Mount Pearl, Newfoundland and Labrador
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Mount Pearl is a city on the Avalon Peninsula in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
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[edit] Administration
Randy Simms is the new mayor of Mount Pearl. Mayor Simms began his tenure on Council in 1989, serving as Deputy Mayor for the past 5 years. He assumed the position of Mayor in October 2007 following the election of former Mayor Steve Kent to the Provincial House of Assembly, who was elected as MHA representing Mount Pearl North.
In recent years Mount Pearl has seen property development in all sectors of the city. Donovan's Industrial Park continues to be developed, and these industrial uses are complemented by the city's newest industrial area, Kenmount Business Park, which lies north of Topsail Road. Residential areas also continue to grow, however undeveloped lands are limited, being based primarily on the ongoing development of Pearlview and the future development of the Kenmount Hill Infill neighbourhood (the former quarry site), both north of Topsail Road. Commercial growth is at an all-time high with the development of the Pearlgate Commercial Center, as well as continued development of Topsail Road. The Centennial Street is another place that holds potential for commercial development, but some properties must make a transition from residential to commercial uses.
Mount Pearl is limited in the availability of undeveloped land as it is bounded on the north, south and east by the city of St. John's and on the west by the town of Paradise, but may become a more dense urban centre by increasing its density.
Southlands, part of St. John's, was a large part of Mount Pearl's future growth plans for filling in the area between its boundary and Cochrane Pond Provincial Park. The annexation of Southlands in 1992 by St. John's was authorized by the provincial government led by Premier Wells.
[edit] Demographics
The city is located within Newfoundland's census Division No. 1.
According to the 2006 Statistics Canada Census:
- Population: 24,671
- % Change (2001-2006): -1.2
- Dwellings: 9,660
- Area (km²): 15.76
- Density (persons per km²): 1,566.9
Randy Simms is the new mayor of Mount Pearl. Steve Kent (the former mayor) stepped down in October 2007 after being elected as a MHA for Mount Pearl North. The current city council consists of:
- Mayor Randy Simms
- Deputy Mayor Paul Lane
- Councilor Lucy Stoyles
- Councilor Paula Tessier
- Councilor John Walsh
- Councilor Ed Grant
- Councilor Jim Locke
[edit] History
[edit] Farming estate
Sir James Pearl was a British Royal Navy Officer who, while in the China Seas, saved the lives of 200 crewmembers of a Chinese vessel which had broken up on rocks. As a reward for his service, Pearl was granted 1000 acres (4 km²) of land of which he was granted half in the Waterford Valley in 1829. Pearl named his land Mount Cochrane, in honour of the then-Governor of Newfoundland, Thomas Cochrane. By the time of his knighting in 1836, Sir James had developed Mount Cochrane into a thriving farm area which supplied some of nearby St. John's with livestock, fruits and vegetables.
The estate was renamed Mount Pearl in 1837 after a falling-out between Pearl and Cochrane over the fact that Governor Cochrane had, in fact, only granted him 500 acres (which comprise the present day Experimental Farm and Mount Pearl east of Commonwealth Avenue). The other 500 acres (2 km²) were eventually granted to Anne Pearl, Sir James’ widow, after Sir James’ death. These 500 acres (2 km²) were later developed into the unincorporated community of Glendale by Roland Morris.
Sir James Pearl died on January 13, 1840, after which his widow, Lady Anne Pearl, took control over the affairs of the estate.
[edit] City
Mount Pearl Park, through which Park Avenue runs, started as a summer resort area for the merchants and other elite of St. John’s. The corporation which was creating the resort area collapsed due to the onset of the Great Depression and the lots of land were sold off and developed into much smaller living units.
Glendale (named by Morris after Glendale, California) consisted of land from Glendale Avenue in the north to Sunrise Avenue in the south and from Commonwealth Avenue (formerly Marconi Road before Morris renamed it after Commonwealth Avenue, Boston) to Roosevelt Avenue beyond which was bogland. Ruth and Norma's Avenue are named for two of Morris' daughters. The first postmistress was Jean Frances Evans, in 1956.
By 1945 there were 200 families living in the unincorporated communities of Mount Pearl Park and Glendale. Mount Pearl Park-Glendale was incorporated as a town in 1955 and in 1958 was renamed simply Mount Pearl. A comprehensive town plan was drawn up in 1958 and in the early 1960s several residential housing developments began. By 1968 the population had grown to 5,000, and by 1976 the town had 11,300 residents.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- City Of Mount Pearl web site. Retrieved on 2007-07-24.
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