Barrie, ON; pop. 135 711 (census 2011), 128 430 (census 2006), const. in 1959. Barrie is located 90 km north of Toronto at the end of Kempenfelt Bay on Lake Simcoe. For Aboriginal people, this site marks the eastern end of the portage route to the Nottawasaga River, which flows into Georgian Bay. During the War of 1812, this portage became an important supply route, linking York (Toronto) on Lake Ontario to British military posts in the upper Great Lakes. It owes its name to Commodore Robert Barrie, a British naval officer on Lake Ontario. Settlement began in the 1820s; the first industries were agriculture and forestry. In 1853, the arrival of the railway to the nearby town of Allendale stimulated development to the point that Barrie was incorporated as a city in 1871. In 1917, the establishment of Canadian Forces Base Borden 25 km southwest was also a godsend for Barrie's development. An excellent road system links it to Toronto and, since the early 1990s, it has had a regional airport. Its economy is based on the service industry and the manufacturing sector, mainly manufacturing of automobiles, plastics, metals, beverages and food, and electronics. Barrie is home to the main campus of Georgian College of Applied Arts and Technology. Cultural institutions include the Gryphon Theatre, the MacLaren Art Centre and a Simcoe County History Museum. In winter, Barrie attracts many ice fishing enthusiasts. On May 31, 1985, a tornado killed eight people and caused extensive damage to an area of the city.