A Brief History of Victoria BC

With the promise of a high quality of life, a stirring environment and a storied past, Victoria, British Columbia, is held in high regard by fellow Canadians and international travelers alike. As determined in an independent survey by Conde Nast Traveller, visitors to Victoria are eager to arrive and hesitant to leave the magical city. Indeed, there is much to see, much history to sample and an overriding awareness of a healthy environment that soothes the being.

In 1778, Captain James Cook became the first European explorer to set foot in what is now known as British Columbia. As fur companies expanded overland, settlement of the territory began to take hold. Yet, it was not until March 1843 when James Douglas of the Hudson Bay Company and his traveling companion Roman Catholic missionary, Father J.B.Z. Bolduc, selected a site off Clover Point to eventually become Fort Victoria. The construction of the fort was overseen by Charles Ross, who completed the initial building phase in June of the same year when the fort was officially named after the revered British Queen.

The Imperial Government of the Crown Colony of Vancouver Island was created in 1849. The first Governor was Richard Blanshard, who was not only Vancouver's first Governor, but the first Governor of the first Crown Colony to be established in a British Territory west of the Great Lakes. Victoria was officially adopted as the town's name in 1852.

By 1858, Victoria had approximately 450 residents and the principal occupation was the business of the Hudson Bay Company. In 1858, gold was discovered on the mainland and life began to change in the rapidly expanding city and port. Gold prospectors began to arrive in droves from all corners of the world and the population of the main town doubled almost overnight. The gold rush centered on finds on the Fraser and Thompson Rivers but impacted all the surrounds. Victoria served and prospered as the main port of entry for British Columbia during this exciting time.

The city was incorporated in 1862 when Thomas Harris was acclaimed to be the first mayor. As the gold rush waned, the economy deteriorated. In 1866 the Colonies of Vancouver Island and British Columbia could no longer support themselves and thus were compelled to join the Union of Colonies. For the remainder of the 19th century, Victoria served as the largest city in British Columbia. With the advent of the Transcontinental railway, Vancouver eventually surpassed Victoria as the largest city in British Columbia.

During the 20th century, Victoria has into an exciting and vibrant center for tourism, education and government. The city still serves as Canada's western naval base and hosts a major fishing industry and in recent years has become the second largest technology center in British Columbia.

With compelling architecture, historically significant heritage homes, the stunning Parliament Buildings with 3000 lights illuminating the evening sky, spectacular churches and a unique history steeped in British tradition, Victoria continues to excite all comers. The proud bearer of two internationally acclaimed universities as well as other academic centers, the city exudes a youthful enthusiasm.

Victoria has a legacy of horticultural excellence. Tourists flock to the internationally acclaimed Butchert Gardens and to the renowned Abkhazi Gardens, which were reputedly created by love and flourish as a magnificent reminder of the power of the flower. To properly enjoy the spectacle, tourists often set aside several days just to take in Victoria's floral delights.

Victoria has prospered as a city determined to continue its environmentally responsible reputation. The current population is approximately 400,000. The population of Vancouver Island, which is twice the size of Hawaii and is North America's largest west coast island is 725,000. Vancouver Island is 282 miles long and sports abundant wildlife and compelling hiking trails. The surrounding waters are rampant with whales, dolphins, otter, seals, spectacular salmon and much other wildlife.

The balmy climate produces cool summer evenings and chilly winters but with little snowfall. More than 4 million tourists flock to Victoria each year. The city is committed to a tradition of tourism excellence and with so much history to see, many tourists return for more.

Tourists are treated to historic sight-seeing, year-long cultural and social celebrations, spectacular gardens, vibrant sporting activities, first-rate entertainment and fine dining galore in a city dedicated to presenting its proud history in an uncompromising manner. There has never been a better time to explore the thrills of British Columbia and the reserved elegance of stunning Victoria.

Article Source: http://www.globetrekkerarticles.com

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