Cabbagetown

History

Cabbagetown's history began in the 1840s when thousands of Irish immigrants settled here after fleeing the potato famine in their homeland.  These first Cabbagetown residents were very poor.  To put food on the table they grew cabbages on their front lawns, which is how this district came to be known as Cabbagetown.

Cabbagetown was revitalized in the 1970s and 1980s by new home buyers, who restored much of this neighbourhood's fine collection of Victorian homes.  Cabbagetown is now considered one of Toronto's most gentrified neighbourhoods.

Overview

Cabbagetown is one of Toronto's most popular neighbourhoods.  Its residents come from a wide variety of backgrounds, however they all share a strong sense of community spirit and pride in their neighbourhood.

This community spirit is put on display every September during the Cabbagetown Fall Festival, which runs for an entire weekend and features a mini-marathon, historical walking tours, a parade and a community-wide yard sale.

Homes

The Cabbagetown neighbourhood was once described by The New York Times as "containing the largest collection of Victorian homes in North America."

Cabbagetown's houses were built between 1860 and 1895.  Most of these houses have been lovingly restored under the watchful eye of the Cabbagetown Preservation Association.  The Association, which comprises local residents, plays a vital role in ensuring that all Cabbagetown renovations and new developments are in keeping with this historical neighbourhood.

Shopping

The Old Cabbagetown shopping district on Parliament Street features many one-of-a-kind shops and a vast array of restaurants.  The Carlton Street shopping district is similar in tone to Parliament Street, but on a much smaller scale.

Cabbagetown also has small retail pockets on Gerrard Street, Sherbourne Street and Wellesley Avenue.

Recreation

Cabbagetown's recreational centre is Riverdale Park.  This park is the home of Riverdale Farm.  Riverdale Farm is modelled after a late 19th-century Victorian farm and includes horses, cows, pigs, sheep, goats, chickens, geese and ducks.  Riverdale Farm is open seven days a week and admission is free.

Riverdale Park also contains sports fields and some of the best tobogganing hills in Toronto.  The Lower Don Recreation Trail can be accessed from this park.

The Cabbagetown Community Arts Centre on Parliament Street has music, drama and dance programs for children.  The Cabbagetown Youth Centre on Lancaster Avenue offers sports, as well as arts and crafts programs.

The Cabbagetown Public Library is located at the corner of Gerrard and Parliament streets.

Schools

(P)	Lord Dufferin Jr. & Sr.	303 Berkeley Street	(416) 393-1760
(P)	Sprucecourt Jr.	70 Spruce Street	(416) 393-1552
(P)	Winchester Jr. & Sr.	15 Prospect Street	(416) 393-1520
(PH)	Rosedale Heights Secondary School	711 Bloor Street East	(416) 393-1580
(PH)	Jarvis Collegiate Institute	495 Jarvis Street	(416) 393-0140
(CC)	St. Martin Annex	55 Salisbury Avenue	(416) 393-5222
(CC)	Our Lady of Lourdes	444 Sherbourne Street	(416) 393-5221

Transportation

The Sherbourne bus and Parliament bus connect passengers to stations on the Bloor-Danforth subway line.

The Wellesley and Carlton Street buses connect commuters to the Yonge-University-Spadina subway line.

For motorists, the Don Valley Parkway is approximately five minutes away, and Toronto's downtown business and entertainment districts are less than 10 minutes from Cabbagetown.

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Bibliography:
Dunkelman, David, Your Guide to Toronto Neighbourhoods, Copyright © 1997 by David Dunkelman