Bloomington is a hamlet in York Region, Ontario, Canada, in the town of Whitchurch-Stouffville. The hamlet is centred at the intersection of Ninth Line and Bloomington Road near the eastern boundary of the town of Whitchurch–Stouffville. Neighbouring communities within Whitchurch–Stouffville include Musselman Lake to the north, Lemonville to the west, and the community of urban Stouffville to the south. The hamlet of Goodwood in the town of Uxbridge lies to the east.See the detailed 1878 map: Township of Whitchurch, Illustrated historical atlas of the county of York and the township of West Gwillimbury & town of Bradford in the county of Simcoe, Ont. (Toronto: Miles & Co., 1878).
History The first settlers arrived in the early 19th century, and were largely Quakers, Mennonites and United Empire Loyalists who had left the United States. The first postmaster, Samuel Patterson, registered the name Bloomington in 1869, likely after the city of Bloomington, Illinois.For a thorough account of Bloomington's history, cf. Jean Barkey et al., Whitchurch Township (Erin, ON: Boston Mills, 1993), 100-102.
There are a few reminders of the old hamlet that remain:
Bloomington Schoolhouse, located at 13681 Ninth Line, was built in 1898 as School Section No. 10 (with an addition from 1952). It closed before 1971, and is now a private residence. Bloomington Cove Care Community is located on Ninth Line south of Bloomington Side Road. Bloomington Gospel Church was built in 1874.
Economy
Bloomington is primarily agricultural, but some land is being developed for housing and few commercial businesses.
References