Victoria, Prince Edward Island

Victoria is a rural municipality in Prince Edward Island, Canada. A historic seaport, the community is situated at the extreme southwestern edge of Queens County in the township of Lot 29.

Victoria, Prince Edward Island
Community
Nickname: 
Victoria-by-the-sea
Coordinates: 46.21399°N 63.48913°W / 46.21399; -63.48913
CountryCanada
ProvincePrince Edward Island
CountyQueens County
Founded1819
Incorporated1951
Area
[1]
 • Land1.46 km2 (0.56 sq mi)
Population
 (2016)[1]
 • Total74
 • Density50.8/km2 (132/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC-4 (AST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-3 (ADT)
Canadian postal code
C0A 2G0
Area code902
Telephone Exchange658 730
NTS Map011L03
GNBC CodeBACOS
WebsiteOfficial website

In recent decades the community has branded itself as "Victoria-by-the-Sea" to honour its heritage as a seaport and to attract tourists.

History

Victoria, tucked neatly on the south shore of Prince Edward Island, halfway between PEI's largest cities of Charlottetown and Summerside, was founded in 1819 by James Bardin Palmer, an immigrant lawyer and agent for the Earl of Westmoreland. His son Donald, following a well-conceived plan, laid out the community on Palmer's estate. The effect can still be seen today by the grid pattern of its streets.

By the late 1800s the settlement was prosperous with three wharves and many thriving businesses. Because of its sheltered harbour and strategic location, Victoria became an important seaport with a significant amount of trade with Europe, the West Indies and other East Coast ports. A wide variety of produce, including potatoes and eggs, was shipped by schooner from Victoria until the early 1900s. In the days of the steamboats Victoria was a regular stop for the SS Harland, dropping off visitors from Charlottetown and places further afield, to spend a few days relaxing in the community by the sea.

To accommodate the increase in shipping commerce and traveling visitors, the community developed services to cater to them including hotels, a general store various stores and, a bank, a rink, a fox farm, a blacksmith shop, and a farm equipment dealer.

The rink was home to the Victoria Union, one of the most successful hockey teams in the Maritimes. When the Trans-Canada Highway bypassed Victoria many businesses and facilities relocated to nearby Crapaud. Today, with a year-round population of under two hundred, there are a number of family-run businesses employing local people, just as there were in the prosperous years up to the 1950s.

In the February 1982 Atlantic Insight, Stephen Kimber commented on the community:

The Trans-Canada Highway bypassed Victoria. So did the shopping centres and tourist amusement parks.
And that - along with its independent-minded citizens - is what makes Victoria the enchanting,
picture post card place it is today." [2]

Demographics
Federal census population history of Victoria
YearPop.±%
1956146—    
1961148+1.4%
1966169+14.2%
1971171+1.2%
1976164−4.1%
1981163−0.6%
1986189+16.0%
1991172−9.0%
1996158−8.1%
2001119−24.7%
200677−35.3%
2011104+35.1%
201674−28.8%
2021139+87.8%
Source: Statistics Canada
[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14]

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Victoria had a population of 139 living in 59 of its 84 total private dwellings, a change of 87.8% from its 2016 population of 74. With a land area of 1.44 km2 (0.56 sq mi), it had a population density of 96.5/km2 (250.0/sq mi) in 2021.[14]

Economy

There is agricultural and fishing activity in Victoria by the sea as well as an aquaculture research & development facility.[15] However, tourism is a major aspect of the community's economy. There are multiple restaurants, gift shops, and inns. Visitors can get a true sense of the history of the community by viewing the exhibit Keeper’s of the Light at the Victoria Seaport Museum, which is located in Palmer's Range Light.

See also

References
  1. "Census Profile, 2016 Census: Victoria, Community [Census subdivision], Prince Edward Island". Statistics Canada. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
  2. Kimber, Stephen. "Victoria, P.E.I." Atlantic Insight Magazine, February 1982. Impact Publishing Limited. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  3. "Table 6: Population by census subdivisions, 1901–1961". 1961 Census of Canada (PDF). Series 1.1: Historical, 1901–1961. Vol. I: Population. Ottawa: Dominion Bureau of Statistics. March 8, 1963. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  4. "Table 2: Population of Census Subdivisions, 1921–1971". 1971 Census of Canada (PDF). Population. Vol. Census Subdivisions (Historical). Ottawa: Statistics Canada. July 1973. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  5. "1976 Census of Canada: Population - Geographic Distributions" (PDF). Statistics Canada. June 1977. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  6. "1981 Census of Canada: Census subdivisions in decreasing population order" (PDF). Statistics Canada. May 1992. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  7. "1986 Census: Population - Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions" (PDF). Statistics Canada. September 1987. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  8. "91 Census: Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions - Population and Dwelling Counts" (PDF). Statistics Canada. April 1992. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  9. "96 Census: A National Overview - Population and Dwelling Counts" (PDF). Statistics Canada. April 1997. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  10. "Population and Dwelling Counts, for Canada, Provinces and Territories, and Census Subdivisions (Municipalities), 2001 and 1996 Censuses - 100% Data (Prince Edward Island)". Statistics Canada. August 15, 2012. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  11. "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2006 and 2001 censuses - 100% data (Prince Edward Island)". Statistics Canada. August 20, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  12. "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2011 and 2006 censuses (Prince Edward Island)". Statistics Canada. July 25, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  13. "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Prince Edward Island)". Statistics Canada. February 8, 2017. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  14. "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), Prince Edward Island". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  15. "Elanco Animal Health – Hiring practices - Prince Edward Island Employment Journey". Prince Edward Island Employment Journey. 2016-11-04. Retrieved 2016-12-12.
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