Cavan-Monaghan is a township in Peterborough County in central-eastern Ontario, Canada, southwest of the city of Peterborough. It was named after the counties of Cavan and Monaghan in Ireland.

History

The original township of Cavan and Millbrook was surveyed by John Deyell in 1817, and was named after County Cavan in Ireland, from which many of its settlers had emigrated. By 1819 there were 244 settlers, and by 1861 the population had risen to 4,901, many of whom were descendants of United Empire Loyalists, veterans of the War of 1812 who had been granted land there, or the original and later settlers from Ireland. After Confederation in 1867, the population began to drop as many families left for Western Canada.^[1]

The original Irish settlers were Protestants, and many of them were associated with the Orange Order. In the mid-19th century the "Cavan Blazers" were established as a fiercely Protestant vigilante group, who often burned down the farms of Catholic settlers.^[1]

Cavan and Millbrook townships became part of Peterborough County in 1974, and were amalgamated, along with North Monaghan, into one township — Cavan-Millbrook-North Monaghan — in 1998. In 2007, the township was renamed Cavan-Monaghan^[2], as many thought the older name was too long.

Communities

The township comprises the communities of Bailieboro, Carmel, Cavan, Cedar Valley, Fraserville, Ida, Millbrook, Mount Pleasant, South Monaghan, Springville and Tapley.

Film production

Millbrook has been a filming location for several movie productions. The Music Man, Ice Princess and A History of Violence were filmed in the town. In the latter film, Millbrook was depicted as the fictional town of Millbrook, Indiana. The Bee Keeper

Demographics

According to the 2006 Statistics Canada Census:^[3]

• Population: 8,828
• % Change (2001 – 2006): 4.4
• Dwellings: 3,088
• Area (km²): 306.13
• Density (persons per km²): 28.8