Atlantic Canada Explained

Atlantic Canada
Settlement Type:Region
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:Canada
Subdivision Type1:Composition
Subdivision Type2:Most populous municipality
Area Total Km2:488000
Population As Of:2021
Population Total:2409874
Population Density Km2:4

Atlantic Canada, also called the Atlantic provinces (French: provinces de l'Atlantique), is the region of Eastern Canada comprising the provinces located on the Atlantic coast, excluding Quebec. The four provinces are New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island.[1] As of 2021, the landmass of the four Atlantic provinces was approximately, and had a population of over 2.4 million people. The provinces combined had an approximate GDP of $121.888 billion in 2011.[2]

The term Atlantic Canada was popularized following the admission of Newfoundland as a Canadian province in 1949. The province of Newfoundland and Labrador is not included in the Maritimes, another significant regional term, but is included in Atlantic Canada.

History

The Atlantic Provinces are the historical territories of the Mi'kmaq, Naskapi, Beothuk and Nunatsiavut peoples.[3] [4] [5] [6] The people of Nunatsiavut are the Labrador inuit (Labradormiut), who are descended from the Thule people. Acadia, a colony of New France, was established in areas of present day Atlantic Canada in 1604, under the leadership of Samuel de Champlain and Pierre Dugua, Sieur de Mons.[7] The French would form alliances with many indigenous groups within Atlantic Canada, including the Mi'kmaq of Acadia, who joined the Wabanaki Confederacy, important allies to New France.[8]

The first premier of Newfoundland, Joey Smallwood, coined the term "Atlantic Canada" when the Dominion of Newfoundland joined Canada in 1949.[9] He believed that it would have been presumptuous for Newfoundland to assume that it could include itself within the existing term "Maritime provinces," which was used to describe the cultural similarities shared by New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia, which entered Confederation during the 19th century (New Brunswick and Nova Scotia were founding members of the Dominion of Canada in 1867, and Prince Edward Island joined in 1873).[10]

Geography

Although Quebec has a physical Atlantic coast on the Gulf of St. Lawrence, it is generally not considered an Atlantic Province; instead, it is classified as part of Central Canada, along with Ontario.

Atlantic and Central Canada together are also known as Eastern Canada. Atlantic Canada includes a section of the Appalachian Mountains known as the Appalachian Uplands.[11] In each Atlantic province, Upland regions have been divided into three highland areas. The mountain range results in coastal regions being fjorded. Some areas contain glaciofluvial deposits.[12] [13]

The following tables use Statistics Canada's 2021 census data.

Municipal geography

MunicipalityProvinceMetropolitan (CMA/CA) land area (km2)Municipal land area (km2)Urban (population centre) land area (km2)References
HalifaxNova Scotia7,276.225,475.57238.29[14] [15] [16]
St. John'sNewfoundland and Labrador931.56446.02178[17] [18] [19]
New Brunswick2,562.47140.67110.73[20] [21] [22]
Saint JohnNew Brunswick3,505.66315.5970.05[23] [24] [25]
FrederictonNew Brunswick6,014.66133.9389.60[26] [27] [28]
Cape BretonNova Scotia2,457.212,419.7030.91[29] [30] [31]
CharlottetownPrince Edward Island1,112.4344.2757.56[32] [33] [34]
TruroNova Scotia2,732.5337.5231.52[35] [36] [37]
New GlasgowNova Scotia2,066.479.9629.82[38] [39] [40]
BathurstNew Brunswick2,100.0591.6227.92[41] [42] [43]
Corner BrookNewfoundland and Labrador1,122.58147.8821.60[44] [45] [46]
MiramichiNew Brunswick7,564.06178.9827.78[47] [48] [49]
KentvilleNova Scotia607.0517.0827.98[50] [51] [52]
EdmundstonNew Brunswick1,582.36106.8419.06[53] [54] [55]
SummersidePrince Edward Island125.1228.2116.97[56] [57] [58]
Grand Falls-WindsorNewfoundland and Labrador54.8454.8412.34[59] [60] [61]

Provincial geography

Province Land area (km2)References
New Brunswick71,248.50[62]
Newfoundland and Labrador358,170.37[63]
52,824.71[64]
Prince Edward Island5,681.18[65]

Demographics

The following tables provide 2021 census figures for "Metropolitan Areas" (built from entire municipalities) and "Population Centres" (limited to actual continuously-built-up areas) in Atlantic Canada. The list includes communities above 15,000, by Metropolitan Area population, or 10,000 by Population Centre population.

Municipal populations

MunicipalityProvinceType of MunicipalityPopulation of Metropolitan Area (CA/CMA)Population of MunicipalityPopulation of Urban AreaReferences
HalifaxNova ScotiaMunicipality465,703439,819348,634
St. John'sNewfoundland and LabradorCity212,579110,525185,565
New BrunswickCity157,71779,470119,785
Saint JohnNew BrunswickCity130,61369,89563,447
FrederictonNew BrunswickCity108,61063,11664,614
Cape BretonNova ScotiaMunicipality98,31893,69430,960
CharlottetownPrince Edward IslandCity78,85838,80952,390
TruroNova ScotiaTown46,15712,95423,583
New GlasgowNova ScotiaTown34,3979,47119,316
BathurstNew BrunswickCity31,38712,15715,985
Corner BrookNewfoundland and LabradorCity29,76219,33319,129
MiramichiNew BrunswickCity27,59317,69211,594
KentvilleNova ScotiaTown26,9296,63014,905
EdmundstonNew BrunswickCity22,14416,43713,125
SummersidePrince Edward IslandCity18,15716,00114,952
Grand Falls-WindsorNewfoundland and LabradorTown13,85313,85311,986

Provincial populations

Province PopulationPopulation density (people per km2)Reference
New Brunswick775,61010
Newfoundland and Labrador510,5501
969,38318
Prince Edward Island154,33127

Economy

Atlantic Canada's primary natural resource industries include fishing, hydroelectricity, forestry, and mining.[66] The Atlantic provinces contribute to around 75% of Canada's fish production, with many coastal communities primarily dependent on fisheries.[67] The access point for many of such fisheries being the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Atlantic continental shelf.[68]

Nova Scotia produces 75% of Canada's gypsum. Salt and iron is also mined in the Atlantic provinces.[69]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Immigration . Refugees and Citizenship Canada . 2009-09-01 . Discover Canada - Canada's Regions . 2023-11-11 . www.canada.ca.
  2. Web site: Gross domestic product, expenditure-based, by province and territory.. Nov 9, 2016. Stats Canada. Feb 7, 2017.
  3. Web site: Welcome . 2023-11-11 . Native-Land.ca . en.
  4. Web site: Mi'kmaq . 2023-11-11 . www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca . en.
  5. Web site: Innu (Montagnais-Naskapi) . 2023-11-11 . www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca . en.
  6. Web site: Nunatsiavut . 2023-11-11 . www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca . en.
  7. Web site: History of Acadia . 2023-11-11 . www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca . en.
  8. Web site: 2011-07-19 . Wabanaki . 2023-11-12 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110719142815/http://www.wabanaki.com/Harald_Prins.htm . 2011-07-19 .
  9. Web site: Provincial Government: The Smallwood Years, 1949-1972 . 2023-11-11 . www.heritage.nf.ca.
  10. Web site: Confederation The Canadian Encyclopedia . 2023-11-11 . www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca.
  11. Web site: Social Studies Regions of Canada Atlantic Region . 2023-11-11 . gradefive.mrpolsky.com . en-AU.
  12. Web site: Government of Canada . Natural Resources Canada . 2016-09-12 . Natural Resources Canada. The Atlas of Canada. Physiographic Regions of Canada . 2023-11-11 . atlas.gc.ca.
  13. Web site: Geography of Newfoundland and Labrador . 2023-11-11 . www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca . en.
  14. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population . Statistics Canada . 9 February 2022 . 28 July 2022.
  15. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population . Statistics Canada . 9 February 2022 . 28 July 2022.
  16. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population . Statistics Canada . 9 February 2022 . 28 July 2022.
  17. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population . Statistics Canada . 28 July 2022.
  18. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population . Statistics Canada . 28 July 2022.
  19. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population . Statistics Canada . 28 July 2022.
  20. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population . Statistics Canada . 9 February 2022 . 28 July 2022.
  21. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population . Statistics Canada . 9 February 2022 . 28 July 2022.
  22. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population . Statistics Canada . 9 February 2022 . 28 July 2022.
  23. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population . Statistics Canada . 28 July 2022.
  24. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population . Statistics Canada . 28 July 2022.
  25. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population . Statistics Canada . 28 July 2022.
  26. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population . Statistics Canada . 9 February 2022 . 28 July 2022.
  27. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population . Statistics Canada . 9 February 2022 . 28 July 2022.
  28. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population . Statistics Canada . 9 February 2022 . 28 July 2022.
  29. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population . Statistics Canada . 28 July 2022.
  30. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population . Statistics Canada . 28 July 2022.
  31. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population . Statistics Canada . 28 July 2022.
  32. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population . Statistics Canada . 9 February 2022 . 28 July 2022.
  33. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population . Statistics Canada . 9 February 2022 . 28 July 2022.
  34. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population . Statistics Canada . 9 February 2022 . 28 July 2022.
  35. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population . Statistics Canada . 9 February 2022 . 28 July 2022.
  36. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population . Statistics Canada . 9 February 2022 . 28 July 2022.
  37. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population . Statistics Canada . 9 February 2022 . 28 July 2022.
  38. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population . Statistics Canada . 28 July 2022.
  39. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population . Statistics Canada . 28 July 2022.
  40. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population . Statistics Canada . 28 July 2022.
  41. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population . Statistics Canada . 9 February 2022 . 28 July 2022.
  42. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population . Statistics Canada . 9 February 2022 . 28 July 2022.
  43. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population . Statistics Canada . 9 February 2022 . 28 July 2022.
  44. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population . Statistics Canada . 28 July 2022.
  45. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population . Statistics Canada . 28 July 2022.
  46. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population . Statistics Canada . 28 July 2022.
  47. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population . Statistics Canada . 9 February 2022 . 28 July 2022.
  48. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population . Statistics Canada . 9 February 2022 . 28 July 2022.
  49. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population . Statistics Canada . 28 July 2022.
  50. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population . Statistics Canada . 9 February 2022 . 28 July 2022.
  51. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population . Statistics Canada . 9 February 2022 . 28 July 2022.
  52. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population . Statistics Canada . 9 February 2022 . 28 July 2022.
  53. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population . Statistics Canada . 9 February 2022 . 28 July 2022.
  54. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population . Statistics Canada . 9 February 2022 . 28 July 2022.
  55. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population . Statistics Canada . 9 February 2022 . 28 July 2022.
  56. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population . Statistics Canada . 9 February 2022 . 28 July 2022.
  57. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population . Statistics Canada . 9 February 2022 . 28 July 2022.
  58. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population . Statistics Canada . 9 February 2022 . 28 July 2022.
  59. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population . Statistics Canada . 28 July 2022.
  60. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population . Statistics Canada . 28 July 2022.
  61. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population . Statistics Canada . 28 July 2022.
  62. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population . Statistics Canada . 27 July 2022.
  63. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population . Statistics Canada . 27 July 2022.
  64. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population . Statistics Canada . 27 July 2022.
  65. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population . Statistics Canada . 27 July 2022.
  66. Web site: Natural Resources in the Atlantic Provinces . 2023-11-11 . www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca . en.
  67. Web site: Fisheries The Canadian Encyclopedia . 2023-11-11 . www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca.
  68. Web site: Natural Resources in the Atlantic Provinces . 2023-11-11 . www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca . en.
  69. Web site: Gypsum The Canadian Encyclopedia . 2023-11-11 . thecanadianencyclopedia.ca.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Atlantic Canada".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.