Donnacona, Quebec

Donnacona
—  Ville  —
Coat of arms Logo
Motto: Mets l'Épaule à la Roue (Put the shoulder to the wheel)
Donnacona
Coordinates: 46°40′N 71°45′W / 46.667°N 71.75°W / 46.667; -71.75Coordinates: 46°40′N 71°45′W / 46.667°N 71.75°W / 46.667; -71.75
Country	Canada
Province	Quebec
Region	Capitale-Nationale
Regional county	Portneuf
Civilly erected	1 January 1967
Government[1]
- Mayor	Sylvain Germain
- Federal riding	Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier
- Prov. riding	Portneuf
Area[1][2]
- Total	20.12 km2 (7.8 sq mi)
- Land	20.02 km2 (7.7 sq mi)
Population (2006)[2]
- Total	5,564
- Density	277.9/km2 (719.8/sq mi)
Time zone	EST (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
Area code(s)	418 and 581
Website	www.villededonnacona.com

Donnacona is an industrial town located about 40 kilometres (25 mi) west of Quebec City in Portneuf County, Quebec, Canada.

Some people believe the city was named after Donnacona, a 16th century Wendat chief who was taken to France. However, the Huron Chieftain never lived in this area, but rather further east in Stadacona.

It was actually named after the first paper mill erected at the mouth of the Jacques-Cartier River, The Donnacona Paper Ltd. The local paper mill played a key role in creating and quickly developing the local settlement to the point of making of 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]} Consequently, the mill is now closed.

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:^[3]

• Population in 2006: 5564 (2001 to 2006 population change: 1.6 %)
• Population in 2001: 5479
• Population in 1996: 5739
• Population in 1991: 5659

Private dwellings occupied by usual residents: 2412 (total dwellings: 2540)

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

The industrial park of Donnacona is situated near Quebec Autoroute 40.^{[citation needed]}

The Donnacona Institution maximum security Federal Correctional Service Canada is located along Route 138.

Transportation

• Autoroute 40 passes through the town.

Sister city

It's sister city is Jarnac, France.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Ministère des Affaires Municipales, Régions et Occupation du territoire - Répertoire des municipalités: Donnacona
2. ^ ^{a b} Statistics Canada (March 10, 2009). "2006 Community profiles - Donnacona". http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/prof/92-591/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=2434025&Geo2=PR&Code2=24&Data=Count&SearchText=donnacona&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom=. Retrieved 2009-04-15. 
3. ^ Statistics Canada: 1996, 2001, 2006 census

External links

• City Of Donnacona - Homepage