The city of Brantford offers potential buyers the chance to own property in a beautiful southern Ontario location. With its close proximity, you can explore all that this fantastic place has to offer without taking too much time out from your busy schedule!
Located on a stretch of the Grand River, Brantford is a city that is only an hour away from Toronto and half an hour away from Hamilton.
Residents of Brantford enjoy ample green spaces, spacious homes, and a vibrant downtown that is rich with history. At the same time, the city is home to abundant industrial zones that many large employers call home.
This post will look at these reasons and others that make real estate in Brantford a great choice for anyone, regardless of where they are on their real estate journey.
Frank Leo & Associates has more than 3 decades of experience in dealing in GTA real estate. In other words, our extensive experience will help you to achieve your real estate goals.
The History of Brantford
The history of Brantford stretches back to a time long before Europeans settled in the area.
The indigenous Neutral Nation inhabited the area. They lived in a village named Kandoucho near the modern-day site of Brantford.
Later, the British Government granted the area to the Six Nations. In 1784, Sir Frederick Haldimand, the governor of Quebec, signed a proclamation that gave a large tract of land to the Iroquois.
The British favoured the Six Nations with the land because many of the people of the Six Nations were Loyalist, who lost their land in New York after the American Revolution.
The city of Brantford took its name from Joseph Tyendinaga Brant. Brant was an important Mohawk chief and a leader of the Six Nations. He led his people from New York to the land that the British gave them in Ontario.
The Turn of the Century in Brantford
Throughout the 19th century, Europeans started to settle in the area. The settlers began to negotiate purchases of land from the Six Nations. These purchases included the land that Brantford is situated on.
Thanks to its position on the Grand River and the arrival of the Buffalo & Lake Huron Railway, Brantford became a centre of shipping and manufacturing. Some of the best farmland in Ontario surrounded the town. At the same time, many factories and warehouses called Brantford home.
Because of this, Brantford’s population swelled to 7,000 people by 1869. In the following years, Brantford gained the nickname “The Telephone City”.
The city got this nickname after one of its famous residents, Alexander Graham Bell, invented the telephone. Bell conceived of the idea for the telephone while laying on the banks of the Grand, listening to the murmuring river. Subsequently, Bell made the first telephone call from Brantford to nearby Paris in 1876.
By 1910, the town’s population grew to 20,000 people. It was still an important industrial town, where factories produced everything from farm implements, to engines, to woollen garments.
Contact Frank Leo & Associates if you want to learn more about buying or selling Brantford real estate. Our dedicated representatives will work to ensure that you get top dollar for your home or get the ideal real estate for your budget.
Suburban Development in Brantford
After the Second World War, Brantford experienced a rise in its population. The city’s robust industrial base attracted many people to work in the area.
During this period, developers built tens of thousands of houses in suburban subdivisions. Throughout the 1950s, the factories of Massey-Ferguson and Brantford Cordage employed the most people in the city. Massey-Ferguson manufactured farm implements, while Brantford Cordage produced ropes, cords, and twine.
The 1960s saw the city expand with new suburban subdivisions and the accompanying suburban amenities. Similarly, in the 1970s developers built new suburban housing and commercial developments, primarily in the north end.
In the 1980s, more than 100 new companies set up shop in Brantford. Real estate brokers reported that there was an increasing number of people looking to move and settle in Brantford. This suburban and industrial development continued in the 1990s and 2000s.
Overview
Real estate in Brantford gives residents the opportunity to own property in an exciting and dynamic city. The city offers great advantages for business, industry, and leisure.
Additionally, the city offers its residents access to lots of natural reserves and ecological projects. That is to say, natural areas like the Brant Conservation Area, the Pinehurst Lake Conservation Area, and the Dundas Valley Conservation Area are located near the city.
The city features many calm and modern suburban subdivisions. Furthermore, its neighbourhoods are conveniently located only a short distance from larger cities like Hamilton and Toronto, making them ideal for commuters.
These factors, as well as other amenities, make Brantford an attractive choice for people around the world to move to. The city is diverse, with communities of people from all over the globe calling Brantford home.
Real Estate in Brantford
With a population of just under 100,000, Brantford is considered a small city. However, it offers all types of housing within its boundaries.
The single-detached home dominates residential real estate in Brantford. Many of these houses are spacious, featuring 3 or more bedrooms.
In addition, there are many modern homes in the city. Developers have built more than 5,500 houses in Brantford since 2001.
To learn more about the real estate market in Brantford, contact Frank Leo & Associates. You can get in touch with one of our representatives, or check our online listings for up-to-date information about available real estate in Brantford.
Shopping
Brantford offers many options for shoppers. Shoppers can choose from either big box stores, outdoor shopping centres, indoor shopping centres, or in the downtown area.
Major outdoor shopping centres include Fairview Crossing, Brantford Commons, Northridge Plaza, and King George Square. In addition, the Lynden Park Mall offers an indoor shopping centre shopping experience.
Beyond these shopping centres, downtown Brantford features a lot of shopping options. There are many local shops, services, dining, and entertainment venues for residents to enjoy in the downtown area.
Recreation
Brantford features several recreation centres and many parks. This allows residents many opportunities for taking part in programs and activities.
Brantford’s offerings of parks and recreation facilities mean that everyone will find something to do in the city.
PARKS
There are more than 1000 acres of parks in the city. A multitude of amenities packs these parks.
Residents can enjoy more than 60 playgrounds, splash pads, swimming pools, and gardens. There are also a lot of sports facilities like baseball diamonds, tennis courts, and basketball courts.
Additionally, Brantford features an extensive trail system, which connects the city with nearby communities like Paris, Hamilton, and Port Dover. These trails provide great views of the beautiful Grand River.
RECREATION CENTRES
There are several community and recreation centres in Brantford that residents can enjoy.
These centres provide access to fitness centres, gymnasiums, ice rinks, and other amenities.
Further, the city organizes many programs, day camps, activities, and classes out of these centres.
Major community and recreation centres in the city include:
- The Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre
- Woodman Park Community Centre
- TB Constain-SC Johnson Community Centre
- Doug Snooks Eagle Place Community Centre
- Branlyn Community Centre
- Beckett Adult Leisure Centre
Schools
Branford offers families convenient and high-quality options for their children. There are two main school boards that operate in the city.
First, the Grand Erie District School Board manages public schools in Brantford.
Second, the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board runs Catholic schools in the city.
Furthermore, Brantford is home to many post-secondary institutions. These institutions include:
Transportation
Brantford is easy to get around because it is highly integrated into the regional transit infrastructure. Residents benefit from a variety of choices ranging from highways, trains, and public transit.
Residents will find it no problem to get around Brantford, or to travel in and out of town.
TRAVELLING BY CAR
If you’re looking for a way to get around Brantford, then driving your own car is most likely the best option. The infrastructure of roads in this area makes it easy and safe!
Among the most important roadways in the city are Highway 24, Highway 403, the Wayne Gretzky Parkway, and Highway 2.
Highway 24 travels north to south through the Grand River Valley. It’s the main road connection between Cambridge and Brantford. To the south, the road connects Brantford to Simcoe and Port Dover.
Highway 403 connects Brantford with Hamilton in the east via Ancaster. It connects Brantford to London via Woodstock in the west. Further to the northeast, the 403 connects Brantford to the GTA.
Highway 2 is an important roadway in the south of the city. It links Brantford to Woodstock via Paris in the west, and Brantford to Hamilton in the east.
Within Brantford, the Wayne Gretzky Parkway travels north to south, connecting Highway 2 to Highway 403.
PUBLIC TRANSIT
Brantford also makes it easy to travel around without driving your own car.
Brantford Transit provides bus services throughout the city.
Meanwhile, intercity travel is also possible without the use of a personal vehicle.
GO Transit provides intercity bus transit. At the same time, residents can catch VIA Rail trains at the Brantford Station. These intercity services connect the city with places like Windsor, Sarnia, Toronto, Montreal, and Ottawa every day.
Have Questions About Real Estate in Brantford?
If you’re curious about real estate in Brantford, reach out to us. Our extensive experience dealing in GTA real estate has positioned us to be able to help you, no matter what your inquiry is.
Contact us through our website, call 416-917-5466, or simply get started browsing GTA home listings with our property listing search tool.