HISTORY
Cabbagetown's history began in the 1840's when thousands of Irish immigrants settled
here after fleeing the potato famins 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's working class community was particulary hard hit by the Depression
of the 1930's. Cabbagetown historian Hugh Garner, wrote that the Depression turned
Cabbagetown into "the worst Anglo Saxon slum in North America". The
worst slums were concentrated south of Gerrard Street. These homes were razed
in the 1950's and replaced by the Regent Park housing development.
Cabbagetown was
revitalized in the 1970's and 1980's by new home buyers, who restored much of
this neighbourhoods fine collection of Victorian homes. Cabbagetown is now considered
one of Toronto's most gentrified neighbourhoods.
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