Barrie, Ontario | The Ultimate Guide to Living in or Moving to Barrie!
Located on the Kempenfelt Bay, Barrie is a city at the centre of southwestern Ontario. Barrie’s location and waterfront views attract both visitors and residents who want to be close to the GTA and the water at the same time. Home-buyers looking around Barrie can choose between heritage neighbourhoods and up-and-coming areas with new development. There is a lot to love about living in Barrie, Ontario and this city has something to offer everyone.
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About Barrie - Where is Barrie, Ontario?
Barrie is a mid-sized city in central southwestern Ontario. Barrie is located in Simcoe County in the Kempenfelt Bay on the western side of Lake Simcoe. Barrie is southeast of the Georgian Bay, west of Lake Simcoe and north of Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area. Barrie is considered to be a part of the Golden Horseshoe area. Like much of southwestern Ontario, Barrie is a growing city. According to the 2016 census, Barrie had a population of over 141,434, which had increased by nearly 4% from the last census data collected in 2011.
History of Barrie, Ontario
Before settler arrival to the area around Lake Simcoe, the Kempenfelt Bay was a place of rest for traveling Indigenous peoples. During the War of 1812, British forces used the area to transport military supplies. After the war, people began to settle part of that route. In the 1820s, the settlement was officially founded with the name Barrie.
As a reflection of its military history, Barrie was named for Sir Robert Barrie, a British Admiral who was active during the War of 1812 and beyond.
The early settlement was largely agricultural. The region’s biggest exports were lumber and large ice blocks extracted from Lake Simcoe in the winter. The introduction of the railway in the mid 19th century allowed for the population of Barrie to continue growing.
In 1859, Barrie was incorporated as a city. By this point, the main industries of the city had industrialized as well. Today, the area’s main industries are manufacturing (automotive, food, beverage and electronics) and the service industry. Barrie has also gained popularity as a vacation gateway due to its own natural attractions as well as its proximity to the Georgian Bay and the Muskoka Region.
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Real Estate in Barrie, Ontario
Like many other Golden Horseshoe cities, Barrie is gaining popularity. Along with that, Barrie’s real estate market has been heating up over the last few years. Both the number of units sold and the average price of a property in the city are on the rise.
The most recent statistics of 2020 show that the year-to-date average price of a home in Barrie is about $558,000. This comes from the most recent averages of a detached home at around $665,000 and a condominium unit at about $454,000 from October. The year-to-date average price in Barrie is lower than the average of Simcoe County which is currently at about $588,000 for the 2020 year.
The year-end statistics for 2019 list the average price of a property in Barrie at about $490,000. Between 2019 and 2020, there has been considerable increases in the local market. In 2019, the property sales in Barrie made up 47% of the total sales in the Simcoe County area.
Living in Barrie Ontario
The City of Barrie’s location is ideal for transportation convenience. Barrie is not only about an hour and fifteen minutes away from Toronto, but also about an hour and fifteen minutes away from the Blue Mountain vacation destination. Residents of Barrie enjoy a good transit network and plenty of local services and attractions to explore.
There are two networks that handle public transportation in Barrie: Barrie Transit and GO Transit. Barrie Transit operates busses for transportation throughout the city. There are 10 main bus routes which includes an express service bus as well. Barrie is also included in the GO Transit network. This connects Barrie with the Greater Toronto Area by bus and by train.
The 400 Highway runs through Barrie. This central highway connects the city with the Muskoka Region to the north and the Greater Toronto Area to the south. In the south, the 400 has the option of connecting with the 407 or the 401 to navigate the GTA.
Schools in Barrie are operated by four main school boards. The Simcoe County District School Board and the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board are the two largest boards servicing the City of Barrie and surrounding area. Between the two boards, there are 45 elementary school options and seven secondary schools. In addition to those boards, students in Barrie also have access to the francophone Conseil scolaire MonAvenir and Conseil scolaire Viamonde for elementary and high school options. There is also one post-secondary institution in Barrie called Georgian College. The Barrie campus of Georgian College offers full-time degrees, continuing education programs and graduate certificates.
The main industries in the Simcoe County Region are in hospitality and manufacturing. There are several large all-season resorts in the area around Barrie and they employ hundreds of people throughout the county. Major manufacturing areas in and around Barrie include automotive, plastics and metals. In addition to hospitality and manufacturing, the school boards in the area also employ a large percentage of people.
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Things to do in Barrie Ontario
There is a lot to love about the natural scenery in and around Barrie. Fans of the outdoors will find trails, parks and a stunning waterfront to enjoy. Each destination supports activities to try in every season. Barrie offers 88km of public trails. These include Ardagh Bluffs, Nine Mile Portage, North Shore Trail, The Great Trail, Waterfront Heritage Trail and numerous bike paths throughout the city and beyond. Barrie’s downtown waterfront area offers boating, canoeing, kayaking, paddle-boarding and wakeboarding as well as beaches for enjoying the water.
Barrie provides residents with plenty of attractions as well. Barrie’s heritage sites, theatre programming and special events offer a spread of engaging activities that keep the community entertained all year long. Some of the major events include the Barrie Waterfront Festival at the end of spring, the Barrie Jazz & Blues Festival, Promenade Days, the Craft Beer & BBQ Festival, Kempenfest and the Barrie Fair over the summer and the Tree Lighting Celebration and the Santa Claus Parade in the winter.
Another reason to love Barrie is just how close it is to some of the best destinations in southwestern Ontario. Toronto, the Muskoka Region and The Blue Mountains are just a day trip away for residents of Barrie. The Blue Mountains is a town on the Georgian Bay to the north of Barrie which is famous for luxurious resorts, spas, beautiful scenery and all-season activities. In the summer, visitors can partake in climbing and rope courses, golf courses and beaches. During the coldest months of the year, Blue Mountain Resort is open for skiing and snowboarding.
If you are looking for a Golden Horseshoe city with waterfront views, that is close to the GTA and on the GO Transit route, then Barrie, Ontario is worth exploring! If you want to learn more about some of the best neighbourhoods in Barrie, Ontario - Check it out Now!
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