Donnacona, Quebec

Donnacona, Quebec

Donnacona
—  Ville  —

Coat of arms

Logo
Motto: Mets l'Épaule à la Roue
(Put the shoulder to the wheel)
Donnacona is located in Quebec
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
 - Mayor Sylvain Germain
 - Federal riding Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier
 - Prov. riding Portneuf
Area
 - Total 20.12 km2 (7.8 sq mi)
 - Land 20.02 km2 (7.7 sq mi)
Population (2006)
 - 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. 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.

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Demographics

Population trend:

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

Transportation

  • Autoroute 40 passes through the town.


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