Victoria, Newfoundland and Labrador

Summary

Victoria is a landlocked town on the Avalon Peninsula in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, located approximately midway on the Bay de Verde Peninsula portion of the Avalon Peninsula.

Victoria
Victoria Village
Town
Nickname(s): 
The Village, The Savage Hollar
Victoria is located in Newfoundland
Victoria
Victoria
Location of Victoria in Newfoundland
Coordinates: 47°46′03″N 53°14′28″W / 47.76750°N 53.24111°W / 47.76750; -53.24111
Country Canada
Province Newfoundland and Labrador
Incorporated (town)1971
Government
 • MayorBarry Dooley
 • Deputy MayorJennifer Moores
 • MHASteve Crocker
 • MPKen McDonald
Area
 • Total17.64 km2 (6.81 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)
 • Total1,658
 • Density94/km2 (240/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC-3:30 (Newfoundland Time)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-2:30 (Newfoundland Daylight)
Area code709
Highways Route 70
Route 74

Geography edit

Victoria, located on Route 70, is often referred to as the "crossroads to Trinity and Conception Bays." Victoria may have been named after the Queen.

Towns and communities nearby edit

Dotted around Victoria and surrounding areas are small fishing communities that were established due to the proximity of each community to the fishing grounds. Locally, Victoria goes by many nicknames, including "The Village" and "The Savage Hollar", although the use of these names has decreased in recent years. Among the communities within 15-minutes' driving distance from Victoria are:

History edit

19th century edit

  • 1817 – Victoria is being used as a source of lumber and firewood.
  • 1800s – Many residents of Victoria sign on for the Labrador Fishery with merchants in Carbonear, Harbour Grace and Northern Bay.

20th century edit

  • 1900s (early) – Other people find employment in lumbering, the railway and mining at Bell Island and Cape Breton.
  • 1905 – An electric power station is running in the community.
  • 1916 — Railway service on the Bay de Verde Branch Line is opened.
  • 1921 – Sawmills are affected when a forest fire destroys much of the timber in the area. Nicholas Powell and Reuben, William and Nicholas Clarke are the merchants in Victoria.
  • 1924 – An independent congregation (later joins the Pentecostal Assemblies of Newfoundland) is established by Victoria native Eugene Vaters.
  • 1932 — Railway service is shut down.
  • 1935 - The Pentecostal Assemblies of Newfoundland has more than 300 members in Victoria. Twenty-eight families from Victoria, take part in a land settlement program and move to Markland.
  • 1985 – Victoria Electrical Museum is opened.

Economy edit

Industries / Economic Activity

  • Agriculture - growing vegetables, hay, and raising cattle
  • Forestry - sawmill
  • Manufacturing/Retail - making barrels, tubs and wine barrels at the local cooperage located in the heritage park
  • Construction - Home builders

Climate edit

The climate of the Atlantic Ocean and adjacent land areas is influenced by the temperatures of the surface waters and water currents as well as the winds blowing across the waters. Because of the oceans' great capacity for retaining heat, the climate of Victoria are moderate and free of extreme seasonal variations.

Precipitation falls on the area both as snow in the wintertime and moderate rainfall in summer.

The Gulf Stream and Labrador Current converge just off the coast of Newfoundland and provide for very dense fog that can linger in the area for days.

Demographics edit

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Victoria had a population of 1,658 living in 712 of its 822 total private dwellings, a change of -7.9% from its 2016 population of 1,800. With a land area of 17.96 km2 (6.93 sq mi), it had a population density of 92.3/km2 (239.1/sq mi) in 2021.[1]

Tourist attractions edit

  • Victoria Hydro Electric Museum
  • Victoria Lifestyles Museum
  • Victoria Heritage Village

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions (municipalities), Newfoundland and Labrador". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved March 15, 2022.

External links edit

  • Baccalieu Trail
  • Historical Baccalieu Trail
  • Statistics Canada
  • Victoria - Encyclopedia of Newfoundland and Labrador, vol.5, p. 480.