Danforth Avenue

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Danforth Avenue is an east-west route in east Toronto.

The road was named for American contractor Asa Danforth, who built Queen Street and Kingston Road, and started work in 1799. It was officially built by the Don and Danforth Plank Road Company in 1851 to Broadview Avenue, as well as connecting to Queen Street East and Kingston Road. The street connects with Bloor Street East via the Prince Edward Viaduct, spanning the Don River valley, the Don Valley Parkway and Bayview Avenue. The road is colloquially referred to by locals as 'The Danforth'.

The Bloor-Danforth Subway line runs parallel to most of the road's route, offset to the north some 50 metres, from the Viaduct west of Broadview Station to Main Street Station, where the GO Transit Danforth Station is nearby.

In Scarborough, Danforth Road is part of the original road that connects Danforth Avenue with McCowan Road. Previously, this route continued around the Highland Creek along roadways now known as Painted Post Drive, Military Trail (where the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus is located), Colonel Danforth Trail, and the eastern end of Lawrence Avenue near Port Union and the Rouge Hills GO Transit Train Station.

Major attractions on Danforth Avenue:

Danforth is also home to Toronto's Greek community, also known as Greektown.
Shoppers World, a World War II Munitions plant, converted into a shopping plaza in the 1950s.
Scarborough War Memorial at the eastern end of Danforth Avenue at Kingston Road, once the junctions of former Highways 2 and 5.
Variety Village, an athletic facility for disabled adults and youth.
Birchmount Stadium and Scarborough Arena Gardens.