Victoria - Community Overview

In 1843, Chief Factor of the Hudson’s Bay Company, James Douglas chose present day Victoria as the site for a Hudson’s Bay Company’s trading post and fort. The smaller harbour of Victoria was chosen over that of Esquimalt for Fort Victoria (named after Queen Victoria) due to its extensive tracts of level to gently sloping land, ideal for agriculture. 

The community remained small until it became the supply centre and jumping-off point for the Fraser Gold Rush of 1858. In 1862, the town was incorporated as a city. In 1865, the nearby Esquimalt Harbour was designated as a naval base by the British Admiralty and still performs this function today as CFB Esquimalt. In 1868, Victoria was named the capital city of the Crown Colony of British Columbia and when the colony joined the Dominion of Canada in 1871, Victoria became the capital city of the Province of British Columbia.

Today, Victoria is home to the provincial legislature, many governments and the naval base CFB Esquimalt. Tourism also plays an important role in the economy. Victoria is known as the vacation capital of Canada with over 3 million visitors throughout the year. The downtown contains many preserved and restored historical buildings housing restaurants, galleries and shops.

The City of Victoria, capital of British Columbia, is located on Highway #17, in the Capital Regional District. Victoria is situated on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, on a peninsular site where Victorians can view the bordering Juan de Fuca and Haro Straits. The city is backed by the Olympic Mountains of Washington to the south and the Gulf Islands to the east, with the volcanic peak of Mount Baker in the distance.

The population of the city of Victoria numbers approximately 78,659.

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