Hagarty Township, surveyed in the 1850s, forms the western portion of what is now Killaloe, Hagarty and Richards. The township’s landscape is a mix of gently rolling hills, granite ridges, and small lakes and wetlands. Hagarty was opened for settlement along the Opeongo Line, one of the most famous colonization roads in Ontario, which traverses the township from east to west.

Irish Catholic settlers were predominant in the early years, establishing small farms and missions. The land was tough, but the settlers were resilient, carving out a modest agricultural economy supplemented by seasonal labour in the timber trade. Churches and schools were quickly erected along the Opeongo Road, forming the backbone of the township’s early community life.

For land surveyors, Hagarty is notable for its combination of standard Crown survey frameworks and the influence of the Opeongo colonization corridor, which skewed lot access and severance patterns. Many present-day lots originate from Crown grants issued under settlement duties, and remnants of blazed trees, stone piles, and original wire fencing can still be found marking the corners. The presence of watercourses, marshes, and early road deviations adds layers of complexity to retracements.