Summerside: Never a Dull Moment
Summerside is the second largest city of the western part of Prince Edward Island in Canada. Its waterfront is situated on the Summerside Harbour along Prince Edward's Island's south shore, and it has a coverage of 28.36 square kilometers, with a population of approximately 14,500 people. It was officially incorporated as a town on the first of April, year 1877, and reincorporated as a city during April 1, 1995.
Summerside has a rich history behind its founding. The land it occupied had been the home of members of the Mi'kmaq Nation for several centuries. Prior to this it was first settled in by the Acadians, a people of European descent. At around 1840, the community of Acadians decided to make their stay permanent, when they created the first infrastructures of the place, namely a wharf and a road heading to St. Eleanors, which was then the shire town of the Prince County. Soon, a man named Joseph Pope built a shipyard at the wharf. From then on, the town began to grow and develop, as the transportation business grew. 1872 was the year when Prince Edward Island Railway came, signifying Summerside's importance as a seaport, which connected the island to the mainland railway connections via steamship. This marked the beginning of commercial operations, as the port developed into an import/export facility for all kinds of consumer goods, along other agricultural exports / raw materials such as potatoes.
At the onset of the early 20th century, Summerside shipbuilding businesses declined, and developed to become a service center for fox pelt trade. The Royal Canadian Air Force established a base called RCAF Station Summerside on the town outskirts during the 1940s, which later closed down in 1968, and coverted into a business park by the name of Slemon Park. From this, the town expanded its federal, provincial and municipal governments to diversify its economy in the region, which ended with its reincorporation as a city.
Today, Summerside is a wonderful place to be in, with their philosophy of never having a dull moment and their efforts to be hospitable to every visitor. It is well-known for having nineteenth to twentieth century architecture, usually Victorian style. It has major culture and sporting events, world-class attractions and accommodations and facilities and programs generously sponsored by the government. Major attractions include the Summerside Raceway, a harness racing track; the Summerside Wellness Center, a sports and fitness facility; the Silver Fox Curling and Yacht Club; the Summerside Golf and Country Club; and the PEI Sports Hall of Fame.
Socially, Summerside is quite stable, with the population being mostly middle class, with some affluent sectors in certain areas. Economically, Summerside has large employers providing jobs for residents, including the Summerside tax center, Atlantic Turbines, Testori Americas, Honeywall Engines and Systems, and several farms, including the Cavendish farms frozen food processing plants.
Overall, Summerside is a quaint place to be, whether you plan to live in it, work in it or even just visit.