Boundaries
Cabbagetown is bounded by the Don River to the East, Parliament St. to the West, Queen St. to the South and Wellesley St. to the North.
History
In the early 1800’s, thousands of famine victims escaped Ireland and settled in Toronto. These people were poverty stricken and started cultivating cabbages in their gardens. Ever since then the name Cabbage Town just stuck.
The neighbourhood is elegant in its simplicity. It is known for its long rows of Victorian houses and presently holds the distinction of having the greatest amount of well maintained authentic Victorian houses on the continent.
In the 1940’s a large part of this area was turned into Regent Park. Parliament Street is the hub of this neighbourhood with shops, cafes, clubs etc. Some traces of the old area are still apparent in the weekly farmer’s market in a Victorian Farm which was earlier a zoo. The local boxing club and the small beautifully kept gardens of the old houses transcend you back to an earlier era. It is a friendly place inhabited by a wide spectrum of people.
Neighbourhood Characteristics
It is a neighbourhood that is great for a unique shopping experience or a leisurely walk down the street. This is a place where one can find interaction between the wealthy and the poor, be it in the market place, restaurants, clubs or stores and clinics. This town has every aspect of a modern neighbourhood with gourmet restaurants, trendy shops, and art festivals.
