Guelph is a vibrant city located to the West of Toronto, offering residents recreation, employment, and great proximity to the GTA.
Additionally, Guelph is highly connected to nearby Toronto. As a result, Guelph is an excellent place for commuters to call home.
Above all, Guelph is a friendly and charming city. It offers the calm atmosphere of a small town without any of the inconvenience of living in a remote location.
Contact Frank Leo & Associates if you have any questions about buying or selling real estate in Guelph. We have 30 years of experience in dealing with GTA real estate. We will put this experience to work for you so that you reach your real estate goals.
The History of Guelph
The first people to live in the area were an indigenous group known as the Neutral people. Later, in 1792, the land was purchased from the indigenous by the British.
After that, European settlers began to move into the area. These pioneers cleared the land and established enterprises. Above all, they built mills and farms.
In 1827, John Galt arrived in Ontario. He was a Scottish novelist who founded a company called The Canada Company to help people settle in Ontario. Because of this, Galt chose to establish a town on the banks of the Speed River. Galt named the town Guelph in honour of the ancestors of the British royal family.
Subsequently, Guelph became an important industrial town. For example, William Allen owned large mills and the Bell Piano and Organ Company manufactured instruments. Additionally, the Grand Trunk Railway and the Great Western Railway serviced the town. As a result of these developments, Guelph’s population grew to 6,000 by 1869.
The Turn of the Century in Guelph
After the turn of the century, Guelph continued to grow. At the end of the 19th century, the government of Ontario founded the Ontario Agriculture College in Guelph. Because of this, Guelph became a centre of learning as well as industry.
During the first half of the 20th century, Guelph developed a lot of infrastructure and institutions. For example, in 1910, Guelph had many schools, 2 hospitals, and a public library. In addition, Guelph contained 4 newspapers and 6 banks.
At the same time, the Guelph Radial Railway provided the town with a passenger train service. As a result, passengers could commute from Guelph to Toronto.
At the outbreak of the First World War, 3,300 people from Guelph volunteered to serve in the army. Because of this, local labour and business leaders campaigned to raise money for war bonds and charities.
To learn more about Guelph real estate, contact Frank Leo & Associates. We will work to ensure you either get top dollar for your home or find the perfect property for your budget. Get in touch with us or check our online listings.
Suburban Development in Guelph
After the Second World War, Guelph began to expand. As a result, the town grew in every direction.
During this period, in 1964, the Ontario Agriculture College became the University of Guelph. Because of this change, the university attracted many more students and faculty members to the town.
Similarly, the construction of Highway 401 encouraged Guelph to expand to the south. Consequently, developers built new suburban subdivisions in the Hamilton Corners area.
Guelph also developed important commercial and industrial areas. These are centred on Woodlawn Road and at Highway 6.
Overview
Guelph offers its residents a unique lifestyle. They can enjoy the lively downtown, enjoy the natural beauty of the rivers, or visit one of many historical sites in the town.
The town also offers an easy commute to the GTA. This is because Guelph is connected to Toronto by both road and rail.
At the same time, the town features quiet suburban neighbourhoods. These neighbourhoods are full of spacious new houses. In short, Guelph is an excellent place for growing families to call home.
Real Estate in Guelph
Guelph is a small town when compared to other communities in the GTA. It has a population of 131,795 people.
Because of its size, most of the residential real estate consists of detached homes. On the other hand, there are some condos and row houses in the downtown area.
The detached houses are very spacious. The vast majority have three bedrooms or more. There are also many new homes in the town. Developers built more than 13,000 in the town since 2001.
Frank Leo & Associates can guide you through your real estate journey. Contact one of our representatives, or check our listings for the latest information about Guelph real estate.
Shopping
Shoppers will love all the options that Guelph offers. Thanks to its size and age, Guelph offers both big-box shopping centres and a downtown boutique shopping experience.
There are many shopping centres located near the intersection of Highway 6 and Stone Road. Shoppers will find many shopping centres and big-box stores, including the Stone Road Mall.
Further, shoppers who want to browse local businesses in a historic and charming setting will love downtown Guelph. This is because there is a lot of shops, restaurants, and services in the downtown area.
Recreation
Guelph provides its residents with tonnes of options for recreation. That is to say, the people of Guelph are spoiled for riches when it comes to ways to spend their free time.
PARKS
One of the best ways to spend your time in Guelph is at one of the many parks in the town.
The parks have many amenities in them. These include sports fields, gardens, play areas, and picnic zones.
Additionally, the town maintains an extensive system of trails. This means that joggers, dog owners, and cyclists have lots of opportunities to enjoy themselves.
RECREATION CENTRES
Furthermore, the town offers lots of recreation facilities. There are several recreation centres in the town. These centres offer many amenities and programs.
The facilities are conveniently spread out throughout the town. The most important facilities include the Sleeman Centre, the West End Community Centre, the River Run Centre, and the Victoria Road Recreation Centre.
There are many other things to do in the area. These range from enjoying the booming local craft beer scene, visiting one of many local cultural facilities, and award-winning festivals.
Schools
There are four school boards that operate in Guelph. Schools are spread throughout the town. This ensures that students do not have long commutes to get to school.
There are two French-language boards. The first is a Catholic board called Conseil Scolaire Catholique MonAvenir. The second is secular and is called Conseil Scolaire Viamonde.
In addition, there are two English language boards. First, the secular board is called the Upper Grand District School Board. Second, the Wellington Catholic District School Board provides Catholic education in the town.
Transportation
Guelph is highly connected to the GTA. The town also has easy access to the communities that surround it.
Residents benefit from excellent public transportation. At the same time, drivers enjoy the easy access to major highways that Guelph offers.
TRAVELLING BY CAR
Many important roadways connect Guelph to nearby communities. Commuters will find that driving in and out of town is easy.
Wellington Street is the most important street downtown. It connects Guelph and Cambridge to the southwest. Meanwhile, Eramosa Road travels out of town to the northeast. The road connects Guelph with Caledon and Orangeville.
Highway 7 is an important road in the north of Guelph. It connects Guelph and Kitchener.
Hanlon Parkway (Highway 6) is the most important street in Guelph. It connects Guelph to Highway 401.
PUBLIC TRANSIT
Guelph Transit provides bus services throughout the town.
At the same time, GO Transit provides both bus and rail service in Guelph. The GO Kitchener Line connects Guelph Central station to Union Station in Toronto. This means that it is easy to get to neighbouring communities without driving your own car.
Have Questions About Real Estate in Guelph?
If you have any questions about buying or selling real estate in Guelph, contact us. With Frank Leo & Associates’ extensive experience dealing in GTA real estate, we will be able to answer any questions you might have.
Contact us through our website or call 416-917-5466. Otherwise, you can get started browsing GTA home listings with our property listing search tool.
Featured image licensed under CC 2.0 by Burian, P.