History 

Long Branch was first settled in 1797 by Colonel Samuel Smith a loyalist officer with the Queens Rangers. Smith's five hundred acre tract of land spanned the entire present day neighbourhood. Smith, who served two terms as administrator of Upper Canada, built a modest regency style cottage at the south-east corner of 41st Street and Lakeshore Boulevard where Parkview Public School is situated today. 

Smith passed away in 1826. His children retained possession of his estate until 1871 when it was sold to James Eastwood. The industrious Eastwood timbered the pine and oak forest that covered this land. He then rafted the logs from the mouth of the Etobicoke Creek to the Toronto Harbour where the lumber was sold for a tidy profit.

In 1883, Eastwood sold the eastern sixty-four acres of his property to the developers who created Long Branch Park, a summer resort modelled after its namesake in New Jersey. Ferry boats ushered thousands of Toronto vacationers each year to Long Branch which boasted fanciful summer cottages, a grand hotel, a boardwalk and numerous amusement rides including a Coney Island Carousel.

Long Branch became more accessible in 1916 when Lake Shore Boulevard was paved. This transportation corridor helped turn Long Branch into a year-round community. This neighbourhood was developed largely from the 1920's up to the 1950's.

Long Branch Area Statistics 

Transportation 

Long Branch has its own Go Transit station located at the west-end of this neighbourhood on the north side of Lakeshore Boulevard. Bus service at this station links passengers to Union Station and the Yonge-University-Spadina subway line.

Motorists can access downtown Toronto's entertainment and financial districts in approximately fifteen minutes via Lakeshore Boulevard. Commuters also enjoy quick access to the Queen Elizabeth Way and Highway 427 on-ramps at Browns Line north of Lake Shore Boulevard.

Shopping

This area has some very good delicatessens, restaurants, bakeries
large pharmacies, computer & electronics stores, as well as pet supply and antique stores.

Schools 

(P) James S. Bell, 90-31st St., (416) 394-7680

(PH) Lakeshore C.I., 350 Kipling Ave., 94160 394-7650

(C) Humber College, 3199 Lakeshore Blvd. W., (416) 675-3111

Legend:
(P) Public School
(PH) Public High School
(CA) Catholic School
(PR) Private School
(PC) Private Catholic School
(PJ) Private Jewish School
(C) College
(U) University