The sun sets over Deer Lake, Newfoundland, June 2003. The town of Deer Lake is a major transportation hub in western Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The town is situated on the Humber River and along the Trans Canada Highway. There is also a regional airport there. Deer Lake calls itself the gateway to Gros Morne National Park. The population is 4,769 (Census 2001). The maximum temperature in summer is 22°C and the minimum winter temperature is -13.3°C.
A hydroelectric plant was established here in 1925, originally to provide power for a pulp and paper mill in Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador.
The privately-owned Newfoundland Insectarium is located near Deer Lake.
The town was named after nearby Deer Lake. The lake got its name from the many caribou, called "deer" by the first European visitors to the area.
History
The first settlers in the area arrived from Cape Breton in Nova Scotia in 1864. Originally loggers and trappers, the settlers later took up farming.
In 1922, a work camp was set up to support the International Pulp and Paper company. The camp would later become the town of Deer Lake. A formal townsite was constructed in 1925 and included a railroad terminal, churches and a small hospital. The town was incorporated in 1951.
The town's airport was built in 1955 and is one of the town's major employers.
Demographics
Population, 2001: 4,769
Population, 1996: 5,222
1996 to 2001 population change: -8.7 percent
Number of families: 1,470
Land (square kilometers): 73.23
Average earnings (for people who work year-round, full-time: $30,970 (Canadian dollars)
Median household income: $32,752
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