Deer Lake, Newfoundland and Labrador

Deer Lake is a town in the western part of the island of Newfoundland in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

The town derives its name from Deer Lake and is situated at the outlet of the upper Humber River at the northeastern end of the lake.

History

The first settlers in the area arrived from Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia in 1864. Originally loggers and trappers, the settlers later took up farming.

In 1922, a work camp was set up to support the International Pulp and Paper company. The camp would later become the town of Deer Lake. A formal townsite was constructed in 1925 and included a railway terminal, churches and a small hospital. The town was incorporated in 1950 with Phil Hodder as its first mayor.

The airport was built in 1955 and is one of the town's major employers. In 2004, Deer Lake Regional Airport redesigned the airport terminal, which was completed in June 2007. The primary population that the airport serves is approximately 55,000. The airport serves people from Rocky Harbour to Corner Brook, as well as around Deer Lake.

Name

The town was named by early settlers of the area. Caribou could be seen crossing the lake in huge quantities. The first Europeans who came to this area, having never before seen caribou called them "deer". The town was then named accordingly.

Economy

The town is located in Division No. 5 and is the gateway to the Great Northern Peninsula, owing to an important highway interchange on the Trans-Canada Highway. It is the closest major community to Gros Morne National Park and is home to the Deer Lake Regional Airport.

A hydroelectric plant was established on the Humber River in 1925 to provide electricity to a pulp and paper paper mill in Corner Brook.

Sights and tourism

Deer Lake offers accommodation for tourists as well as restaurants, supermarkets, convenience stores and gas stations. There is a stadium, swimming pool and a bowling alley in the Hodder Memorial Recreational Complex. St. Paul's United Church, a wooden church dating from 1955 and the modern Salvation Army building are worth a visit. The Main Street offers a scenic view of the lake.

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Deer Lake had a population of living in of its total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of . With a land area of , it had a population density of in 2021.

Climate

Deer Lake has a humid continental climate (Dfb) with moderately warm summers that are on the short side, with quite long and cold winters that are moderated by its proximity to a large body of water. With precipitation high year-round, Deer Lake receives plenty of snowfall in winters.

Transport

The community is served by Deer Lake Regional Airport, which is the nearest airport to Corner Brook. It is also the busiest airport in the western part of the island. It also serves an area stretching from Port Aux Basques on the southern tip, the Northern Peninsula and eastward towards the island's centre. As such, it serves a population of approximately 100,000 people.

Notable people

* Dwight Ball, former Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador
* Darren Langdon, National Hockey League player

Gallery

File:DeerLakeNL InternationalPulpAndPaperCompanyStaffHouse.JPG, Deer Lake International Pulp and Paper Company staff house
Image:DeerLake1.jpg, Deer Lake
Image:DeerLake2.jpg, Salvation Army
Image:DeerLake3.jpg, Hodder Memorial Recreational Complex
Image:DeerLake4.jpg, St. Paul's United Church

See also

* List of cities and towns in Newfoundland and Labrador

References

External links

Official web siteDeer Lake - Encyclopedia of Newfoundland and Ladrador, vol. 1, p. 608-609.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Deer Lake, Newfoundland And Labrador
Towns in Newfoundland and Labrador