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In the 1800s, people started arriving in what is today one of the fastest growing areas of Canada. But back then, it was all forest and swamp. One attractive feature, the river, turned out to be the area's greatest threat.
Settlers began working the land-clearing farmland and setting up shops. By the 1820, John Elliot was selling lots around Queen and Main. The 1830s saw the beginning of industry and fairs. In 1853, Brampton officially became a Village and achieved the status of Town twenty years later.
Over the course of the next few decades, Brampton continued to grow. A grant from Andrew Carnegie helped build a library, beginning a tradition of education in Brampton. The Board of Trade was formed to help in the city's development, a task they are still performing. Sir William Gage helped in the acquisition of the city's first public park, which bares his name and is enjoyed by thousands each year.
But despite the seeming progress, the Etobicoke River put the city in jeopardy. Every spring, the waters would rise and flood the businesses and homes of Brampton. After a particularly bad flood in 1948, plans were made and executed for the Etobicoke River Flood Control Channel. The wisdom of such plans was immediately realized, as the impact of 1953's potentially devastating Hurricane Hazel was minimized.
In 1956, the Grand Trunk Railway connected Brampton and Toronto as the one of many fortuitous travel connections between the cities. The railroad, in addition to the airport and later the highways, made Brampton attractive to businesses and individuals who were looking for proximity to Toronto. The Sixties and Seventies saw amazing growth within the community. Bramalea was developed, and then joined Toronto Gore and the remainder of Chinguacousy Township in incorporating into Brampton.
Today, Brampton is a thriving metropolitan community blessed with diversity and promise. And while business will continue to be the barometer that most use to measure the realization of the promise, it is the people of Brampton that are it's real treasure. |
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