Donnacona, Quebec
Donnacona | |
---|---|
Motto(s): Mets l'Épaule à la Roue (Put the shoulder to the wheel) | |
Coordinates: 46°40′29″N 71°43′46″W / 46.67472°N 71.72944°W[1] | |
Country | Canada |
Province | Quebec |
Region | Capitale-Nationale |
RCM | Portneuf |
Constituted | January 21, 1967 |
Government | |
• Mayor | Jean-Claude Léveillée |
• Federal riding | Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier |
• Prov. riding | Portneuf |
Area | |
• Total | 37.30 km2 (14.40 sq mi) |
• Land | 20.13 km2 (7.77 sq mi) |
Population (2016)[4] | |
• Total | 7,200 |
• Density | 357.6/km2 (926/sq mi) |
• Pop 2011-2016 | 14.6% |
• Dwellings | 3,111 |
Time zone | UTC−5 (EST) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
Postal code(s) | |
Area code(s) | 418 and 581 |
Highways A-40 | R-138 |
Website | villededonnacona |
Donnacona is an industrial town located about 40 kilometres (25 mi) west of Quebec City in Portneuf County, Quebec, Canada.
History
Some people believe the city was named after Donnacona, a 16th-century St. Lawrence Iroquois chief who was taken to France. The chieftain lived further down-river in Stadacona.
It was actually named after the first paper mill erected at the mouth of the Jacques-Cartier River, The Donnacona Paper Ltd. It was located where the Jacques-Cartier River meets the St. Lawrence River. The local paper mill played a key role in creating and quickly developing the local settlement to the point of making Donnacona the most populous urban town in Portneuf County. Economic difficulties affected the lumber and pulp and paper industry and the local factory was sold a number of times. In 2007, Bowater had a debt of $7 billion and merged with Abitibi-Consolidated. The merger was to sell off Abitibi's assets and close its mills for liquidity to settle Bowater's debt.[citation needed] It closed in January 2008. It had employed 240 people manufacturing of 230,000 tonnes per annum of commercial grade paper. The demolition was scheduled to take 12 to 14 months. For three years, the town unsuccessfully tried to find an entrepreneur to restart the industry. Demolition began in March 2011.[5]
Prior to the chartering of Donnacona as a town in 1915, the area was named Pointe-aux-Écureuils. A New France Seigneurie existed under the name of Les Écureuils as a surrounding rural parish municipality prior to its final merge with Donnacona in 1967.
Demographics
Population trend:[6]
- Population in 2014: 6960
- Population in 2011: 6283 (2006 to 2011 population change: 12.9%)
- Population in 2006: 5564
- Population in 2001: 5479
- Population in 1996: 5739
- Population in 1991: 5659
Private dwellings occupied by usual residents: 2827 (total dwellings: 2924)
Mother tongue:
- English as first language: 0.5%
- French as first language: 98.0%
- English and French as first language: 0%
- Other as first language: 1.5%
Economy
A Canadian National rail line through Donnacona borders the St. Lawrence.[citation needed]There is no rail station.
The Federal Correctional Service Canada maximum security Donnacona Institution is located along Route 138.[citation needed]
Transportation
- Autoroute 40 passes through the town.
Sister city
Its sister city is Jarnac, France.[citation needed]
References
- ^ "Banque de noms de lieux du Québec: Reference number 18836". toponymie.gouv.qc.ca (in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec.
- ^ a b Ministère des Affaires municipales, des Régions et de l'Occupation du territoire - Répertoire des municipalités: Donnacona Archived 2015-12-09 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Statistics Canada (March 10, 2009). "2011 Community profiles - Donnacona". Retrieved 2009-04-15.
- ^ Statistics Canada (March 10, 2009). "2011 Community profiles - Donnacona". Retrieved 2009-04-15.
- ^ lapresse.ca: "Donnacona: le démantèlement de l'usine d'AbitibiBowater est déjà commencé", 25 Mar 2011
- ^ Statistics Canada: 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011 census
External links
- Media related to Donnacona, Quebec at Wikimedia Commons
- (in French) w City Of Donnacona