Brooklin
Real estate in Brooklin offers potential buyers an exciting opportunity to live in a unique community in Durham Region. Situated just north of Whitby, Brooklin is a tight-knit town full of modern subdivisions.
What’s more, Brooklin benefits from unparalleled access to Toronto and other GTA communities. For this reason, Brooklin is a great choice for commuters to live in.
Most importantly, Brooklin is a historic and charming place. That is to say, Brooklin is a convenient and quiet place to call home.
If you have any questions about buying or selling property in Brooklin, contact Frank Leo & Associates. With more than 30 years of experience dealing in GTA real estate, we will be happy to answer any questions you might have.
The History of Brooklin
Durham Region’s first inhabitants were aboriginal people from various groups. These groups included the Mississauga Ojibwe, who still live near Brooklin at Lake Scugog.
French and English fur traders and explorers passed through the area beginning in the 17th century, making them the first Europeans to see the area that Brooklin is located on.
Later, European pioneers settled in the area. Many of these pioneers were United Empire Loyalists. These Loyalists supported Britain over the United States during the American Revolution.
During the early 1800s, these settlers worked hard to clear the land and establish farms, lumber operations, and mills. These mills, like the one that the Campbell brothers built on Lynde Creek, became the centres of the burgeoning towns of Ontario.
Initially, the settlers referred to the village as Winchester. However, in 1847 the post office arrived in the town. Officials discovered that there was another town named Winchester in Ontario. As a result, the residents of the town voted to change its name to Brooklin.
The Turn of the Century in Brooklin
By 1869, Brooklin boasted a population of 750. These people worked in various industries including manufacturing goods, running mills, and managing tanneries.
The arrival of the railway in this period really bolstered industry in Brooklin. During the 1870s, industrialists built the Port Whitby & Port Perry Railway, which passed through Brooklin.
The railway became an important facet of the community. During the latter half of the 19th century, the Grand Trunk Railroad took over the railway and built a new station in Brooklin.
In the beginning of the 20th century, many immigrants came from Britain and settled in Brooklin and the surrounding Durham Region. These immigrants took up jobs in the region’s factories, foundries, and businesses. Simultaneously, the population began to grow more diverse, as immigration from Central and Eastern Europe began to increase in the early 1900s.
However, as the population of Durham Region grew, Brooklin’s population remained mostly unchanged. That is to say, in 1910 about 700 people called Brooklin home.
To learn more about Brooklin 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 Brooklin
Brooklin has remained a small community throughout its history. It’s home to just over 20,000 people. However, Brooklin is part of the Town of Whitby, which has a population of more than 120,000.
Because of its small size, suburban development didn’t really take off in Brooklin until the 21st century.
During the early 2000s, developers built thousands of new homes in Brooklin. This caused the population of the town to explode.
Further, in the early years of the 21st century, the Government of Ontario began to build Highway 407. This highway is a toll route that connects Brooklin directly with Toronto and many other GTA communities. In other words, the 407 makes Brooklin the ideal place for commuters to call home.
Overview
Brooklin offers its residents the best of both small-town and big-city living. Its location just north of Whitby allows its residents ample privacy without sacrificing access to the GTA.
At the same time, residents of Brooklin enjoy excellent access to many cites of natural beauty. In other words, there are many conservation areas in the surrounding countryside. These green spaces include Purple Woods Conservation Area, Herber Down Conservation Area, Durham Regional Forest, and Cedar Valley Park.
The quiet, private neighbourhoods of Brooklin are only minutes away from Whitby, Oshawa, and Ajax by car. Additionally, Brooklin is connected to Toronto by public transit options like rail.
Real Estate in Brooklin
Despite its small size, Brooklin is part of the much larger community of Whitby. This means that Brooklin’s residents enjoy the amenities of the larger town, without sacrificing any space.
Within the town, the single detached home is the most common type of real estate available in Brooklin. On the other hand, there are also many row houses in the town as well.
At the same time, a lot of these homes are new. Developers built thousands of homes throughout Whitby and in Brooklin specifically.
Further, the homes in the area are very spacious. Most of them have three or more bedrooms.
Frank Leo & Associates can guide you through your real estate journey. Contact one of our sales representatives or check our listings if you want to learn more about Brooklin real estate. We will be happy to answer any questions you might have.
Shopping
Despite Brooklin’s size, there are a lot of options available for shoppers in the town. Additionally, there are many shopping centres in nearby communities that are only a short drive away.
Within Brooklin, the main shopping area is located at the intersection of Baldwin Street and Winchester Road. Here, shoppers can find the Brooklin Towne Centre, as well as many other local businesses.
What’s more, there are a lot of large shopping centres nearby in Oshawa and Whitby. Firstly, Taunton Gardens in Whitby is very close by. Secondly, SmartCentres Oshawa is also a short distance from Brooklin.
Recreation
Residents of Brooklin benefit from a wide variety of options for recreation.
That is to say, there are lots of things to do in Brooklin.
PARKS
Parks in Brooklin are maintained by the Town of Whitby. These parks provide the residents of Brooklin the opportunity for some great outdoor recreation. There are more than 100 parks in Whitby, many of them located in Brooklin.
These parks are full of amenities. Amenities include sports fields, gardens, playgrounds, leash-off dog parks, and picnic zones.
Additionally, Whitby maintains an extensive trail system that encompasses Brooklin. In other words, trails like the Brooklin Lions Trail provide residents a chance to enjoy the outdoors.
RECREATION CENTRES
Furthermore, the town offers lots of recreation facilities. There are tonnes of recreation facilities sprinkled throughout Whitby, including a couple in Brooklin. These centres offer many amenities and programs.
The two most important recreation facilities for Brooklin residents are the Brooklin Community Centre and the Brooklin Community Centre and Library. Both of these centres are conveniently located in Brooklin. Further, the Luther Vipond Memorial Arena is also located in the town.
On top of this, Brooklin residents can drive to the Whitby Civic Recreation Complex. This centre features a fully accredited Health Club.
Schools
School-aged children don’t have to deal with long commutes to schools. There are two school boards that operate schools in the town. These boards have schools spread throughout Brooklin.
Firstly, the Durham District School Board runs public elementary and high schools in Brooklin.
Secondly, the Durham Catholic District School Board oversees Catholic elementary and high schools.
What’s more, there are a couple of significant post-secondary institutions in Whitby. These are Durham College and Ontario Tech University.
Transportation
Getting around Brooklin is easy. The town is highly connected to Whitby and the rest of the GTA.
Meanwhile, residents benefit from excellent public transportation.
TRAVELLING BY CAR
Brooklin is not a remote town. It’s highly connected to Whitby and the rest of the GTA by many roadways. These roadways make commuting around the town very popular and straightforward.
Firstly, Highway 7 (known locally as Winchester Road) is the most important road in the south of Brooklin. It provides a direct road link between the town and Markham, Richmond Hill, and Vaughan in the west. To the east, the road connects Brooklin to Lindsay and Peterborough.
Secondly, Highway 12 (known locally as Baldwin Street) travels north to south through the centre of the town. It is the most significant road in town that runs north to south. It provides a direct link to Port Perry. To the south, it links Brooklin to Whitby.
Finally, Highway 407 is a major toll route that connects Brooklin to the GTA. Additionally, Highway 412 travels north to south and links Brooklin to Highway 401.
PUBLIC TRANSIT
Residents of Brooklin also benefit from excellent public transit. This allows commuters to leave their cars at home if they don’t want to drive.
Durham Region Transit services Brooklin with 2 bus routes. These routes connect Brooklin to Whitby and Oshawa.
At the same time, commuters can catch GO Transit commuter trains at the Whitby GO Station. These trains are an efficient way of getting into Toronto. GO buses also service Brooklin.
Have Questions About Real Estate in Brooklin?
If you have any questions about buying or selling real estate in Brooklin, contact us. Frank Leo & Associates has extensive experience dealing in GTA real estate. We will put this experience to work for you.
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 adapted courtesy CC commons, Harris