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APPENDIX 2: Guide to Toronto City Directories Which Include Etobicoke

This guide is a detailed finding aid to the coverage of Toronto neighbourhoods and regions in Toronto city directories, 1833 to 2001 as well as in selected York Township, York County and Toronto "surburban" directories, and the York, Upper Canada, Minutes of Town Meetings and Lists of Inhabitants (1797-1823). The alphabetical list includes places that now are part of the city of Toronto, which had listings in these directories and lists. An extensive list of sources consulted is provided, including exact pages in Toronto city directories where the suburban listings can be found.


INTRODUCTION

Many neighbourhoods in the present city of Toronto began as independent villages and towns, and as suburbs. In 1834, when Toronto was incorporated as a city, its boundaries were roughly Bathurst Street on the west, the Don River on the east, Bloor Street on the north, and Lake Ontario (Toronto Harbour then called "the bay") on the south, with "Liberties" beyond for future expansion. Between the 1880s and 1912, the city had its first major period of expansion, with the towns of Yorkville, Brockton, Parkdale, East Toronto and North Toronto and the city of West Toronto annexed to Toronto, along with several sections of York Township. The city continued to expand its boundaries periodically over the years. The most recent and largest growth occurred in 1998, when the former cities of Etobicoke, North York, Scarborough, Toronto and York and the Borough of East York were amalgamated into the new city of Toronto.

Throughout its publication history, Toronto city directories from 1833 to 2001 (with some exceptions) not only listed residents and streets of the city proper, but also provided similar information about the inhabitants living in communities near the city of Toronto. Suburbs were listed as appendices to Toronto directories continuously from 1874 to 1929. These suburban appendices usually listed the name of heads of households with their addresses, but did not give separate street-by-street listings. When an adjoining community was annexed to the City of Toronto, heads of households formerly in the suburbs were recorded in the regular city lists, and streets in these communities were added to the street listings.

Sometimes listings for outlying communities were interfiled with listings in the main Toronto city directory, with the community name indicated beside the name of the street or the person’s address. Yorkville, the first suburb to have its own listings in the Toronto city directory of 1868-69, was interfiled with the main Toronto lists in several directories from 1846 to 1873-74. Initially, entries from other early suburbs such as Don Mount and Leslieville were similarly interfiled. Starting in 1930, city directories combined the City of Toronto and suburban areas, interfiling names of residents and streets (listing householders) with listings of Toronto City. However, a separate alphabetical list of suburban streets, grouped by individual suburb, continued to be provided from 1930 until 1969.

Geographic coverage of Toronto city directories has varied greatly over the years. Toronto directories for 1837, 1846, 1850 and 1866 include the entire County of York. As the population of Toronto grew, the county was no longer included, but new areas were annexed by the city and new suburbs were included. Some city directories included those living in the concessions as well as the villages in York County. Others listed only villages a short distance from Toronto. A few others listed only Torontonians.

Due to the city’s growth and continuous expansion, the directories split into three parts in the late 1980s: East, West and Central editions. In order to keep pace with the ever-expanding city, Might Directories introduced two suburban directories in 1958, one for Toronto East and North-east,and the other for Toronto West and North-west. Both these directories were combined in 1966 to form Might’s greater Toronto suburban directory , which included only the street and telephone lists for these same areas. The publication changed title, probably in 1968, to Suburban Metro Toronto Criss-Cross Directory. Further splitting into smaller geographic subdivisions took place in the 1990s.

Some outlying areas were included in separate directories covering York Township and York County, and by the late 1950s, for Toronto’s burgeoning suburbs. And preceding all of these directories were the York, Upper Canada, Minutes of Town Meetings and Lists of Inhabitants (1797-1823), which sometimes listed residents both of the Town of York and its adjacent townships.


ETOBICOKE NEIGHBOURHOODS WITH LISTINGS IN TORONTO AND AREA DIRECTORIES

This finding aid includes places in Etobicoke that were listed in the Toronto city directories, 1833 to 2001, selected York Township, York County and "suburban" directories, and the York, Upper Canada, Minutes of Town Meetings and Lists of Inhabitants (1797-1823), which predated commercial directories. These places had their own listings in a separate section of these directories and lists. 

Generally, community names are transcribed exactly as they appeared in the directories. In some cases, one form of a name is used, and variant forms are indicated in the entry or by cross references, e.g., "Ben Lomond: see Ben Lamond." Township names may be indicated in parentheses beside the place. A brief description is provided for most places, usually taken from the directories themselves, with the year indicated in square brackets.

 
 
Alderwood

1946 to 1952 Toronto city directories
 
Claireville (Sometimes listed as "Clairville" )

"Clairville - A post village in the township of Etobicoke, county of York, situated on the Albion Plank Road, dividing the counties of York and Peel, 17 miles from Toronto and 10 miles from Brampton." [1866]
1866                              Toronto city directories
1871                           Nason’s east and west ridings of the county of York: p. 95. Listed as "Claireville."

Etobicoke (Includes Borough and City of Etobicoke)

The Township of Etobicoke was incorporated in 1850 by authority of the Municipal Corporations Act (the "Baldwin Act") of 1849. The Township became somewhat smaller within the secession of Mimico in 1911, New Toronto in 1913 and Long Branch in 1931. It was reunited with Mimico, New Toronto and Long Branch with the creation of the Borough of Etobicoke on January 1, 1967. It became the City of Etobicoke on June 29, 1983, and was amalgamated with the City of Toronto on January 1, 1998.

See also Etobicoke Township

1935* - County of York (Ontario) directory
1967 to 1994 - Toronto city directories. Listed as Etobicoke Borough, 1967 to 1975
1959 to 1961 - Toronto west & north-west suburban directory
1996; 1998; 1999 - Might’s Directories Etobicoke criss-cross
2000, 2001 - Toronto/Etobicoke, ON Polk criss-cross directory

Etobicoke Township

"The township of Etobicoke is bounded on the north by the township of Vaughan, on the east by the township of York, on the west by the County of Peel and on the south by Lake Ontario." [1866]

See also Etobicoke

1799 to 1801 - York, Upper Canada Minutes of Town Meetings and Lists of Inhabitants. Listed as "Etobeconk."
1804 to 1808 - York, Upper Canada Minutes of Town Meetings and Lists of Inhabitants. Listed as "Etobecoke."
1837 - Toronto city directories
1846 - Toronto city directories
1850 - Toronto city directories: pp. 27-32.
1866 - Toronto city directories: pp. 289-292
1871 - Nason’s east and west ridings of the county of York: p. 1
1952 to 1966 - Toronto city directories

Etobicoke Village (Etobicoke Township)

See Lambton, Lambton Mills

"Post office of the township of Etobicoke, county of York: see Lambton Mills" [1871]

1866  - Toronto city directories: p. xi: "Etobicoke Village see Lambton"
1871 - Nason’s east and west ridings of the county of York: "see Lambton Mills"
 
Humber

See Claireville

1871 - Nason’s east and west ridings of the county of York: p. 98: "See Claireville"

Humber Bay

"Five miles west of [Toronto] P.O." [1890]. See also Humber Valley Extension.

1889 to 1913 - Toronto city directories
1914 - Toronto city directories: included in Humber Valley Extension
1915 to 1949 - Toronto city directories

Humber Summit

1958 to 1965 - Toronto west & north-west suburban directory. Entries interfiled.

Humber Valley Extension

"A contemplated addition to the city west of the present boundary and including Swansea, Runnymede, Humber Bay and part of Lambton Mills. 4 miles W. of Post Office." [1914]

1914 - Toronto city directories

Humbermount

"A suburb about 9 miles north-west of the [Toronto] City Hall, situated on the west side of the Humber River, opposite Weston." [1922]
See also Westmount, Weston

1922 to 1929 - Toronto city directories
1930 to 1933 - Toronto city directories: "Humbermount See Westmount"

Islington

"A post village in the Township of Etobicoke, County of York, is situated on Mimico River, nine and a half miles from Toronto" [1866]

1866  - Toronto city directories
1871 - Nason’s east and west ridings of the county of York: p. 99
1935 - County of York (Ontario) directory
1958 to 1965 - Toronto west & north-west suburban directory. Entries interfiled.

Kingsway Park

1937 to 1952 - Toronto city directories

Lambton

"Etobicoke post office. A prosperous village of the townships of Etobicoke and York, county of York, on the river Humber, seven and half miles from Toronto." [1866]

1866 - Toronto city directories: p. 403
1871 - Nason’s east and west ridings of the county of York: p. 100
 
Lambton Mills

"Seven miles north-west of [Toronto] P. O." [1890] "A suburb on the west bank of the Humber River, four and one half miles west of the [Toronto] City Hall. Post office Lambton Mills." [1918]; "A suburb on the east and west banks of Humber River …." [1925]. See also Humber Valley Extension

1890 to 1899 - Toronto city directories
1909 - Directory and map of the township of York: pp. 78-86. Includes Runnymede and Scarlet Plains
1913 - Toronto city directories
1914 - Toronto city directories: included in Humber Valley Extension
1915 to 1952 - Toronto city directories
1935 - County of York (Ontario) directory

Long Branch

"Eight miles west from Toronto City Hall." [1936]

1936 to 1966 - Toronto city directories
1958 to 1965 - Toronto west & north-west suburban directory. Entries interfiled

 Mimico

"A post village in the township of Etobicoke, County of York, on the Great Western Railway, 7 miles from Toronto." [1866]

1866 - Toronto city directories
1890 to 1966 - Toronto city directories

New Toronto

"Seven and a half miles west of [Toronto] P.O." [1892]

1892 to 1966 - Toronto city directories

Rexdale

1958 to 1965 - Toronto west & north-west suburban directory. Entries interfiled

St. Andrews

"(Thistletown P.O.) A postal village in the township of Etobicoke, county of York, 13 ½ miles from Toronto." [1866]. See also Thistletown.

1866 - Toronto city directories

Thistletown (Etobicoke township)

"A village situated a little west of the river Humber. Distant from Toronto 13 miles. Population about 150." [1871 Nason’s] . See also St Andrews

1871 - Nason’s east and west ridings of the county of York: p. 113
1909 - Directory and map of the township of York: see West York Township
1935 - County of York (Ontario) directory
1958 to 1965 - Toronto west & north-west suburban directory. Entries interfiled.

Toronto Metro West

1988 to 1994 - Toronto city directories
1995 to 1999 - Might’s City of Toronto (west of Yonge) & York directory.
1997 - Bowers Directory for Greater Metropolitan Toronto. West side of Yonge Street. Volume 1: Toronto Metro West
2000, 2001 - Toronto/central west York Polk criss-cross directory.
 

SUMMARY OF ETOBICOKE CONTENT IN CITY DIRECTORIES BY YEAR
(
Year, then Suburban section title and page numbers)

1833
no suburban section

1837
"Home District or the Counties of York and Simcoe Directory:" pp. 53-189

1843-44
no suburban section

1846-47
"Home District Directory:" pp. 1-124

1850-51
"County of York:" pp. [1]-149

1856
no suburban section

1859-60
no suburban section

1861
no suburban section

1862-63
no suburban section

1864-65
no suburban section

1866
"Counties of York and Peel:" pp.281-288
Persons in York by Township pp. 289-354; by towns and villages: pp. 393-430

1867-68
no suburban section

1868-69
Anderson: no suburban section

1870
no suburban section

1871-72
no suburban section

1872-73
Irwin: no suburban section

1873
Cherrier, Kirwin, & Mcgown. "Places in the Neighbourhood of Toronto" pp. 271-278

1873-74
Irwin: no suburban section

1874
"Places in the Neighbourhood of Toronto:" pp. 344-353

1875
"Places in the Neighbourhood of Toronto:" pp. 439-454

1876
"Places in the Neighbourhood of Toronto:" pp. 369-380

1877
"Places in the Neighbourhood of Toronto:" pp. 400-415

1878
"Places in the Neighbourhood of Toronto:" pp. 451-467

1879
"Places in the Neighbourhood of Toronto:" pp. 445-463

1880
"Places in the Neighbourhood of Toronto:" pp. 451-473

1881
"Places in the Neighbourhood of Toronto:" pp. 457-481

1882
"Places in the Neighbourhood of Toronto:" pp. 463-486

1883
"Places in the Neighbourhood of Toronto:" pp. 685-727

1884
"Places in the Neighbourhood of Toronto:" pp. 725-749

1885
"Places in the Neighbourhood of Toronto:" pp. 801-816

1886
"Places in the Neighbourhood of Toronto:" pp. 845-865

1887
"Places in the Neighbourhood of Toronto:" pp. 967-990

1888
"Places in the Neighbourhood of Toronto:" pp. 1091-1117

1889
"Suburbs of City of Toronto:" pp. 321-367

1890
"Suburbs of City of Toronto:" pp. 382-413a

1891
"Suburban Directory:" pp. 433-476

1892
"Suburban Directory:" pp. 441-485

1893
"Suburban Directory:" pp. 438-481

1894
"Suburban Directory:" pp. 395-457

1895
"Suburban Directory:" pp. 1625-1686

1896
"Suburban Directory:" pp. 1659-1708

1897
"Suburban Directory:" pp. 1651-1702

1898
"Suburban Directory:" pp. 1651-1710

1899
"Suburban Directory:" pp. 49-82

1900
"Suburban Directory:" pp. 49-79

1901
"Suburban Directory:" pp. 51-82a

1902
"Suburban Directory:" pp. 49-84

1903
"Suburban Directory:" pp. 49-83

1904
"Suburban Directory:" pp. 49-91

1905
"Suburban Directory:" pp. 49-92a

1906
"Suburban Directory:" pp. 49-91l

1907
"Suburban Directory:" pp. 33-92

1908
"Suburban Directory:" pp. 33-106

1909
"Suburban Directory:" pp. 33-97

1910
"Suburban Directory:" pp. 33-63

1911
"Suburban Directory:" pp. 33-57

1912
"Suburban Directory:" pp. 33-65

1913
"Suburban Directory:" pp. 33-64

1914
"Suburban Directory:" pp. 33-69

1915
"Suburban Directory:" pp. 33-77

1916
"Suburban Directory:" pp. 22-80; Suburban Street Directory: pp. 17-21

1917
"Suburban Directory:" pp. 17-22; Suburban Street Directory: pp. 11-16

1918
"Suburban Directory:" pp. 23-74; Suburban Street Directory: pp. 17-22

1919
"Suburban Directory:" pp. 71-126; Suburban Street Directory: pp. 65-70

1920
"Suburban Directory:" pp. 71-128; Suburban Street Directory: pp. 65-70

1921
"Suburban Directory:" pp. 65-126; Suburban Street Directory: pp. 58-63

1922
"Suburban Directory:" pp. 65-203 [Includes street directories and populations]

1923
"Suburban Directory:" pp. 41-205 [Includes street directories and populations]

1924
"Suburban Directory:" pp. 1767-1956 [Includes street directories and populations]

1925
"Suburban Directory:" pp. 1807-2024 [Includes street directories and populations]

1926
"Suburban Directory:" pp. 1809-1962; Index to suburban streets: pp. 1801-1807

1927
"Suburban Directory:" pp. 1807-1963; Index to suburban streets: pp. 1801-1806

1928
"Suburban Directory:" pp. 1905-2068; Index to suburban streets: pp. 1897-1904

1929
"Suburban Directory:" pp. 2001-2184; Index to suburban streets: pp. 1993-1999

1930
 Suburbs: index to streets: pp. 2188-2194

1931
Suburbs: index to streets: pp. 1719-1724

1932
Suburbs: index to streets: pp. 1669-1624

1933
Suburbs: index to streets: pp. 1705-1709

1934
Suburbs: index to streets: pp. 1637-1641

1935
Suburbs: index to streets: pp. 1317-1320

1936
Suburbs Street Guide: Pink pp. 1-4

1937
Suburbs Street Guide: Pink pp. 1-4

1938
Suburbs Street Guide: Pink pp. 1-5

1939
Suburbs Street Guide: Pink pp. 1-5

1940
Suburbs Street Guide: Pink pp. 1-5

1941
Suburbs Street Guide: Pink pp. 1-5

1942
Suburbs Street Guide: Pink pp. 1-5

1943
Suburbs Street Guide: Pink pp. 1-5

1944
Suburbs Street Guide: Pink pp. 1-5

1946
Suburbs Street Guide: Pink pp. 1-4

1947
Suburbs Street Guide: Pink pp. 1-4

1948
Suburbs Street Guide: Pink pp. 1-4

1949
Suburbs Street Guide: Pink pp. 1-4

1950
Suburbs Street Guide: Pink pp. 1-4

1951
Suburbs Street Guide: Pink pp. 1-4

1952
Suburbs Street Guide: Pink pp. 1-4

1953
Suburbs Street Guide: Pink pp. 1-4

1954
Suburbs Street Guide: Pink pp. 1-4

1955
Suburbs Street Guide: Pink pp. 1-4

1956
Suburbs Street Guide: Pink pp. 1-4

1957
Suburbs Street Guide: Pink pp. 1-4

1958
Suburbs Street Guide: Pink pp. 1-4

1959
Suburbs Street Guide: Pink pp. 1-4

1960
Suburbs Street Guide: Pink pp. 1-5

1961
Suburbs Street Guide: Pink pp. 1-5

1962
Suburbs Street Guide: Pink pp. 1-5

1963
Suburbs Street Guide: Pink pp. 1-5

1964
Suburbs Street Guide: Pink pp. 1-6

1965
Suburbs Street Guide: Pink pp. 1-6

1966
Suburbs Street Guide: Pink pp. 1-6

1967
Borough Streets: Pink pp. 1-7

1968
Borough Streets: Pink pp. 1-7

1969
Borough Streets: Pink pp. 1-8

1970 - 2001
 no separate suburban street listing


Other Directories

1871 - Nason’s east and west ridings of the county of York, or townships of Etobicoke, Markham, Scarboro, Vaughan & York Directory. Toronto: Dudley and Burns, 1871. On fiche in Toronto Reference Library – CIHM #00528 (on 2 fiche)
 
1935 - County of York (Ontario) Directory. Toronto: County Directories Co., 1935- only in Canadiana Room, North York Library 917.1354C
1958 to 1965 - Toronto west & north-west suburban directory. Toronto, Ont.: Might Directories Limited, 1958- 1965.
1966 - Might’s greater Toronto suburban directory. Toronto: Might Directories Ltd., 1966-67.
1995 to 1999 - Might’s City of Toronto (west of Yonge) & York directory. [Toronto: Might Directories (division of Polk Canada Ltd.) 1995-1999. (Additional Authors: Might Directories ltd.; R.L. Polk & Co.)
1997 - Bower’s Directory for Greater Metropolitan Toronto. West side of Yonge Street [Toronto: Metropolitan Cross-Reference Directory, c 1990 - (Volume 1: Toronto Metro West; Volume 2: Toronto Metro East; Volume 15: Telephone Key)
1996, 1998, 1999 - Might’s Directories Etobicoke criss-cross. Toronto: R.L. Polk. (Additional Authors: Might Directories, ltd.; R.L. Polk & Co.)
2000, 2001 - Toronto/Etobicoke, ON Polk 

For reference purposes on using the above in your research, refer to the Etobicoke Historical Society's GUIDE: How to Research Etobicoke History.
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