Charlottetown, city, capital and
chief port of Prince Edward Island, E Canada, on the southern coast. Food
processing, tourism, fishing, and farming are the main industries. The
French established (c.1720) a fort and settlement across the harbor, known
as Port la Joie. Charlottetown was laid out by the British in 1768 and named
for Queen Charlotte, consort of George III. Its growth was slow until the
middle of the 19th cent., when it became noted for the sailing vessels it
built for fishing and lumber transport. In the city is the Univ. of Prince
Edward Island. The Charlottetown Conference of the Maritime
Provs. (1864) was the first step toward Canadian confederation.
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2024, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
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