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Summerside is the second largest city in Prince Edward Island, Canada and is located in the "East Prince", Prince County area of the island. The name is believed to have originated as "sunnyside" because, ostensibly, the south (Northumberland Strait) shore of Prince Edward Island seemed, at least to early settlers, to get more sunshine than north side.
Summerside was first settled in 1840 when a wharf was constructed and a road was built to St. Eleanors, the shire town of Prince County at the time. A shipyard was soon built at the wharf by Joseph Pope, and the town began to grow. Summerside became a seaport that shipped goods such as potatoes to the mainland. In 1877 Summerside was officially incorporated.
With the shipbuilding industry on the decline, Summerside became a centre for the trading of fox pelts in the early 1900s. In the 1940s the Royal Canadian Air Force built a station on the outskirts of the town. After it closed in 1991, it was converted into a business park. Since then federal, provincial and local government community development initiative have helped to diversify the city's economy.
Tourist attractions in Summerside today include Spinnaker's Landing, a group of boutiques on the waterfront, and the P.E.I. Sports Hall of Fame. A series of murals downtown depicts Summerside's history.
Large employers in the city include the Summerside tax centre, part of Revenue Canada. Atlantic Turbines, which manufactures and repair parts for air crafts is also a significant employer. Approximately 10 minutes away in neighboring community New Annan is Cavendish Farms, a frozen foods processing plant that employs over 2000 people.
Summerside has recently been recognized as being much more aggressive in attracting new business and opportunity than the larger provincial capital of Charlottetown.
The city is mainly comprised of lower middle class neighborhoods made up of 20-40 year old bungalow style homes, however, there are also small pockets of upscale residences notably near the downtown where stand stately older homes, owned once by those who prospered in the silver fox boom which peaked in the 1920s.
Basil Stewart is currently the mayor of Summerside.
External links
Cities in Prince Edward Island | Prince County, Prince Edward Island
"Summerside, Prince Edward Island"