Was Don Mills the turning point in terms of suburbanization in Canada?

[Docere]

Population of postal code areas:

Downsview

1941 1,682
1951 12,149
1961 66,620
1971 130,375

Willowdale

1941 9,788
1951 30,492
1961 76,025
1971 165,345

Don Mills

1941 1,252
1951 3,618
1961 32,994
1971 68,530

(This is approximate based on Census Tracts. This was standard practice until about 25 years ago. York University for example had a "Downsview, ON" address. York Mills/Bridle Path area was split between Willowdale and Don Mills).

[Docere]

Population in 2021:

Downsview (M3H, M3J, M3K, M3L, M3M, M3N) 157,896
Willowdale (M2H, M2J, M2K, M2L, M2M, M2N, M2P) 236,369
Don Mills (M3A, M3B, M3C) 86,857

[Docere]

Originally Posted by kool maudit

Leaside is an example of where Toronto resembles Los Angeles. It is similar to Beverly Hills in a way.

How about Forest Hill?

[Docere]

[Docere]

Long Branch, Mimico and New Toronto

1941 22,746
1951 31,263
1961 42,635
1971 42,225

Southern and Central Etobicoke

1941 18,018
1951 51,819
1961 127,619
1971 180,850

North Etobicoke (Rexdale)

1941 955
1951 1,960
1961 28,416
1971 59,665

[Docere]

From the 1961 census.

Downsview

Managers/professionals 18.8%
Clerical/sales 29.5%
Craftsmen/production workers 28.9%

Don Mills

Managers/professionals 45.3%
Clerical/sales 19.8%
Craftsmen/production workers 9.8%

[Docere]

Toronto's postwar suburbs, which were increasingly corporate-built, housed two-thirds of the metropolitan population by 1975. Many of the suburbs in the 1950s were similar to American designs using the neighbourhood unit, refined by Clarence Perry in the 1920s, which included schools, commercial plazas, and a hierarchy of arterial and curvilinear, looping and cul-de-sac streets for residential areas. The houses, which were often ranch-style with picture windows and recreation rooms as in America (split-level for the more upscale), were oriented parallel to the streets on wider and shallower lots in contrast to those of prewar districts. These suburbs were of low density, though not as low as those of some American suburbs. In contrast to many American tracts, apartment buildings often punctuated the landscape.

- James Lemon, Liberal Dreams and Nature's Limits: Great Cities of North America Since 1600

[manny_santos]

Originally Posted by Docere

Population in 2021:

Downsview (M3H, M3J, M3K, M3L, M3M, M3N) 157,896
Willowdale (M2H, M2J, M2K, M2L, M2M, M2N, M2P) 236,369
Don Mills (M3A, M3B, M3C) 86,857

I’ve long wondered how Metro Toronto was split up along these postal names - I know Rexdale was another one.

Is there any complete map or list of how Metro Toronto was split up?

[Docere]

I haven't seen a map - maybe an old Canada Post postal code directory would have it - but here's how I think it went:

Agincourt M1S, M1T, M1V, M1W
Don Mills M3A, M3B, M3C
Downsview M3H, M3J, M3L, M3M, M3N
Islington M9A, M9B, M9C
Rexdale M9V, M9W
Scarborough M1B, M1H, M1M, M1N, M1P, M1R, M1X
West Hill M1C, M1E, M1G
Weston M9L, M9M, M9N, M9P, M9R
Willowdale M2H, M2K, M2L, M2M, M2N, M2P

All the others had "Toronto" addresses.

[Proof Sheet]

Originally Posted by Docere

I haven't seen a map - maybe an old Canada Post postal code directory would have it - but here's how I think it went:

Agincourt M1S, M1T, M1V, M1W
Don Mills M3A, M3B, M3C
Downsview M3H, M3J, M3L, M3M, M3N
Islington M9A, M9B, M9C
Rexdale M9V, M9W
Scarborough M1B, M1H, M1M, M1N, M1P, M1R, M1X
West Hill M1C, M1E, M1G
Weston M9L, M9M, M9N, M9P, M9R
Willowdale M2H, M2K, M2L, M2M, M2N, M2P

All the others had "Toronto" addresses.

I've seen 'Etobicoke' as a postal address as well and I think East York also listed.

[manny_santos]

Originally Posted by Proof Sheet

I've seen 'Etobicoke' as a postal address as well and I think East York also listed.

I'm surprised M1X and M1B wasn't considered Malvern.

I would also assume M2R would've been considered Willowdale.

[Docere]

My mistake. All M2- postal codes are Willowdale including M2R.

I've never heard of a "Malvern, ON" mailing address.