Badger's Quay, Newfoundland and Labrador
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Badger's Quay is a Canadian town in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Located on Bonavista Bay, it had a population of 611 in 1956. Its name was referred to as Badger's Bay in early census data. The name "badger" probably named after the community of Badger in Shropshire, England.
Population: 3,061, (includes Newtown and Wesleyville, 1996)
Early Settlement: Area was visited by land based seal fishermen and inshore cod fishermen from the late 1700s to the early 1800s. Settlement in the area began on Fool's Island (now known as Pool's Island), when the first settlers were English fishermen who came to the area in the early 1800s via Bonavista.
Employment: While the inshore fishery and sealing have been the traditional industries, more recently government services, self employment, tourism and the service industry have diversified the economy.
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[edit] History
Badger's Quay, Newfoundland was first recorded in the 1891 Census of Newfoundland. It was comprised mainly of people moving in from surrounding areas such as Pool's Island. In 1891, Badger's Key, as it was called, had 87 inhabitants. The land-based seal hunt and Labrador seal hunt were the primary factors for settling in Badger's Quay and the communities around it. In the 1950s the Straight Shore highroad passed through Badger's Quay thus centralizing the communities services. By 1955 nineteen families had moved there from Safe Harbour due to the Centralization Program by the government. Badger's Quay was incorporated with Valleyfield, Pool's Island, and other areas in 1946. In 1980 the rural district of Badger's Quay-Valleyfield-Pool's Island was created as a town. By 1981 all islands and coastlines were connected by bridges, most of their roads were paved, and the town had a governing town council.[1]
[edit] Church History
There was a Church of England school established in Badger's Quay by 1901. New schools were later built to accommodate the Anglican and United Church families. By the 1950s there was a small Pentecostal population.[2]
[edit] Interesting Facts
- In the 1880s Badger's Quay had a ferryman by the name of John Abbott. [3]
[edit] References
- ^ Encyclopedia of Newfoundland and Labrador
- ^ Encyclopedia of NL
- ^ Yearbook and Almanac of Newfoundland for 1887.
