While the majority of Markham's population is now minority, that doesn't mean it's all multicultural and welcoming. Chinese-Canadians and white residents recently clashed over a proposal to temporarily house asylum seekers in the city to alleviate the pressure on the city's shelter system. The vast majority of the city's asylum seekers come from Nigeria. In addition to its minority population, the city is home to several large, highly visible Chinese businesses.
While some residents of Markham City are complaining about traffic and other urban problems, the neighbourhood's demographics are a far cry from its inner suburb and immigrant ghettos. A report from the Wellesley Institute shows that, in Toronto, 70 per cent of immigrants earn less than $30,000 annually. However, that number could be skewed slightly depending on the study.
In 1793, the area was first surveyed as a township. The Simcoe company hired German merchant William Berczy to find 200 immigrants to settle there. However, they were denied land by the Simcoe company, which wanted to develop the area around York. As a result, the group chose to settle in Markham Township. The company had an ambitious plan to clear the area of trees up to Lake Simcoe within a year. It also wanted to build Yonge Street, which is the western boundary of Markham City today.
The city is divided into eight wards. The population of the city is 2,362 per square mile. Its largest neighbour, Orland Park, is located 8.5 miles away. Chicago, IL, is 16.8 miles away. Its air quality index is 90.8, worse than the U.S. average. The Markham area has a history of tornadoes, which are near the state average, but 58% higher than the U.S. average.