Petawawa, Ontario

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Town of Petawawa


imagesize = 230px
image_caption = Emerald Necklace Trail and the Petawawa River


flag_size = 120x100px
image_shield =
shield_size = 120x100px


mapsize = 230px
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = Canada
subdivision_type1 = Province
subdivision_name1 = Ontario
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Renfrew County
established_title = Incorporated (town)
established_date = July 1, 1997
area_footnotes = (Statistics Canada)
area_total_km2 =
area_land_km2 = 164.68
area_water_km2 =
population_as_of = 2006
population_note = Source: Canada 2006 Census
settlement_type = Municipality
population_total = 14651
population_density_km2 = 89.0
timezone = EST
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
latd = 45 |latm = 54 |latNS = N |longd = 77 |longm = 17 |longEW = W
website = [http://town.petawawa.on.ca town.petawawa.on.ca]

Petawawa is a town located in the Canadian province of Ontario. Situated in the Ottawa Valley, with a population of 14,651 (2006 Census). Petawawa is the most populous municipality in Renfrew County.

Geography

Latitude 45°54' North and Longitude 77°17' West

Petawawa is scenically located on the west bank of the Ottawa River where it is intersected by the Petawawa River. Situated across the Ottawa River from the Laurentian Mountains, and east of Algonquin Park,Petawawa is a favourite stop for outdoor enthusiasts, anglers, hikers, canoers, and kayakers.

Transportation

Ontario Highway 17, Greyhound bus lines, and the local commercial airport (Pembroke Airport) located in Petawawa, all provide access to this town.

Primary industries

Petawawa's primary employer is the Canadian Government. Most of Petawawa's residents work as civilian employees, or as members of the Canadian Forces at CFB Petawawa which is home to 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group.

Another major employer is Atomic Energy of Canada Limited located nearby in Chalk River.

History

The earliest settlement in the Petawawa area was inhabited by the Algonquin First Nation. In fact the name of Petawawa comes from a local Algonquian language word "biidaawewe" meaning "where one hears a noise like this".

In the late 19th century the area was surveyed, and settled by Europeans from Scotland, Ireland and Germany. The land was unsuitable for crops, but the heavily forested surroundings were useful for logging. The Canadian military acquired land in the area in 1905, which later became Canadian Forces Base Petawawa. During this period it was used as an internment camp for German POWs during World War II. Later, it became home to the Canadian Airborne Regiment before it was disbanded in 1996. Today, it is one of Canada's largest ground forces base with members deployed to all corners of the world on various mission supporting the United Nations in peacekeeping or the War on Terror.

Petawawa was incorporated as a township in 1865. In 1961, the urban area of Petawawa was incorporated as a separate village. On July 1, 1997, the village and township re-amalgamated to form the Town of Petawawa.

Communities

In addition to the primary urban core of Petawawa, the town also comprises the communities of Black Bay, Kramer Subdivision, Laurentian View, McGuire, Petawawa Point, Pine Meadows, Pine Ridge, Pinehurst Estates and Riverview.

ee also

* List of communities in Ontario

External links

* [http://town.petawawa.on.ca Town of Petawawa, Ontario Official Website]
* [http://www.army.dnd.ca/CFB_PETAWAWA/ Department of National Defence Canada - CFB Petawawa]
* [http://www.petawawalegion.ca The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 517, Petawawa Ontario]
* [http://www.petawawapubliclibrary.ca Petawawa Public Library]

Geographic Location (8-way)
Centre = Petawawa
North =

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