Named for the resemblance between two countrysides
Swansea
Self-governing from 1926 until Toronto absorbed it against many residents' wishes, Swansea takes its name from a Welsh town its early settlers thought its rolling hills resembled.
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Local historical accounts credit Étienne Brûlé as the first European to set foot in what's now Swansea, in 1615. The area takes its name from Swansea in Wales, chosen for the resemblance between the two places' rolling hills and countryside. Swansea is bounded by the Humber River to the west, Bloor Street to the north, High Park to the east, and Lake Ontario to the south.
Independent village, 1926–1967
Swansea was incorporated as an independent village in 1926. It remained self-governing until January 1, 1967, when — against the wishes of many local residents — it was annexed to the City of Toronto alongside Forest Hill Village, the two being the last independent villages absorbed into Toronto. The Swansea Historical Society, founded in 1985, maintains an archive at the old Swansea Town Hall and runs guided historical walking tours.
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