Map of Canada showing the location of PEI in red.
A map of Canada, showing Prince Edward Island in red.
Map showing locations of all of Prince Edward Island's municipalities
Distribution of Prince Edward Island's 72 municipalities by municipal status type as of 2017

Prince Edward Island is the least populous province in Canada with 154,331 residents as of the 2021 census and is the smallest in land area at 5,681.18 km2 (2,193.52 sq mi).[1] Prince Edward Island's 63 municipalities cover 34.7% of the province's land mass and were home to 73% of its population in 2021.[2][3][a] These municipalities provide local government services to their residents in the form of fire protection, municipal planning services, and emergency measures planning.[4] The remaining unincorporated areas have no local government.[5]

Municipal statuses in Prince Edward Island are cities, towns, rural municipalities, and resort municipalities.[6] Under Prince Edward Island's Municipal Government Act (MGA), which came into force on December 23, 2017,[7] the formation of a municipality can be proposed by the Minister of Fisheries and Communities, the council of an existing municipality, or a petition signed by 30% of the residents that would be the electors of the new municipality.[4] To be eligible for city or town status, certain minimum estimated population and total property assessment value criteria must be met.[4] If those criteria are not met, rural municipality status can be granted if it is the opinion of the Minister of Fisheries and Communities that it would be in the public interest.[4] The province's lone resort municipality – the Resort Municipality of Stanley Bridge, Hope River, Bayview, Cavendish and North Rustico – was established by order in council in 1990.[6] The 2017 MGA prevents creation of any new resort municipalities.[6]

Prince Edward Island has two cities, ten towns, fifty rural municipalities and one resort municipality,[3][6] which are distributed across three counties – Kings, Prince and Queens. Charlottetown is Prince Edward Island's capital and largest municipality by population while Belfast is the largest municipality by land area.[2] The smallest municipalities by population and land area are Tignish Shore and St. Louis respectively.[2]

Cities

Aerial view of Charlottetown
Aerial view of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island's capital and largest city
Summerside City Hall
Summerside, Prince Edward Island's second largest municipality and only other city

Under the province's MGA, a municipality may incorporate as a city if it has an estimated population of 15,000 or more and a total property assessment value of $750 million or more.[4][6] Should a city no longer meet these requirements, the Minister of Fisheries and Communities may recommend to the Lieutenant Governor in Council to change the status of the municipality to a more appropriate status.[4]

Prince Edward Island has two cities.[3] Charlottetown is Prince Edward Island's capital and largest city both by population with 38,809 residents and by land area with 44.27 km2 (17.09 sq mi).[2] It forms the core of a census agglomeration that encompasses the middle of the island and is home to 78,858 residents, or 51% of the island's population.[8] The province's second city is Summerside, which is located on the west side of the island. It has a population of 16,001 and a land area of 28.21 km2 (10.89 sq mi).[2] Starting with the municipal elections in 2018, the MGA enables cities to elect a mayor and a minimum of eight councillors.[6] With general municipal elections occurring every four years, the next municipal election is scheduled for November 2022.[9]

Towns

Under the province's MGA, a municipality may incorporate as a town if has an estimated population of 4,000 or more but is less than 15,000, and a total property assessment value of $200 million or more, but is less than $750 million.[4][6] Should a town no longer meet these requirements, the Minister of Fisheries and Communities may recommend to the Lieutenant Governor in Council to change the status of the municipality to a more appropriate status.[4]

Prince Edward Island has ten towns that are incorporated municipalities,[3] which had a cumulative population of 32,632 in the 2021 census.[2] The province's largest and smallest towns are Stratford and North Rustico with populations of 10,927 and 648 respectively.[2] Three Rivers is Prince Edward Island's largest town by land area with 431.47 km2 (166.59 sq mi) and O'Leary is the province's smallest town by land area with 1.83 km2 (0.71 sq mi).[2] Three Rivers is also the province's newest town, which incorporated as a town on September 28, 2018 through the amalgamation of the towns of Georgetown and Montague, five rural municipalities (Brudenell, Cardigan, Lorne Valley, Lower Montague, and Valleyfield), and portions of three adjacent unincorporated areas.[10] Starting with the municipal elections in 2018, the MGA enables towns to elect a mayor and a minimum of six councillors.[6] With general municipal elections occurring every four years, the next municipal election is scheduled for November 2022.[9]

Rural municipalities

Under the province's MGA, municipalities that previously held community status under the previous Municipalities Act, which originally came into force in 1983,[11] were carried forward as rural municipalities.[4][6][b] With the amalgamation of Brackley and Winsloe South on December 15, 2017,[13] and then the MGA coming into force eight days later on December 23, 2017,[7] Prince Edward Island had 58 communities that became rural municipalities.[3][6] On September 28, 2018, three amalgamations reduced the total amount of rural municipalities to 50.[10] As of the 2021 census, the province's largest and smallest rural municipalities are West River and Tignish Shore with populations of 3,473 and 64 respectively.[2][3][14] Starting with the municipal elections in 2018, the MGA enables rural municipalities to elect a mayor and a minimum of six councillors.[6] With general municipal elections occurring every four years, the next municipal election is scheduled for November 2022.[9]

Resort municipalities

Prince Edward Island has one municipality holding resort municipality status. The Resort Municipality of Stanley Bridge, Hope River, Bayview, Cavendish and North Rustico was established as a resort municipality in 1990.[4] The province's MGA allows this resort municipality to continue yet prevents the establishment of additional resort municipalities in the future.[4][6] Starting with the municipal elections in 2018, the MGA enables the province's lone resort municipality to elect a mayor and a minimum of six councillors.[6] With general municipal elections occurring every four years, the next municipal election is scheduled for November 2022.[9] If the population of the lone resort municipality reaches 2,000 electors, it may be incorporated as a different type of municipality pursuant to the MGA.[4]

List of municipalities

List of municipalities in Prince Edward Island
Name Municipal
status[3][6] 		County[2] Incorporation
year[15] 		2021 Census of Population[2]
Population
(2021) 		Population
(2016) 		Change
 Land area
(km2) 		Population
density
(/km2)
Charlottetown City Queens 1855 38,809 36,094 +7.5% 44.27 876.6
Summerside City Prince 1877[c] 16,001 14,839 +7.8% 28.21 567.2
Alberton Town Prince 1913 1,301 1,145 +13.6% 4.70 276.8
Borden-Carleton Town Prince 1995[d] 788 724 +8.8% 12.94 60.9
Cornwall Town Queens 1995 6,574 5,348 +22.9% 28.21 233.0
Kensington Town Prince 1914 1,812 1,619 +11.9% 3.17 571.6
North Rustico Town Queens 1954[e] 648 617 +5.0% 2.64 245.5
O'Leary Town Prince 1951[f] 876 815 +7.5% 1.83 478.7
Souris Town Kings 1910 1,079 1,053 +2.5% 3.61 298.9
Stratford Town Queens 1995 10,927 9,711 +12.5% 22.67 482.0
Three Rivers Town Kings 2018 7,883 7,169 +10.0% 431.47 18.3
Tignish Town Prince 1952 744 719 +3.5% 5.87 126.7
Abram-Village Rural municipality Prince 1974 340 300 +13.3% 1.36 250.0
Alexandra Rural municipality Queens 1972 252 204 +23.5% 10.35 24.3
Annandale-Little Pond-Howe Bay Rural municipality Kings 1975 223 207 +7.7% 31.87 7.0
Bedeque and Area Rural municipality Prince 2014 311 302 +3.0% 2.26 137.6
Belfast Rural municipality Queens 1972 1,687 1,636 +3.1% 229.27 7.4
Brackley Rural municipality Queens 1983[g] 586 596 −1.7% 18.75 31.3
Breadalbane Rural municipality Queens 1991 170 167 +1.8% 12.67 13.4
Central Kings Rural municipality Kings 1975 386 349 +10.6% 72.94 5.3
Central Prince Rural municipality Prince 2018 1,129 1,054 +7.1% 133.78 8.4
Clyde River Rural municipality Queens 1974 614 653 −6.0% 15.93 38.5
Crapaud Rural municipality Queens 1950 361 319 +13.2% 2.10 171.9
Darlington Rural municipality Queens 1983 99 90 +10.0% 7.72 12.8
Eastern Kings Rural municipality Kings 1974 687 698 −1.6% 141.12 4.9
Greenmount-Montrose Rural municipality Prince 1977 262 292 −10.3% 26.03 10.1
Hampshire Rural municipality Queens 1974 339 359 −5.6% 13.52 25.1
Hazelbrook Rural municipality Queens 1974 220 193 +14.0% 8.09 27.2
Hunter River Rural municipality Queens 1974 390 356 +9.6% 6.04 64.6
Kingston Rural municipality Queens 1974 1,111 1,047 +6.1% 48.38 23.0
Kinkora Rural municipality Prince 1955 388 336 +15.5% 3.97 97.7
Linkletter Rural municipality Prince 1972 315 300 +5.0% 7.88 40.0
Lot 11 and Area Rural municipality Prince 1982 617 639 −3.4% 102.61 6.0
Malpeque Bay Rural municipality Queens 1973 1,191 1,030 +15.6% 98.97 12.0
Miltonvale Park Rural municipality Queens 1974 1,196 1,158 +3.3% 35.13 34.0
Miminegash Rural municipality Prince 1968 148 148 0.0% 1.88 78.7
Miscouche Rural municipality Prince 1957 992 873 +13.6% 3.49 284.2
Morell Rural municipality Kings 1953 269 297 −9.4% 1.49 180.5
Mount Stewart Rural municipality Queens 1953 226 209 +8.1% 1.52 148.7
Murray Harbour Rural municipality Kings 1953 282 258 +9.3% 3.90 72.3
Murray River Rural municipality Kings 1955 337 304 +10.9% 1.54 218.8
North Shore Rural municipality Queens 2018 2,500 2,152 +16.2% 71.13 35.1
North Wiltshire Rural municipality Queens 1974 176 202 −12.9% 12.43 14.2
Northport Rural municipality Prince 1974 157 186 −15.6% 1.73 90.8
Sherbrooke Rural municipality Prince 1972 178 159 +11.9% 8.94 19.9
Souris West Rural municipality Kings 1972 379 361 +5.0% 7.73 49.0
St. Felix Rural municipality Prince 1977 314 325 −3.4% 11.54 27.2
St. Louis Rural municipality Prince 1964 69 66 +4.5% 0.68 101.5
St. Nicholas Rural municipality Prince 1991 218 213 +2.3% 20.73 10.5
St. Peters Bay Rural municipality Kings 1953 231 237 −2.5% 4.44 52.0
Tignish Shore Rural municipality Prince 1975 64 63 +1.6% 1.65 38.8
Tyne Valley Rural municipality Prince 1966 229 249 −8.0% 1.94 118.0
Union Road Rural municipality Queens 1977 213 204 +4.4% 10.33 20.6
Victoria Rural municipality Queens 1951 139 74 +87.8% 1.44 96.5
Warren Grove Rural municipality Queens 1985 374 346 +8.1% 10.16 36.8
Wellington Rural municipality Prince 1959 414 415 −0.2% 1.70 243.5
West River Rural municipality Queens 1974 3,473 3,110 +11.7% 121.62 28.6
York Rural municipality Queens 1986 387 414 −6.5% 12.27 31.5
Stanley Bridge, Hope River, Bayview, Cavendish and North Rustico[h] Resort municipality Queens 1990 359 318 +12.9% 36.10 9.9
Sub-total cities 54,810 50,933 +7.6% 72.48 756.2
Sub-total towns 32,632 28,920 +12.8% 517.11 63.1
Sub-total rural municipalities 24,643 23,150 +6.4% 1,345.02 18.3
Sub-total resort municipalities 359 318 +12.9% 36.10 9.9
Total municipalities 112,444 103,321 +8.8% 1,970.71 57.1
Province of Prince Edward Island 154,331 142,907 +8.0% 5,681.18 27.2

See also

Notes

  1. ^ The remaining 27% of Prince Edward Island's population resides in unincorporated areas or on Indian reserves.[2][3]
  2. ^ Prior to the Municipalities Act, incorporated communities were previously designated either villages or community improvement committees.[12]
  3. ^ Summerside incorporated as a city on April 1, 1995 upon amalgamating with the incorporated communities of St. Eleanors and Wilmot.[16]
  4. ^ Borden-Carlton, which previously held community status, incorporated as a town on July 31, 2012.[17]
  5. ^ North Rustico, which previously held community status, incorporated as a town on November 16, 2013.[18]
  6. ^ O'Leary, which previously held community status, incorporated as a town on March 11, 2014.[19]
  7. ^ Brackley amalgamated with Winsloe South on December 15, 2017.[13] Winsloe South originally incorporated in 1986.[20]
  8. ^ Official legal name is the Resort Municipality of Stanley Bridge, Hope River, Bayview, Cavendish and North Rustico.[4]

References

  1. ^ "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, 2021 and 2016 censuses – 100% data". Statistics Canada. March 14, 2022. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions (municipalities), Prince Edward Island". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h "Prince Edward Island Municipal Boundaries" (PDF). Prince Edward Island: Communities, Land and Environment. September 18, 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 13, 2019. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Municipal Government Act" (PDF). Prince Edward Island Queen's Printer. November 28, 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 30, 2020. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  5. ^ "Canada – Prince Edward Island Agreement Municipal Strategic Component 2014 - 2019 Guidelines and Criteria" (PDF). Government of Prince Edward Island. March 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 13, 2019. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Existing Municipalities and New Municipalities – Municipal Government Act". Government of Prince Edward Island. January 6, 2017. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved December 26, 2017.
  7. ^ a b "EC2017–747: Municipal Government Act Proclamation" (PDF). Prince Edward Island Executive Council. December 12, 2017. p. 414. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 30, 2019. Retrieved December 26, 2017.
  8. ^ "Census Profile, 2021 Census: Charlottetown [Census agglomeration], Prince Edward Island and Prince Edward Island [Province]". Statistics Canada. January 30, 2022. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  9. ^ a b c d "Municipal Elections and By-Elections". Government of Prince Edward Island. June 5, 2018. Archived from the original on March 7, 2020. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  10. ^ a b "EC2018–584, EC2018–585 and EC2018–586" (PDF). Government of Prince Edward Island Executive Council. September 25, 2018. pp. 321–327. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 30, 2019. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  11. ^ "Municipal Government Act and Regulations". Government of Prince Edward Island. May 29, 2020. Archived from the original on June 25, 2020. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  12. ^ "Municipalities Act". Prince Edward Island Queen's Printer. December 15, 2016. Archived from the original on June 6, 2010. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  13. ^ a b "EC2017–746: Municipalities Act (Community of Brackley and Community of Winsloe South Amalgamation)" (PDF). Prince Edward Island Executive Council. December 12, 2017. pp. 413–414. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 30, 2019. Retrieved December 26, 2017.
  14. ^ "Interim List of Changes to Municipal Boundaries, Status, and Names: Up to January 1st, 2019" (PDF). Statistics Canada. November 13, 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 8, 2020. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
  15. ^ "Municipal Affairs and Provincial Planning". Department of Finance, Energy and Municipal Affairs. Archived from the original on February 22, 2015. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  16. ^ "Interim List of Changes to Municipal Boundaries, Status and Names: January 2, 1991 to January 1, 1996" (PDF). Statistics Canada. February 1997. p. 45. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 9, 2020. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  17. ^ "EC2012–443: Municipalities Act (Community of Borden-Carleton Change of Status of Municipality from Community to Town Approved)" (PDF). Prince Edward Island Executive Council. July 31, 2012. p. 261. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 9, 2020. Retrieved November 24, 2013.
  18. ^ "EC2013–782: Municipalities Act (Community of North Rustico Change of Status of Municipality from Community to Town Approved)" (PDF). Prince Edward Island Executive Council. November 5, 2013. p. 532. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 9, 2020. Retrieved November 24, 2013.
  19. ^ "EC2014–142: Municipalities Act (Community of O'Leary Change of Status of Municipality from Community to Town Approved)" (PDF). Prince Edward Island Executive Council. March 11, 2014. p. 72. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 9, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  20. ^ "PlaceFinder: Winsloe South, Prince Edward Island". Government of Prince Edward Island. Archived from the original on October 29, 2018. Retrieved December 29, 2017.

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