Halton Hills ON
Overview
Halton Hills is a town in the Regional Municipality of Halton which is located west of Toronto, and part of the GTA. With the amalgamation of the former Towns of Georgetown and Acton, in 1974, Halton Hills was established.
Within this town, there are a number of hamlets and rural regions such as Ashgrove, Ballinafad, Bannockburn, Crewsons Corners, Glen Williams, Henderson's Corners, Hornby, Limehouse, Mansewood, Norval, Scotch Block, Silver Creek, Speyside, Stewarttown, Terra Cotta and Wildwood.
Real Estate
Real estate in Halton Hills can be found about 40 kilometres west of Toronto, sitting on the scenic rolling hills of the Niagara Escarpment. Although this town is predominantly rural, it does include two large urban areas in Georgetown and Acton. This city is also lucky to have large tracts of conservation lands which offer plenty of recreational opportunities for local residents.
The largest employer’s in Halton Hill include Cooper Standard, Louisiana Pacific, Mould Masters, Neilson Dairy as well as Sheridan Nurseries (one of the largest garden centre retailers in Canada).
Halton Hills is also home to many wonderful natural features such as the Niagara Escarpment, and the Bruce Trail. A lot of these neighbourhood features are protected by the Conservation Halton, Credit Valley Conservation & Grand River Conservation Authority.
Homes
Homes for sale in Halton Hills’ Georgetown pocket feature spectacular vistas. Within the community, those searching for real estate for sale in Halton Hills may come across a preserved assortment of Victorian and Georgian style heritage properties located in its downtown core.
Other architectural styles within this neighbourhood include charming 1900s Edwardian and Tudor-style homes. On the borders of downtown, potential homebuyers can find sections of ranch-style bungalows as well as split-level homes that date back to the 1950s, and 1960s, in addition to townhouses and apartment buildings that were built in the 1970s, and 1980s.
Georgetown’s new home subdivisions are can be spotted in the south-end of town, just off Trafalgar Road. Acton’s charming downtown offers many affordable housing options ranging from heritage homes, to modern bungalows and more. Acton also includes a fair share of new home subdivision which can be found along the Highway 7 corridor. What is great about Halton Hills is the rural countryside just north of Highway 7 which has many equestrian farms, cattle farms, and lifestyle ranches, many that include their own ponds
History
In the early 1800s, Halton Hills was first settled by immigrants from the British Isles. By the mid 1800s, many villages had been created in Halton. The two biggest of these were Georgetown, which was incorporated as a village in 1865, and Acton which received village status in 1874.
Georgetown was established by George Kennedy and his four brothers who were engaged in farming and operated thriving mills on the Credit River. Many streets in this neighbourhood are named after members of the Kennedy family.
Acton’s founding man was Reverend Ezra Adams, a Methodist preacher. His flour mill was located at Prospect Park, which is now a civic park and fairgrounds. A lot of Acton’s oldest streets are named after members of the Adams family.
Getting Around
Most Halton Hills real estate agents’ MLS listings might mention the transit options available to residents. The Go Transit bus service can be found in Acton and Georgetown (55 Queen Street).
Something spectacular about Halton Hills’ country roads are the dramatic vistas of farmland with the Niagara Escarpment in the background.
The train ride to Toronto’s Union station takes about one hour. Halton Hills commuters have the advantage of being situated by easy access to the Highway 401 interchanges, which link motorists to the 400 series highways. The drive to Toronto takes about one hour.
Shopping
Halton Hills real estate prices may vary by the availability of shopping options. Downtown Georgetown’s Main Street shopping features heritage buildings, some dating back to the 1820s, as well as a streetscape with a distinctive boulevard, majestic street lamps and heritage banners.
Residents and visitors alike can find locally owned shops, boutiques, restaurants as well as professional offices here. Main Street hosts a bustling Framers Market every Saturday morning from June until September and parking is free.
The Georgetown Market Place mall is situated in a retail district that also includes franchise retailers and restaurants, and many car dealerships and it consists of more than 60 retail stores.
Downtown Acton is best known for The Olde Hide House; Canada’s largest leather outlet with more than 8000 square feet of retail space. Additionally, downtown Acton has more than 85 shops and services and hosts numerous yearly events.
Entertainment
Entertainment attractions abound in Halton Hills, including Acton’s Leathertown Festival where more than 150 vendors participate in this yearly event. The Halton Hills Cultural Centre (9 Church Street) is a meeting place for many cultural, community, and business events. It also includes the John Elliot Theatre; home of the Georgetown Little Theatre, and Georgetown Globe Productions.
The Halton Hills Cultural Centre also includes an art gallery that showcases art as well as beautiful restored stained glass windows and vaulted ceilings. There are four conservation areas in this town that feature numerous recreational opportunities such as, hiking, and cross-country skiing as well as six golf courses. The bulk of Halton Hills sports facilities can be found in Georgetown.
