Welcome to Downtown Toronto Hotels! Our goal is to provide the best options for your hotel stay in the beautiful Downtown areas of Toronto, ON! Whether your trip is for business or pleasure, we strive to provide exceptional service from the start of our secure online reservation system to the last night of your hotel stay! Our top-rated hotels ensure a comfortable atmosphere, and are often located near popular attractions, shopping centers, and local night-life activities! Whatever your visit to Toronto entails, we're sure you'll find our informative Toronto Guide and hotel booking options useful!
Known by the Huron people's phrase for "meeting place," Toronto's initial settlers were several First Nations groups. French discoverer Etienne Brule became the first European to visit Lake Ontario as he arrived in the area that is now Toronto during the early 1600s.
The Toronto territory held great importance since its trails and waterways became critical for early trade. The route followed the Humber River and saw heavy use as the trail was a handy shortcut from Lake Ontario to the upper sections of the Great Lakes.
With its access to the big lakes, Toronto's popularity grew for the French fur traders. However, conflict ensued between the French and British arrivals to Canada since the two countries battled for control over the area's fur trade. The British finally won the battle during September 1760, and the French left North America.
When America began battling Britain for its freedom in 1776, the United States sent a number of its loyal followers to the British territory in Canada. With their arrival, settlements grew alongside the lower lake areas and the upper St. Lawrence. These early communities eventually became the province of Upper Canada.
The first governor of Upper Canada was John Graves Simcoe, and he encouraged his citizens to plan and construct an official town. By 1793, the settlers built a small town near the harbor, which they named York. Later, the small town became Upper Canada's capital.
Toronto kept the name York until 1834. By then, the town counted over 9,000 citizens with Mayor William Lyon Mackenzie leading the government. During the 1850s, the city saw the arrival of the railroad, which allowed the community's trade to grow from logging and mining in the early 20th century.
The Great Depression affected Toronto, but the city survived with less suffering than other areas of Canada.
