Russell Creek (Ontario)

Russell Creek was a short creek, 3.4 kilometres (2.1 mi) long, that flowed through what is now downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, west of the original town of York.[1][2] The creek was named for Peter Russell[2] and flowed generally southeast,[3] like all the other waterways in Toronto, reflecting the recent glaciation, into Toronto Harbour near the present CN Tower. The creek was buried in 1876, but traces of it can still be found, for instance on the grounds of the historic Grange mansion.[4]

Russell Creek
Russell Creek, circa 1818
Historic location of the mouth of the creek in Toronto
Etymology	Named for Peter Russell
Location
Country	Canada
Province	Ontario
Region	Greater Toronto Area
Municipality	Toronto
Physical characteristics
Source
• coordinates	43°39′54″N 79°24′50″W
• elevation	115 m (377 ft)
Mouth	Lake Ontario
• coordinates	43°38′40″N 79°23′05″W
• elevation	74 m (243 ft)
Length	3.4 km (2.1 mi)
Basin features
River system	Great Lakes Basin
Tributaries
• right	Metro Creek

The Spadina Brewery was built on its banks, in 1837, and used its waters.[4]

See also

• List of Ontario rivers

References

1. Wayne Reeves, Christina Palassio (2008-10-01). HTO: Toronto's water from Lake Iroquois to lost rivers to low-flow toilets. Coach House Press. pp. 15, 56, 63, 191. ISBN 978-1-55245-208-0. Retrieved 2011-12-29.
2. "Russell Creek". Lost River Walks. Toronto Green Community. Archived from the original on 2012-07-17. Retrieved 2012-06-04.
3. "Russell Creek course". Lost River Walks. Toronto Green Community. Archived from the original on 2012-07-17. Retrieved 2012-06-04.
4. Jordan St. John (2014). "Lost Breweries of Toronto". Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9781625851994. Retrieved 2020-06-04. Russell Creek was buried in 1876, and the Denison and Crookshank estates, which had previously been largely empty space, were subdivided to create the Victorian row housing that gives Kensington Market its character.