Borden-Carleton is a charming town nestled in Prince County, in the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island. This town, located on the south shore fronting the Northumberland Strait, was incorporated on April 12, 1995, through the amalgamation of the town of Borden and the community of Carleton. It officially became a town on July 31, 2012, after the town of Borden chose to demote its status to a community due to a declining tax base with the completion of the Confederation Bridge and the closure of the Marine Atlantic ferry service.
Borden-Carleton's history is deeply intertwined with Prince Edward Island's transportation needs to mainland North America. Borden's development was influenced by the transportation requirements, while Carleton was a farming community to the north and west of the port.
The town's history is marked by significant events such as the construction of a custom-designed railcar ferry, the SS Prince Edward Island, commissioned by the federal government in 1912. This ferry was to operate from a new year-round port to be built at Carleton Point, several kilometers west of Cape Traverse.
The SS Prince Edward Island arrived in the Northumberland Strait in 1915, but the port at Carleton Point was not yet constructed. Therefore, the vessel operated in year-round service out of Charlottetown and Georgetown from 1915 until the port at Carleton Point was ready.
In 1919, the community was incorporated as the town of Borden, named after Prime Minister Sir Robert Borden, whose government was responsible for the decision to locate the ferry terminal at Carleton Point. The area outside of Borden retained the community name of Carleton.
Throughout the 20th century, Borden-Carleton saw significant growth with the increased use of the ferry system. The town also witnessed the completion of the Trans-Canada Highway across PEI and the neighboring Maritime provinces in the early 1960s.
The Confederation Bridge project was a significant milestone in the history of Borden-Carleton. The project, named Confederation Bridge, was completed on May 31, 1997, marking the end of the ferry service after 70 years of daily operation.
The completion of the Confederation Bridge led to a shrink in Borden's economy as the influx of workers left the town and province. However, the federal government provided "Fixed Link Adjustment Funds" which led to the development of a tourist shopping complex on the property of the former railway yard, now named "Gateway Village".
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Borden-Carleton had a population of 788 living in 324 of its 365 total private dwellings. This was an 8.8% increase from its 2016 population of 724. With a land area of 12.94 km2 (5.00 sq mi), it had a population density of 60.9/km2 (157.7/sq mi) in 2021.
Today, the majority of Borden-Carleton residents are employed in local manufacturing or service industries or in the tourism sector. Major employers include Master Packaging, Silliker Glass, Confederation Cove Mussels, MacDougall Steel Erectors Inc, and Transcontinental Printing. The town continues to thrive, offering a blend of rich history and vibrant tourism.
