Mississauga (Ontario) - Geography.

Mississauga (Ontario) - Geography. Mississauga (Ontario), city in southern Ontario, Canada, on the northwest shore of Lake Ontario. The largest of three municipalities in Peel Regional Municipality, Mississauga is also a commuter suburb within the Toronto metropolitan area. It is a rapidly growing industrial city; major manufactures include telecommunication and aerospace equipment, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, motor vehicles, appliances, steel and rubber products, and plastic and paper goods. Lester B. Pearson International Airport, the largest airport in Canada, is in the northeastern part of the city. Mississauga is the site of Erindale College of the University of Toronto and the Mississauga Civic Centre Child Care Centre, which is run by Sheridan College and provides training in early childhood development. The city hall, an art gallery, and a conservatory are located in the Mississauga Civic Centre. Other sites include the Living Arts Centre, an arts facility; the Bradley Museum, a restored 1830s farmhouse; and Playdium, an electronic interactive theme park. The city also has several sports facilities, notably the Hershey Centre, home of the Mississauga Ice Dogs of the Ontario Hockey League. Nearby Port Credit, a former industrial town at the mouth of the picturesque Credit River, still has a mid-19th-century appearance but it is also the site of the Credit Village Marina, a waterfront facility that opened in 1997. The area was formerly the home of the Mississauga First Nation. White settlers began to occupy the area after the Toronto Township was formed in 1806. Largely agricultural, the area grew in population because of its good farmland and timber stands. The lumber mills established along the Credit River also attracted residents. Several townships and villages amalgamated and incorporated as the city of Mississauga in 1974. Mississauga covers a land area of 273.9 sq km (105.7 sq mi). Population 463,388 (1991); 612,925 (2001). Contributed By: James Lemon Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.