North York, Toronto

North York
Suburb
North York skyline
Motto: The City with Heart
Location of North York (red) within the rest of Toronto.
Country	Canada
Province	Ontario
Municipality	Toronto
Incorporated	June 13, 1922 (Township) 1967 (Borough) Feb 14, 1979 (City)
Changed Region	1954 Metropolitan Toronto from York County
Amalgamated	1 January 1998 into Toronto
Government
• Councillors	Shelley Carroll, Josh Colle, John Filion, Denzil Minnan-Wong, John Parker, Anthony Perruzza, Jaye Robinson, David Shiner, Karen Stintz
• MPs	Michael Levitt, Rob Oliphant, Yasmin Ratansi, Ali Ehsassi, Marco Mendicino, Judy Sgro, Ahmed Hussen, Geng Tan
• MPPs	Laura Albanese, Mike Colle, Michael Coteau, Monte Kwinter, Mario Sergio, Kathleen Wynne, David Zimmer
Area
• Total	176.87 km2 (68.29 sq mi)
Population (2011)
• Total	655,913
• Density	3,439.2/km2 (8,907/sq mi)
Area code(s)	416, 647

North York is a suburban district in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located directly north of Old Toronto, between Etobicoke to the west and Scarborough to the east. As of the 2011 Census, it had a population of 655,913. It was first created as a township in 1922 out of the northern part of the former city of York, a municipality that was located along the western border of Old Toronto. Following its inclusion in Metropolitan Toronto in 1954, it was one of the fastest growing parts of the region due to its proximity to Old Toronto. It was declared a borough in 1967, and later became a city in 1979, attracting high-density residences, rapid transit, and a number of corporate headquarters in North York City Centre, its central business district. In 1998, North York was amalgamated with the rest of Metropolitan Toronto to form the new city of Toronto, and has since been a secondary economic hub outside Downtown Toronto.

The Township of North York was formed on June 13, 1922 out of the rural part of the Township of York. The rapidly growing parts of the township remained in that township. As North York became more populous, it became the Borough of North York in 1967, and then on February 14, 1979, the City of North York. To commemorate receiving its city charter on St. Valentine's Day, the city's corporate slogan was "The City with Heart". It now forms the largest part of the area served by the "North York Community Council", a committee of Toronto City Council.

North York used to be known as a regional agricultural hub composed of scattered villages. The area boomed following World War II, and by the 1950s and 1960s, it resembled many other sprawling North American suburbs.

On August 10, 2008, a massive explosion occurred at the Sunrise Propane Industrial Gases propane facility just southwest of the Toronto-Downsview Airport. This destroyed the depot and damaged several homes nearby. About 13,000 residents were evacuated for several days before being allowed back home. One employee at the company was killed in the blast and one firefighter died while attending to the scene of the accident. A follow-up investigation to the incident made several recommendations concerning propane supply depots. It asked for a review of setback distances between depots and nearby residential areas but didn't call for restrictions on where they can be located.