Located immediately north of Toronto in York Region, the Town of Markham is one of the fastest-growing municipalities in Ontario. According to the 2011 Canada Census, Markham has over 301,000 inhabitants in an area of 212.47 square kilometres, an increase of 15% since the 2006 Census. Originally a rural area with three separate villages (Markham, Thornhill and Unionville), the area has been extensively developed since the end of the Second World War. The northern portion of the town (north of Major Mackenzie Dr.) is still mostly rural, but much of it is earmarked for future development.