Does the name Milliken ring a bell? It should because we’re standing in it. Milliken began as Milliken’s Corners. The community got its name from Norman Milliken. He was a United Empire Loyalist. Norman settled here in 1807.
Milliken established a lumber business. He also ran a hotel and livery stables. These were near Steeles Avenue and Kennedy Road. The Milliken name links to Markham Township as well. Markham Township is north of Steeles Avenue. The Milliken Post Office opened in 1859. It was on the north side of Steeles Avenue. This marked the border. It divided Scarborough and Markham Township.
Milliken was rural until the 1970s. Then farm fields turned into modern subdivisions. These subdivisions define the neighbourhood today. Urbanization reached Milliken in the 1980s. The last large farmland parcel was recently developed. It’s along Steeles Avenue.
Milliken has many outstanding features. There is a modern public library. There is also a neighbourhood centre. Milliken Park is beautifully designed. The Milliken Park Recreational Trail winds through the area.
The Milliken Wells Shopping Plaza is the largest in the neighbourhood. It’s off McCowan Road at Alton Towers Circle. A large supermarket anchors this plaza. It features mostly Chinese retailers. You can find food shops and a video store. There is also a herbal store and restaurants.
Smaller shopping plazas line Steeles Avenue. Others are on Middlefield Road at McNicoll Avenue. You will find convenience stores here. There are also Chinese restaurants and herbal stores. Vegetarian shops and food markets are here too.
Most houses in Milliken are modern. They are two-storey detached houses. These homes were built in the 1980s and 1990s. These family houses are small to medium size. They have attached garages and private drives. The houses stand close together. Lots are twenty-five to thirty-five feet wide. Milliken also has townhouses and condos. These are near McCowan Road and Alton Towers Drive.
Milliken Park is perfect for picnics. It is also great for large gatherings. The park includes a banquet hall and gazebos. A beautiful garden surrounds a man-made pond. Milliken Park offers a recreational trail and a playground.
The Goldhawk Park Public Library is also a neighbourhood center. It is part of a recreational complex. This complex features baseball diamonds and basketball courts. There is also a children’s playground. The library provides children’s programs. The neighbourhood centre has a meeting room. It hosts local functions.
Milliken is proudly represented by its Chinese Canadian community. This reflects in the retail shopping, dining, and recreation.
So, as we continue our tour, remember Norman Milliken. His vision shaped this community. Milliken blends history with modern life. It is a vibrant place to live and visit.