. Here you’ll find more boutiques & local businesses as well as non-franchise restaurants of all kinds.
It’s a great place to go to enjoy the shopping experience & surroundings as opposed to dropping in to buy a specific item. Shoppers can take a break for coffee, stroll the historic streets, or even learn something about them at one of the local museums.
Recreation
Brampton is home to over a dozen municipally-run community recreation centres, each with different facilities but all of them offering programming and intramural leagues for all ages. Whether it’s lane swim, some ice time at the rink, or a simple game of pick-up basketball, there is a venue for it in Brampton.
Outside of city-run recreational facilities, numerous gyms both general and specialized are available to residents. Whether you’re looking for a traditional workout or something more exciting like a trampoline park there are businesses which can accommodate that experience.
A perk that comes with Brampton’s spacious layout is the abundance of Golf & Tennis clubs throughout the township. Both public and private tennis clubs are located in parks all around the area. There are also a number of golf courses in Brampton proper, or residents can take a drive just out of town to some of the more rural courses in the area.
Of course for Bramptonians simply looking to take their recreation in the form of a casual stroll there’s the city’s many parks, greenspaces, and conservation areas to choose from. Major greenspaces include Meadowvale Conservation Area, Heart Lake Conservation Park, & Claireville Conservation Area.
These areas require a bit of a commute, so for more convenient recreation many residents opt to visit one of the many parks tucked away between the neighbourhoods – Chinguacousy Park, Duggan Park, & Centennial Park just to name a few more prominent parks. As an added bonus, many of these greenspaces include bodies of water, like Etobicoke Creek running through Duggan Park.
Schools
Brampton is serviced by the Peel District School Board and the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board.
Public Schools
For a complete list of public schools managed by the Peel District Schoolboard, consult the school directory.
Catholic Schools
You can find a complete list of the Catholic Schools in Brampton on the Dufferin-Peel Catholic school directory.
Transportation
As a suburban community of the Greater Toronto Area, Brampton is well connected by practically every form of transportation. From the 400-series highways which cross-hatch it’s borders to main thoroughfares like Main St. which extends from Hurontario St. in Mississauga, there’s no shortage of ways to get around in Brampton.
Coupled with GO Transit & VIA Rail service, Brampton is a convenient community just a short commute away from many of Southern Ontario’s other towns and cities.
Public Transportation Infrastructure in Brampton
Brampton has good public transit coverage for a city of its size with the primary type of transportation being buses. Local transit is serviced by Brampton Transit.
The city’s transit system also connects to other GTA transit systems including MiWay, York Region Transit, & TTC for connections to adjacent cities plus GO Transit for travel to more distant destinations.
Commuters also have the option of using Brampton’s Bus Rapid Transit system, called Züm. Zum’s fleet of hybrid-electric busses runs along the city’s primary arteries – Main/Hurontario Streets, Queen St./Highway 7, Steeles Ave., Bovaird Dr./Airport Rd., & Queen St. West/Mississauga Rd. While there is overlap between Züm and regular Brampton Transit, it serves as an express transit option for commuters travelling further distances within the city.
Finally, GO Bus connects Brampton with York University as well as TTC Subway stations at York Mills & Yorkdale Mall.
Travelling By Rail in Brampton
Brampton’s rail coverage is ample, perhaps owing in part to the fact that the city grew to what it is today largely thanks to the Grand Trunk Railway.
Today, both the Orange-Brampton Railway Short Line & the Canadian National Railway Line run through the heart of Brampton. These lines are covered by both GO Transit & VIA Rail service.
In the Westward direction, Brampton is situated near the centre of the Kitchener GO Transit Corridor, giving commuters access to cities to the west of the GTA and Union Station to the east.
VIA Rail service connects to Brampton as part of the Quebec City-Windsor Corridor and everywhere in between the two terminal destinations.
Travelling By Car in Brampton
Like any major suburb, Brampton is rife with highways and major roads. Most notable are the 400-series highways, like Highway 401 from Toronto or Highway 410 which runs north-south through the centre of Brampton down to Mississauga.
Highway 407 borders Brampton on the south and provides another option for drivers looking to avoid the congestion of the 401.
Aside from highways, the historic Main St. is the city’s primary north-south artery and turns into Hurontario St. in Mississauga going south. On the east-west axis is Regional Road 107, the city’s main east-west street which transitions into Queen St.
Buying or Selling Real Estate in Brampton
Thinking of buying or selling property in Brampton? Whether you’re considering moving to a new neighbourhood or becoming a resident of this popular Canadian city, you can trust our extensive real estate experience to help you with your next real estate move.
Contact Frank Leo & Associates with your real estate or get started selling your home with a FREE home evaluation!