Charlottetown - geography.

« Charlottetown was incorporated in 1855, with a population of 6500.

On July 16, 1866, the city experienced its worst of several fires.

“The Great Fire” broke out in an oldbuilding near the waterfront.

It was thought to be deliberately set, and before it was brought under control it had destroyed nearly four city blocks.

One hundred buildingswere lost, and 30 families were left homeless.

The fire prompted the city government to promote brick construction, and the many brick buildings of the downtown areabegan to appear. By 1921 the population had grown to 10,814, and in 1957 the neighboring municipality of Spring Park became part of Charlottetown.

In 1983 the federal Department ofVeteran’s Affairs was relocated to Charlottetown, the only federal department of government to be moved out of the Canadian national capital of Ottawa. In 1992 Charlottetown was the site of the signing of the Charlottetown Accord, an agreement between Canadian federal and provincial governments designed to amend theCanadian constitution.

Charlottetown was chosen for the signing because of its significance as the Birthplace of Confederation.

The accord was defeated in a national vote onOctober 26, 1992. The city’s economic future is expected to be enhanced by the Confederation Bridge, 12.9 km (8.02 mi) long, which was opened in June 1997 and is the first highway linkbetween Prince Edward Island and the mainland.

The world’s longest multispan bridge over salt water, it replaces a ferry service at the same site. Contributed By:Frederick L.

DriscollMicrosoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation.

All rights reserved.. »