Time zone EST (UTC−5) Area 37.3 km² Province Québec | Constituted January 21, 1967 Postal code(s) G3M 1A1 Population 6,283 (2011) Local time Friday 5:20 AM | |
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Weather -14°C, Wind W at 6 km/h, 73% Humidity | ||
Donnacona is an industrial town located about 40 kilometres (25 mi) west of Quebec City in Portneuf County, Quebec, Canada.
Contents
Map of Donnacona, QC, Canada
History
Some people believe the city was named after Donnacona, a 16th-century St. Lawrence Iroquois chief who was taken to France. The chieftain lived further down-river in Stadacona.
It was actually named after the first paper mill erected at the mouth of the Jacques-Cartier River, The Donnacona Paper Ltd. It was located where the Jacques-Cartier River meets the St. Lawrence River. The local paper mill played a key role in creating and quickly developing the local settlement to the point of making 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. It closed in January 2008. It had employed 240 people manufacturing of 230,000 tonnes per annum of commercial grade paper. The demolition was scheduled to take 12 to 14 months. For three years, the town unsuccessfully tried to find an entrepreneur to restart the industry. Demolition began in March 2011.
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:
Private dwellings occupied by usual residents: 2827 (total dwellings: 2924)
Mother tongue:
Economy
A Canadian National rail line through Donnacona borders the St. Lawrence.There is no rail station.
The Federal Correctional Service Canada maximum security Donnacona Institution is located along Route 138.