Milton prides itself as a place of possibility, where people can make their dreams come to fruition. This idea has influenced thousands of people to move to the town in recent years. The influx of people into the town made Milton the fastest growing municipality in Ontario.
In Milton, you can travel from sedate suburban streets to breathtaking lookouts perched on the heights of the Niagara Escarpment in less than ten minutes. You can also travel, by car or by rail, into larger cities like Oakville, Mississauga, or Toronto in under an hour.
This excellent location in the Halton Region is one factor for Milton’s popularity. This post will show how calling Milton home can make your dreams come true.
History
Early History
Prior to 1818, the land that Milton now occupies was owned by the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. After the negotiation of the Ajetance Treaty, the land was opened up to European settlement.
Some of the earliest Europeans to call Milton their home were the Martin family. After leaving England in 1821, they settled around the modern Martin Street area. They harnessed the power of 16 Mile Creek and established a grist mill.
Rise to Prominence
The grist mill became the centre of the agricultural community. It was essential infrastructure for farmers who needed to process their grains. The population of the area grew, and soon there was a need to establish a post office for the community. With the arrival of the post office, the local people had to choose a name for the municipality. They chose the name Milton in honour of John Milton, the Martin family’s favourite poet.
In 1855, Halton County was established. The county council named Milton as the county town. A county administration building was built in Milton on Mary Street. This building is now Milton Town Hall.
Development & Population Growth
Milton continued to grow through the rest of the 19th century. People flooded into the area, ballooning the population to 1,495 by 1910. There were many mills and factories, as well as schools, banks, and newspapers in the town at the beginning at the 20th century.
In the 21st century, Milton saw a population boom. The population grew from just over 30,000 in 2001 to just over 100,000 in 2016. Read on to learn about some factors that caused this rush into the town.
Overview
Milton is situated on the cusp of the highly developed urban metropolis of the GTA and the rugged natural beauty of the Niagara Escarpment.
The town’s rapid population growth lead to, and was spurred by, the construction of many modern subdivisions in the southern part of the town. Milton also boasts an ideal location in the Toronto-Waterloo Innovation Corridor for businesses to be established and developed.
Today people from all over the world call Milton home. There are sizeable communities of people from South Asia, the Caribbean, the Philippines, and Latin America in the town.
Real Estate in Milton
The real estate market in Milton is perfect for families looking to buy their first home.
Construction in Milton has been brisk since the year 2000. Since that year, developers built nearly 24,000 houses in the town.
The new neighbourhoods in Milton mainly consist of fully detached homes. The majority of these homes have more than three bedrooms.
In the more historic part of Milton, there are heritage properties and many homes built in the 19th and early 20th century.
There are also a decent number of row houses and condo developments close to the centre of the town.
Feel free to contact one of our expert agents, or check out the MLS© listings, to learn more about Milton real estate.
Shopping in Milton
Milton offers its residents a lot of shopping experiences spread throughout the town.
The intersection of Steeles Avenue and James Snow Parkway, just next to Highway 401, is home to the majority of Milton’s big box stores. There are numerous stores and restaurants split between two outdoor shopping centres. These centres are the RioCan Centre Milton and SmartCentres Milton. There are many more stores in the vicinity as well.
At Ontario Street and Main Street, there is another important shopping venue, the Milton Mall. This indoor shopping centre is home to more than 50 vendors.
Further down Main Street, at the intersection of Martin Street, is the historic heart of Milton. This area is charged with historical charm, and home to many local family owned business. If you’re looking for a boutique shopping experience, then downtown Milton is the place for you.
At the nearby Milton fairground, the Milton Farmers’ Market offers a chance to shop for local produce and artisan goods. The market is held every Saturday at the Milton Fairgrounds in downtown Milton. The market is the home to local produce growers, bakers, and creators of specialty items.
Recreation in Milton
Recreation Centres
The town of Milton organizes various recreation programs. These range from cycling, to swimming, and skating.
There are three recreation facilities in the town. They are the Milton Leisure Centre, the Milton Sports Centre, and the Milton Seniors Activity Centre.
As its name implies, the Milton Seniors Activity Centre is focused on providing programming for, and services to, Miltonians over the age of 55.
Parks & Trails
Residents can explore and use the many parks, trails, dog parks, and sports fields / courts that the town of Milton maintains.
Rotary Park is a notable park in the town. It features Mill Pond, a gazebo, and a splash pad.
Outside the town, residents of Milton can take advantage of their proximity to the Niagara Escarpment by visiting local conservation areas.
Rattlesnake Point Conservation Area is one of these parks. It is a beautiful spot, where visitors can hike, rock climb, and see some of the oldest cedars in Canada.
Another site of natural beauty is the Hilton Falls Conservation Area. Here visitors can hike, bike, or snowshoe. The main attraction is a stunning 10-metre tall waterfall.
A third conservation area in the Milton region is the Crawford Lake Conservation Area. In this park, visitors can hike, or cross country ski, on the Nassagaweya Canyon Trail all the way to Rattlesnake Point. The conservation area also features a reconstructed 15th century Iroquoian village
Finally, nearby Glen Eden offers a ski hill near Kelso Lake – a rare amenity for Southern Ontario to be sure and a big draw for local residents each winter.
Milton Schools
There are 4 school boards that operate in Milton. Between them, they administer more than thirty schools in the municipality.
Secular public schools are run by the Halton District School Board. They have 20 schools spread throughout the town.
Catholic schools in Milton are organized by the Halton Catholic District School Board. There are 12 Catholic schools in Milton.
French language instruction is also available in the town. These schools are maintained by 2 school boards. The first is the secular board — Conseil Scolaire Viamonde. Next, there is Conseil Scolaire Catholique MonAvenir, which provides French language Catholic education.
Beyond these options, there are also many private schools operating in Milton.
Transportation
Milton benefits from highly developed transit infrastructure. This means that it is a breeze to get around town, or get out of town to one of the surrounding communities.
Travelling By Car
Highway 401 is the most important road in Halton Region. The highway passes through Milton and is the town’s primary connection to the GTA. The 401 is also the most direct route from Milton to Guelph, Kitchener, and Cambridge.
Besides the major highway, local regional roads that are important include Halton Regional Road 3, Halton Regional Road 25, and Halton Regional Road 7.
Halton Regional Road 25, known locally as Ontario Street, and Halton Regional Road 3, known locally as Trafalgar Road, are the main connections between Milton and Oakville, along with Highway 403, to the south. Halton Regional Road 25 also provides a road link with Acton and Highway 7 to the north. Regional Road 3 links Milton to Georgetown in the north.
Halton Regional Road 7, known locally as Derry Road, connects Milton to Mississauga in the east.
Public Transit
Milton provides public transit to commuters who don’t want to drive their own cars.
Milton Transit provides municipal bus services within the town of Milton. The bus routes connect with GO Transit services at the Milton GO Station.
The transit service maintains 13 regular bus routes, making commuting through the town easy.
Travelling By Rail
While most commuters who travel into the GTA from Milton drive their own cars, GO Transit provides Milton with a direct train route into the major urban area. GO Transit’s Milton Line facilitates travel between Milton, Mississauga, and Toronto.
Via Rail also services the Milton GO Station with intercity trains.
Have Questions About Real Estate in Milton?
Reach out to our professional and responsive team to learn more about buying or selling property in the Milton area. Our representatives have the expert knowledge and dedication required to ensure that you are satisfied with your real estate transaction.