The original townships of Cavan and Monaghan were surveyed by John Deyell in 1817, and were named after
County Cavan and
County Monaghan 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. 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. In 2007, the township was renamed Cavan Monaghan, as many thought the older name was too long. ==Communities==