Oakville, Ontario


Oakville is a town and lower-tier municipality and the seat of the Halton Region, Ontario, Canada. In the 2021 Canadian census the town had a population of 213,759, with an estimated 233,700 people as of 2024, making it Ontario's largest town. Oakville is part of the Greater Toronto Area, the largest urban area in Canada.

History

In 1793, Dundas Street was surveyed for a military road. In 1805, the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada bought the lands between Etobicoke and Hamilton from the indigenous Mississaugas people, except for the land at the mouths of Twelve Mile Creek, Sixteen Mile Creek, and along the Credit River. In 1807, British immigrants settled the area surrounding Dundas Street as well as on the shore of Lake Ontario.
In 1820, the Crown bought the area surrounding the waterways. The area around the creeks,, ceded to the Crown by the Mississaugas, was auctioned off to William Chisholm in 1827. He left the development of the area to his son, Robert Kerr Chisholm, and his brother-in-law, Merrick Thomas. Chisholm also formed shipbuilding business in Oakville Navy Street and Sixteen Mile Creek and lasted until 1842, but shipbuilding in Oakville lasted into the late 20th century.
The population in 1846 was 1,500. The community shipped large quantities of wheat and lumber via schooners and the railway. There were three churches, a grist mill and saw mill, and various small companies making threshing machines, wagons, watches, saddles, and metal goods. There were also tradesmen of various types.
Oakville's industries also included shipbuilding. In the 1850s, there was an economic recession and the foundry, the most important industry in town, was closed. Basket-making became a major industry in the town, and the Grand Trunk Railway was built through it. In 1869, the population was 2,000. The community was served by the Great Western Railway and it was a port on Lake Ontario.
The town eventually became industrialized with the opening of Cities Service Canada and Shell Canada oil refineries, the Procor factory, and, most importantly, the Ford Motor Company's Canadian headquarters and plant, all close to the Canadian National Railway and the Queen Elizabeth Way highway between Toronto and Fort Erie.
In 1962, the town of Oakville merged with its neighbouring villages to become the new Town of Oakville, reaching northwards to Steeles Avenue in Milton. In 1973, the restructuring of Halton County into Halton Region brought the northern border southwards to just north of the future Highway 407.

Underground Railroad

Oakville has a long and important role in Black Canadian historical narratives. The town is one of the many Underground Railroad Station Stops established along the Canada-U.S.A border. The town served as a location for fugitive enslaved Black people to escape the slavery of America and establish themselves. This population were very influential in establishing the town's prosperous economy.

Geography

Neighbourhoods

Oakville's Planning Department divides the town into communities. These are based on traditional neighbourhoods.
NeighbourhoodDescription
Old OakvilleOld Oakville is located in South-Central Oakville along the shore of Lake Ontario. It is bordered by the Sixteen Mile Creek and Oakville Harbour to the west, Chartwell Road to the east, and Cornwall Road to the north.
Kerr VillageKerr Village is a section of downtown located just west of the Old Village around Kerr Street between Speers Rd and Lakeshore Road.
BronteBronte is located in Southwest Oakville along the shore of Lake Ontario. It is a community centred on Bronte Harbour.
EastlakeEastlake is located in Southeast Oakville along the shore of Lake Ontario, it is often divided into the neighbourhoods of Morrison and Ford. It is bordered on the west by Chartwell Road, to the north by Cornwall Road, and to the east by Mississauga.
ClearviewClearview is located in Centre East Oakville. It is located on the Oakville-Mississauga border
College ParkCollege Park is located between Sixteen Mile Creek and just east of Trafalgar Road, from the Queen Elizabeth Way north to Upper Middle Road. It surrounds Sheridan College.
Iroquois Ridge NorthIroquois Ridge North is located in North East Oakville between Upper Middle Road and Dundas Street.
Iroquois Ridge SouthIroquois Ridge South is located in North East Oakville. The Falgarwood area is located in the southern end of the Iroquois Ridge South community.
Glen AbbeyGlen Abbey is located in West Oakville, with Third Line and Dorval Drive being the major arteries of the community. It is a large area west of the Glen Abbey Golf Course, home of the Canadian Open.
PalermoPalermo is located in Northwest Oakville. It is a small community centred on the intersection of Dundas Street and Bronte Road.
River OaksRiver Oaks is located in North-Central Oakville. It includes the Oak Park development.
Uptown CoreUptown Core is located in North Centre Oakville. It includes the area on either side of Trafalgar Road between Dundas Street and Glenashton Drive.
West Oak TrailsWest Oak Trails is located in North Centre West Oakville on the north side of Upper Middle Road. It is a newer development than the other communities.

Climate

Like much of Southern Ontario, Oakville has a humid continental climate straddling Dfa/Dfb classifications, with cold winters with frequent snowfall, and warm summers. Like most lakeside municipalities on the Great Lakes, there are varying temperatures within town boundaries, generally warmer days further from the lake, the exception being on the colder days in winter.

Demographics

In the 2021 Canadian census conducted by Statistics Canada, Oakville had a population of 213,759 living in 73,558 of its 76,179 total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of 193,832. With a land area of, it had a population density of in 2021.
According to the 2021 census, the median age in the town is 41.6 years. 18% of the population is under 15 years of age, 66.3% is between 15 and 64 years, and 15.7% is 65 and over.
In 2021, immigrants made up 41.2% of the population. The top 10 places of birth of the immigrant population were China, India, United Kingdom Pakistan, Philippines, Egypt, the United States, Poland, South Korea, and Portugal.

Language

The most common mother tongues among the population in 2021 were English, Mandarin, Arabic, Spanish, and Urdu.
Mother tonguePopulation%
English122,25557.4
Mandarin14,8157.0
Arabic7,3503.5
Spanish4,8752.3
Urdu4,6052.2
Portuguese3,5001.6
French2,9701.4
Polish2,9101.4
Italian2,8001.3
Punjabi2,5401.2
Korean2,4751.2
Hindi2,2851.1
Tagalog 1,8400.9
Croatian1,6350.8
Russian1,4000.7
Cantonese1,3400.6
Persian1,3300.7
Serbian1,2950.6
German1,2200.6
Romanian1,0250.5

Ethnicity

The 2016 census found the most reported ethnocultural background to be White, followed by South Asian, Chinese, Arab, Black, Filipino, Latin American, Korean, West Asian, and other backgrounds. Aboriginals make up 0.7% the population: 0.4% First Nations and 0.3% Métis.

Religion

According to the 2021 census, 52.7% of the population identify as Christians, with Catholics making up the largest denomination. Others identify as Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jewish, and with other religions. A total of 28.3% of the population report no religious affiliation.

Economy

The top employers in Oakville include:
Company / organizationEmployeesSector
Ford Motor Company of Canada4,110Head Office & Automobile Manufacturing Plant
Halton Healthcare2,626Healthcare Services
Halton District School Board2,441Education
Regional Municipality of Halton1,542Regional Government
Collins Aerospace1,500Aerospace Products & Parts Manufacturing
The Corporation of the Town of Oakville1279Municipal Government
Halton Catholic District School Board1,094Education
Sheridan College1,031Education, Post-Secondary Institution

Employers

Sagen MI Canada, Algonquin Power & Utilities, Canadian Tire Financial Services, Cameron's Brewing Company, Equirex, Pelmorex, and Rockstar Toronto are based in Oakville, while Siemens, The Ford Motor Company, and MADD Canada have their head Canadian offices in the town. Many Oakville residents work in advanced manufacturing at large facilities operated by UTC Aerospace Systems and General Electric.
Many Oakville companies fall under the life science umbrella, with an emphasis on pharmaceuticals and elder care. There are also a number of retirement homes in the city.
As Oakville is considered part of the Greater Toronto Area it is common for residents to commute to jobs in Toronto.