Scarborough, Ont, Community within the city of Toronto, pop 593 297 (2001c), 558 960 (1996c), 524 598 (1991c), is located on Lake ONTARIO and makes up the eastern part of the new city of TORONTO. In 1793, Elizabeth SIMCOE, wife of Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe, named Scarborough after the town of the same name in England. The area attracted its first agricultural settlers soon after and the area remained primarily a farming community until well into the 20th century.

In 1900 only 3711 people lived in Scarborough Township. After World War II Scarborough began to grow rapidly as did all municipalities adjoining Toronto. In 1953 Metro Toronto was created to deal more effectively with the problems of physical infrastructure that this expansion caused. Incorporated as a city in 1983, Scarborough lost this status in 1998 when it was absorbed into Toronto.

Significant features of Scarborough include the scenic Rouge River and the spectacular geology of the Scarborough Bluffs, which rise 100 m above Lake Ontario and stretch 15 km along the lakeshore. Scarborough is also home to the Toronto Zoo, a world-renowned facility. Taber Hill Ossuaries, an Iroquoian burial site, was discovered in 1956 during excavations for a housing subdivision.

Scarborough has had a campus of the UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO since 1964. Ontario's first community college (Centennial College) opened its doors here in 1966.