King City is an unincorporated Canadian community in the township of King, Ontario, located north of Toronto. It is the largest community in King township, with 2,730 dwellings and a population of 8,396 as of the 2021 Canadian census.
History
In 1836, a settlement styled Springhill was established in King. With the arrival of the Ontario, Simcoe and Huron railway in 1853, the settlement began to expand. In 1890, the reeve of King township (James Whiting Crossley) incorporated King City by merging the hamlets of Springhill, Kinghorn, Laskay, and Eversley.
Geography
King City is characterized by rolling hills and clustered temperate forests in the Eastern Great Lakes lowland forests ecoregion. Numerous kettle lakes and ponds dot the area. Creeks and streams from King City, the surrounding area, and as far west as Bolton and as far east as Stouffville are the origin for the East Humber River.
Situated entirely on the southern slope of the central portion of the Oak Ridges Moraine and its watershed, numerous disputes about planning and development have occurred municipally, such as installation of a sewerage system connecting the community to the Durham-York Sewage System in the 2000s.
Numerous stables and other farms have been established on the of land area occupied by the township.
Ecology
The provincially significant King-Vaughan Wetland Complex consists of 23 individual wetlands (83% swamp, 17% marsh). It is composed of clay, loam and silt soils on a site that is palustrine (69%) or isolated (31%). Vegetation found on this wetland includes tall shrubs (34%), deciduous trees (28%), dead trees and shrubs (19%), and narrow-leaved emergents (12%); additionally, robust emergents and free-floating plants are found in small agglomerations.
King Forest is a 60-hectare forest with steep valleys containing the narrow flood plain of the East Humber River. The valley walls are of dry-mesic nature, supporting Eastern White Cedar, Eastern Hemlock and Sugar Maple. It is a regenerating forest containing 85 ground-cover species. The flood plain consists primarily of Eastern White Cedar, Sugar Maple and some White Ash, though 26 species do thrive in the area.
The King City Wetland Complex contains eight wetlands (77% swamp, 23% marsh) over 49 hectares. It is a palustrine formation composed 70% of clay, loam or silt soils, and 30% organic soils. It has varied vegetation, including tall shrubs (40%), deciduous trees (37%), robust emergents (14%), narrow-leaved emergents (4%) and submergent vegetation (4%).
Also, the King-Vaughan Forest straddles King City and portions of Vaughan. It is similar to the King Forest, composed of forest areas on steep valley walls containing the flood plain of the Humber River. The dominant species on the valley walls are Sugar Maple and Eastern Hemlock, which are strongly regenerative in the forest. On the flood plain, a greater variety of species may be observed. Immature stands of Manitoba Maple and Eastern White Cedar, poplars and American Elm can be found here, as can an extensive Hawthorn scrubland.
Climate
King City has a continental climate moderated by the Great Lakes and influenced by warm, moist air masses from the south, and cold, dry air from the north. The Oak Ridges Moraine affects levels of precipitation: as an air mass arrives from Lake Ontario and reaches the elevated ground surface of the moraine, it rises causing precipitation.
Politics
King City does not have its own municipal government; it is represented municipally on King Township council by two councillors, in Wards 1 and 5. Ward 1 covers King City east of Keele Street, and includes the communities of Eversley, Snowball and Temperanceville. Ward 5 includes the western part of King City to Highway 400.
Sewage system
King City was historically served by septic systems. In 2001, York Region took away control of planning for King Township's sewage collection system. The Township's council at the time opposed the installation of a sewage system in King City, and brought the issue to court. Changes to the Regional Municipalities Act in 2001 resulted in regional control of sewer and water systems by regional government. The municipal government has authority to plan and manage the local collection system. The 2003 municipal elections resulted in a council favourable to installation of a sewage system in the town and its connection to the York-Durham Sewage System. The Township subsequently applied for project provincial and federal construction grants.