Badger's Quay is a Canadian town in the province of
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador (; french: Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador; frequently abbreviated as NL) is the easternmost province of Canada, in the country's Atlantic region. The province comprises the island of Newfoundland and the continental region ...
.
Located on
Bonavista Bay
Bonavista Bay (BB) is a large bay located on the northeast coast of the island of Newfoundland in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada. It opens directly onto the Atlantic Ocean.
The bay is demarcated by Cape Freels to the nor ...
, 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
Badgers are short-legged omnivores in the family Mustelidae (which also includes the otters, wolverines, martens, minks, polecats, weasels, and ferrets). Badgers are a polyphyletic rather than a natural taxonomic grouping, being united b ...
in
Shropshire
Shropshire (; alternatively Salop; abbreviated in print only as Shrops; demonym Salopian ) is a landlocked historic county in the West Midlands region of England. It is bordered by Wales to the west and the English counties of Cheshire to th ...
,
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...
. Badger's Quay is not to be confused with the town of
Badger
Badgers are short-legged omnivores in the family Mustelidae (which also includes the otters, wolverines, martens, minks, polecats, weasels, and ferrets). Badgers are a polyphyletic rather than a natural taxonomic grouping, being united b ...
, an inland lumbering community which was named after a river that was thought to flow into Badgers Bay.
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 18th century to the early 19th century. 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 19th century 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.
History
Badger's Quay,
Newfoundland
Newfoundland and Labrador (; french: Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador; frequently abbreviated as NL) is the easternmost province of Canada, in the country's Atlantic region. The province comprises the island of Newfoundland and the continental region ...
was first recorded in the 1891 ''Census of Newfoundland.'' Its population consisted 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.
['']Encyclopedia of Newfoundland and Labrador
''Encyclopedia of Newfoundland and Labrador'' is an Encyclopedia commissioned by Joey Smallwood to capture the people, places, events and history of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Smallwood's view on the purpose of the encyclopedia wa ...
'' The latest amalgamation, in 1992, has put the community into the Town of
New-Wes-Valley
New-Wes-Valley is a municipality in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Incorporated in 1992, it is located at the Northern end of Bonavista Bay just south of Cape Freels.
New-Wes-Valley takes its name from the towns of Newtown, Wesleyville, a ...
.
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.
Interesting facts
* In the 1880s Badger's Quay had a ferryman by the name of John Abbott.
[Yearbook and Almanac of Newfoundland for 1887.]
See also
*
List of communities in Newfoundland and Labrador
This article lists unincorporated communities of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Incorporated towns and cities are incorporated municipalities and can be found on List of municipalities in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Newfoundla ...
*
Bonavista Bay
Bonavista Bay (BB) is a large bay located on the northeast coast of the island of Newfoundland in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada. It opens directly onto the Atlantic Ocean.
The bay is demarcated by Cape Freels to the nor ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Badger's Quay, Newfoundland And Labrador
Populated coastal places in Canada
Populated places in Newfoundland and Labrador