Boundaries
Richmond-Munster is bounded by Ashton Station Road on the west, Bowrin Road on the south, Eagleson Road on the east, and Highway 7 along with the southern edges of Stittsville on the north.
History
The British Army founded Richmond in 1818, laying it out on a grid and naming it for the governor-general of Upper Canada, the Duke of Richmond. Disbanded Irish soldiers were among the main settlers of both Richmond and nearby Munster, founded around the same time; in fact, Munster was named for one of Ireland’s four ancient kingdoms. Both communities remained primarily farming villages until significant residential development began in the 1970s. They became part of the Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton in 1969 and of the amalgamated City of Ottawa in 2001.
Claim to fame
The Richmond Fair, held annually on the third weekend in September, dates back to 1844. The large event usually features agricultural and craft competitions, a midway, live entertainment, and more.
Area neighbourhoods
Richmond, Munster, Munster Hamlet, Ashton, Ashton Station
Who’s building where
- Fox Run: Caivan Communities & Metric Homes
- Richmond Meadows: Mattamy Homes
In the area
Richmond–Munster draws people looking for a small-town ambiance of mature trees, heritage stone and red-brick houses, and small shops, surrounded by working farms. Attractions include:
- Saunders Farm
- Jock River
- Richmond Conservation Area
- Rideau Trail
- Richmond Centennial Golf Course
- RiverBend Golf and Country Club
- Goulburn Museum
- Stittsville Market at the Barn
- Manderley on the Green (golf)
- Marlborough Forest
- Farmgate stands
Schools
Richmond-Munster has one English public elementary school, one English Catholic elementary school and one English public high school. French schools and Catholic high schools are more distant.
- English public: Ottawa-Carleton District School Board
- English Catholic: Ottawa Catholic School Board
- French public: Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario
- French Catholic: Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est
Businesses
The communities have a mix of independent shops and restaurants, along with a few national chains. For big-box shopping, Kanata Centrum is about a 15- to 20-minute drive from each community, and Chapman Mills Marketplace in Barrhaven is similarly close to Richmond. Businesses in Richmond-Munster include:
- Richmond Gourmet Restaurant
- Blue Diamond Bar and Grill
- Danby’s Roadhouse
- Country Quilter
- Ritchie Feed and Seed
- King’s Your Independent Grocer
- LCBO
- Pet Valu
- Tim Hortons
Amenities
Richmond–Munster has baseball diamonds, tennis courts, soccer fields and play structures. Other amenities include:
- Richmond Memorial Community Centre
- Richmond Fairgrounds
- Richmond Lions Community Park
- Munster Community Centre
- Ottawa Public Library (Richmond and Munster branches)
- Richmond Curling Club
Services
Richmond-Munster has a range of services, including churches, salons, medical and dental offices, a veterinary clinic, and banks. The Richmond Village Association and the Munster Community Association organize events and recreational programs, as does the City of Ottawa’s Recreation and Parks Department.
Transit options
It’s roughly 35 kilometres from Richmond and 43 kilometres from Munster to downtown Ottawa, via country roads for the first 12 to 22 kilometres, then via highways 416 and 417. OC Transpo provides commuter bus service between Richmond and Munster and selected destinations in Ottawa.