Parksville, British Columbia
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| City of Parksville | |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s): Jewel of Vancouver Island | |
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| Country |  Canada |
| Province |  British Columbia |
| Regional District | Nanaimo |
| Incorporated | June 19, 1945 |
| Town status | April 1, 1978 |
| City status | June 1, 1981 |
| Population (2006) | |
| - City | 10,993 |
| - Metro | 138,631 |
| Time zone | PST |
| Area code(s) | +1-250 & +1-778 |
| Website | City of Parksville |
Parksville is a city on Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada. Dubbed by some the Jewel of Vancouver Island,[who?][citation needed] it is on Highway 19A, 37 kilometres north-west of Nanaimo, and 7 kilometres south-east of Qualicum Beach, between Englishman River and French Creek. As of the 2006 Census, Parksville's population was 10,993.
Parksville's best-known annual event, since 1982, is a sandcastle-building competition in the summer.
Local media, businesses, and civil services frequently refer to Parksville, with it's adjacent municipalities, as the community of "Oceanside". Typically including Qualicum Beach, and Nanoose.
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[edit] History
The Spanish were the first Europeans to explore the area in 1791. In Spanish maps, the Englishman River is called "Rio de Grullas," (River of Cranes, i.e. herons) while French Creek is named "Punta de Leonardo." The first European settler in the Parksville area was John Hirst, who pre-empted 120 hectares (300 acres) of land on both sides of the Englishman River in 1873. Parksville was named after the area's first postmaster, Nelson Park, in 1877. The Village of Parksville was incorporated June 19, 1945. Parksville became a town on April 1, 1978, and a city on June 1, 1981.
[edit] Economy
Much of the city's economy is tourism. Two gently sloping sandy beaches, Parksville Beach and Rathtrevor Beach (part of Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park), have been the town's main attractions. Other important industries are fishing, forestry, and service enterprises.
[edit] Demographics
Parksville had a population of 10,993 people in 2006, which was an increase of 6.5% from the 2001 census count. The median household income in 2006 for Parksville was $55,524, which is below the British Columbia provincial average of $62,346.[1]
[edit] Notable residents
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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Coordinates: 49°18′N 124°19′W / 49.3°N 124.317°W
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