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As local markets grew, these hamlets developed into larger centres. Some of the historic hamlets in Whitchurch Township include Gormley, Preston Lake, Vandorf, Wesley Corners, Pleasantville, Bethesda, Pine Orchard, Cedar Valley, Lemonville, Seldom Seen, Shrubmount, Ringwood, Baker Hill, Ballantrae, Vivian, Hartman, Bloomington, Musselman's Lake, Churchill, Lincolnville and Island Lake.
Abraham Stouffer, who came from Pennsylvania in 1804, settled on a total of 600 acres of land in the southeast corner of our township and bordering Markham Township. At the current intersections of Main and Market as well as Main and Mill Streets, Stouffer established saw and grist mills. Other businesses grew up around Stouffer's mills and soon amenities such as a church and school were added to the growing hamlet which was then known as Stoufferville. In 1832, when the post office was established, the name was shortened to Stouffville.
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When a village became large enough, it could separate from the township and incorporate as a separate municipal entity. Often the driving force behind village incorporation was the increased control over taxation and the use of tax revenue within the village area: in particular, the ability to raise enough money to establish fire protection services. Given the number of wooden buildings and how closely together they were built in most early villages, fire was a major concern for 19th century residents and business operators in any growing urban centre.
Newmarket was the first village to separate, having grown substantially as a result of the Ontario, Huron & Simcoe Railway service. Newmarket incorporated in 1858. The Village of Aurora was next in 1863 followed by Richmond Hill in 1872. In 1877, the Village of Stouffville incorporated.
The first railway to be constructed in Whitchurch Township was the Ontario, Huron & Simcoe Railway which connected Toronto to Matchell's Corners (now Aurora), and was completed in May, 1853. The arrival of the railway led to tremendous economic and urban development in the communities located along its path. Those hamlets and villages not along the railway line, usually fell into decline.
It was not until 1871 that the Toronto & Nipissing Railway arrived in Stouffville, running from Scarborough to Coboconk. The great need for lumber in markets as far away as New York and Europe, was the main reason for bringing railway service to Stouffville. Extensive lumber harvesting and sawmill operations were located in Vandorf, Vivian, Ballantrae and along Stouffville Road. In 1878, the Lake Simcoe Junction Railway was constructed linking Stouffville to Jackson's Point, through Ballantrae and Vivian, to further support the local timber trade.
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The timber industry caused extensive deforestation in Whitchurch. Given the poor soil quality on top of the Oak Ridges Moraine and farming practices of the day, the loss of forest cover resulted in soil erosion and large areas of blow sand deserts were created. As early as the 1870s,
reforestation plans started to develop. It was not until the early 1900s though, that a group of politicians, foresters and farmers banded together to reforest the area. The passage of the provincial Reforestation Act in 1921 enabled counties to purchase barren land and put it under "management agreement" with the Ministry of Lands & Forests (now Ministry of Natural Resources). York County, now the Regional Municipality of York, signed a forestry agreement in 1924 to create Vivian Forest in Whitchurch Township.
The Hollidge Farm, located between Highway 48 and the Ninth Line south of Vivian Road, was the first purchase for the Vivian Forest. Ted Hollidge served as the first caretaker for the forest and the Hollidge's original barn is still an integral part of the present-day Vivian Forest Headquarters. Now owned and managed by York Region, the majority of the 5,000 acres of York Regional Forest is located in Whitchurch-Stouffville, providing wonderful outdoor recreational opportunities.
While the arrival of the railway first brought prosperity and growth to communities such as Stouffville, it ultimately caused their decline after the turn of the 20th century. Access to the larger market and manufacturers of Toronto was made much easier through the railway. Small, local industries simply couldn't compete against larger competitors in Toronto.
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After World War II
The rapid urban expansion of Toronto after World War II caused the establishment of Metropolitan Toronto in 1954. York County became smaller at this time since Metro Toronto, now the (mega) City of Toronto, grew to include all the lands south of Steeles Avenue which had been part of the County. As urban sprawl continued into the 1960s, the relationship between Toronto and its neighbouring municipalities was re-examined. The resulting Goldenberg Report
recommended that the county government structure be reorganized instead of expanding Metro Toronto's area for two major reasons. First, the expansion of Toronto would mean another loss of population, territory and tax assessment base for counties like York. Secondly, enhancing the political structure of the county government would help to balance decision making more in favour of rural municipalities versus large urban centres.In 1970, the Ontario Government passed Bill 102, establishing our current two-tier system of municipal government. York County, with its existing 14 townships and villages, was dissolved. As of January 1st, 1971, York County became the Regional Municipality of York and included 9 local municipalities. Whitchurch Township and the Village of Stouffville were reunited to form the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville while Richmond Hill, Aurora and Newmarket each became separate towns.The original northern and eastern boundaries of Whitchurch Township serve as the boundaries for Whitchurch-Stouffville. The western boundary was moved east from Yonge Street to Highway 404. The southern boundary was moved further south of Stouffville Road by four farm lots, encompassing a 