Mississauga

Etymology and Deep Indigenous History

The name Mississauga originates from the Anishinaabe word Misi-zaagiing, meaning '[those at the] Great River-mouth'. Archaeological evidence confirms human activity in the area for thousands of years, beginning with the Palaeo-Indigenous period around 9000 BCE when Lake Ontario was much smaller. During the Archaic period (8000 to 1000 BCE), population growth occurred, with 23 known sites located near the Credit River and Cooksville Creek where people gathered to fish and harvest wild rice. The subsequent Woodland period (1000 BCE-1650 CE) saw the introduction of pottery, semi-permanent villages, and long-distance trade networks. The Lightfoot site on the Credit River and the Antrex site near Cooksville Creek were significant Wendat (Huron) villages with multiple longhouses. By 1650, the Haudenosaunee had dispersed the Wendat during the Beaver Wars, but they too abandoned the north shore of Lake Ontario by 1687. The Anishinaabe Ojibwe then moved into the Credit River Valley, and their bands became known as the Credit River Mississaugas through their trade interactions with Europeans.

Treaties, Land Purchases, and Early Settlement

European-Canadian settlement was enabled by a series of land surrenders. Treaty 14, signed on August 2, 1805, saw officials from York purchase 340 square kilometres of land from the Mississaugas, forming Toronto Township. Subsequent treaties, including Treaty 19 (1818), Treaty 22, and Treaty 23, surrendered additional territory. In total, four treaties cover the lands of present-day Mississauga. The Crown granted much of this land to United Empire Loyalists from the American colonies and New Brunswick as compensation, encouraging development of the frontier. A second wave of settlers arrived from New York State in the 1830s. The original villages included Clarkson, Cooksville, Dixie, Erindale, Lakeview, Lorne Park, Port Credit, Sheridan, and Summerville. In 1847, the government relocated the Mississaugas to a reserve in the Grand River Valley near Hagersville. The northeast area, including Malton and the future airport lands, was originally part of Toronto Gore Township.

From Township to City: Amalgamation and Growth

For over a century, Toronto Township remained largely agricultural, with fruit orchards, gristmills, and brickworks. The 1920s saw cottages built along the lake as weekend getaways for Torontonians. Infrastructure projects like the Queen Elizabeth Way, opened in 1935, and the 1937 establishment of Malton Airport spurred change. After World War II, planned suburban developments like Applewood Acres began rapid urbanization. In 1952, Toronto Township annexed southern Toronto Gore Township. A public plebiscite in 1965 chose the name 'Mississauga' over 'Sheridan', leading to the incorporation of the Town of Mississauga in 1968, which absorbed Malton. The independent villages of Port Credit and Streetsville remained separate until 1974, when Mississauga reincorporated as a city and amalgamated them. That year also saw a land swap with Oakville and Brampton and the opening of Square One Shopping Centre. The city's built-out phase was largely complete by 2005, with a final 400-acre annexation from Milton in 2010.

The 1979 Derailment and Modern Governance

A defining event in the city's history occurred on November 10, 1979, when a 106-car CP freight train carrying propane and chlorine derailed near Mavis Road and Dundas Street. A propane tank car exploded, and the threat of a chlorine gas release prompted the evacuation of approximately 218,000 people, the largest peacetime evacuation in North American history at the time. The efficient response became a model for emergency planning worldwide. In governance, Mississauga operates within the Regional Municipality of Peel. The city council consists of the mayor and eleven ward councillors, who also serve as regional councillors. Advance voting runs from October 6 to 11, 2026. The city's 2026 budget resulted in a 1.61 percent property tax increase, focused on balancing service demands with costs.

Physical Geography and Hydrology

Mississauga covers 288.42 square kilometres with 13 kilometres of shoreline on Lake Ontario. Its borders are with Oakville and Milton to the west, Brampton to the north, Toronto to the east, and the lake to the south. The city's terrain is shaped by its river systems. The Credit River is the longest and has the greatest discharge, flowing through a forested valley protected by the Credit Valley Conservation Authority before emptying into the lake at Port Credit harbour. Etobicoke Creek forms part of the eastern border with Toronto and is administered by the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority. Historically, flooding from Etobicoke Creek during Hurricane Hazel in 1954 swept homes into the lake, leading to a ban on floodplain construction. Smaller creeks like Mary Fix and Cooksville Creek drain the city's centre. The ancient shoreline of Glacial Lake Iroquois roughly follows Dundas Street. Elevation ranges from 214 metres above sea level in the far west to 76 metres at the lake shore.

Climate and Notable Weather Events

Mississauga has a humid continental climate, with warm, humid summers and cold winters. The official climate data is recorded at Pearson International Airport. Summer average highs in July and August are 27°C, but temperatures can exceed 32°C, with an average of 15.8 days above 30°C each year. Winter mean temperatures in January and February are -5.5°C and -4.5°C respectively, with an average of 3.9 nights below -20°C annually. Average seasonal snowfall is 108.5 centimetres over 44.4 days. Microclimates exist, with the lakeshore areas like Port Credit experiencing milder winters due to lake moderation, while northern areas like the airport often receive more snow. The city is prone to thunderstorms and has experienced significant tornadoes. An F1 tornado struck an industrial park in Meadowvale on July 7, 1985, causing damage. A more powerful tornado on June 24, 1923, cut a path from Meadowvale to Cooksville when the area was farmland, killing four people and causing massive property damage.

Demographic Profile and Recent Trends

The 2021 census recorded a population of 717,961, a decrease of 0.5 percent from 721,599 in 2016. This was the first population decline in the city's history. The land area is 292.74 square kilometres, resulting in a density of 2,452.6 people per square kilometre. The age demographics show 15.2 percent of the population under 15 years and 16.6 percent aged 65 and over, with a median age of 40.8. Christianity is the most reported religion at 49.9 percent, with Catholicism being the largest single denomination at 30.4 percent. The city's growth in the latter half of the 20th century attracted a highly diverse and multicultural population. The city is composed of 25 distinct neighbourhoods, reflecting its origins as an amalgamation of separate villages and townships, with none being historically dominant before incorporation.

Economic Infrastructure and Transportation

Mississauga's economy is powerfully shaped by Toronto Pearson International Airport, Canada's busiest airport, located in the Malton neighbourhood. The airport's establishment in 1937 ended the nearby community of Elmbank. The city is a headquarters location for numerous Canadian and multinational corporations across sectors like finance, technology, and pharmaceuticals. The deliberate development of Mississauga City Centre around the Square One transit hub created a significant downtown business district distinct from Toronto. Public transit is served by the city's MiWay system and integrated with GO Transit and Toronto's transit network. The city's original telephone exchanges from before 1970, Clarkson, Cooksville, Malton, Port Credit, and Streetsville, are still recognized by Bell Canada, though listed collectively as Mississauga. The first Touch-Tone telephones in Canada were introduced in Malton on June 15, 1964.

Recent Developments and Future Outlook

The city continues to manage growth and service demands through its budgetary process. The adopted 2026 budget functions as a roadmap for maintaining infrastructure and services. Environmental challenges persist, as evidenced by localized flooding across the city on August 17, 2024, which caused creeks and rivers to reach full capacity or overflow into parks. The upcoming 2026 municipal election will shape the city's leadership for the subsequent term, with all council seats up for election. The city's identity remains intertwined with its history as a collection of communities, its role as a major transportation and corporate hub, and its ongoing evolution as a large, diverse urban centre within the Greater Toronto Area.

Questions about Mississauga

What is the population of Mississauga?

According to the 2021 census, Mississauga had a population of 717,961. This represented a slight decrease of 0.5 percent from the 2016 population of 721,599, marking the first decline in the city's history. The population density is 2,452.6 people per square kilometre. The median age in the city is 40.8 years.

When is the next Mississauga municipal election?

The next City of Mississauga municipal election is scheduled for Monday, October 26, 2026. On that day, voters will elect the mayor, ward councillors, and school board trustees. Advance voting will be available from October 6 to 11, 2026. Voters can cast their ballot at any voting location within their ward on Election Day.

What was the Mississauga train derailment?

On November 10, 1979, a 106-car freight train carrying explosive and poisonous chemicals derailed in Mississauga. A propane tank car exploded, and the risk of a chlorine gas leak led to the evacuation of approximately 218,000 residents. It was the largest peacetime evacuation in North American history at the time. The efficient handling of the crisis made it a model for emergency planning in other cities.

When was Mississauga established as a city?

Mississauga was first established as a town in 1968. It was then reincorporated as a city in 1974. This reincorporation occurred when Peel was restructured into a regional municipality. At that time, the separate enclaves of Port Credit and Streetsville were amalgamated into the new city.

Which treaties cover the land of present day Mississauga?

Mississauga is covered by four treaties with the Mississaugas. These are Treaty 14, Treaty 19, Treaty 22 and Treaty 23. Treaty 14 was signed on 2 August 1805 when officials purchased 340 square kilometres of land. A second treaty in 1818 surrendered an additional 2622 square kilometres to the British Crown.

What was the historical significance of the 1979 train derailment?

On 10 November 1979, a freight train carrying explosive and poisonous chemicals derailed. The subsequent evacuation of 218000 people was the largest peacetime evacuation in North American history at the time. The efficient evacuation plan was later studied and modelled by many other cities. For years, the name Mississauga was associated with this major rail disaster.

Sources: Wikipedia and current public reporting, checked by the Your Space Hamilton desk. Last updated 2026-10-20.