Georgetown, Prince Edward Island, is a vibrant community nestled within the municipality of Three Rivers in Kings County, Canada. As the Capital of Kings County, Georgetown boasts a rich history and a plethora of attractions. In 2018, it amalgamated with the town of Montague and the rural municipalities of Brudenell, Cardigan, Lorne Valley, Lower Montague, and Valleyfield, along with portions of three adjacent unincorporated areas.
Eastern Prince Edward Island, where Georgetown is located, traces its human settlement history back to the Mi'kmaq Nation. The Mi'kmaq people, known as Epegoitnag, thrived in the region's Acadian forest, rich in wild game, fruits, berries, nuts, and marine resources. They named the land Samkook, meaning 'the land of the sandy shore'.
Georgetown sits opposite Brudenell Point, which separates the Brudenell River to the north from the Montague River to the south. In 1732, Jean Pierre Roma established the first permanent Acadian settlement here with about 100 settlers. The area, known as Trois-Rivieres (Three Rivers), was later burned by British colonists in 1745 during a conflict over control of the region.
After Britain defeated France in the Seven Years' War in 1763, Captain Samuel Holland selected the entirety of Cardigan Point for the capital of Kings County. The county capital was named Georgetown in honour of King George III. The settlement was designed with a broad street network oriented on magnetic north.
Georgetown's heritage buildings mostly date back to the late Victorian Era, when the community was a significant player in the wooden shipbuilding industry. The port of Georgetown was selected in 1870 as the eastern terminus of the Prince Edward Island Railway (PEIR) and became a steamship terminal with connections to the Intercolonial Railway on the mainland at Pictou, Nova Scotia.
On September 28, 2018, Georgetown amalgamated with several nearby municipalities and unincorporated areas. It is also the birthplace of Prince Edward Island's 33rd Premier, Dennis King.
Georgetown, the Capital of Kings County, is situated on an 8-kilometre-long peninsula formed by the Cardigan and Brudenell rivers and Georgetown Harbour. This peninsula extends into Cardigan Bay, a sub-basin of the Northumberland Strait to the east. Georgetown Harbour is a deep natural harbour, nearly 11 metres deep, located south of the community at the confluence of the Brudenell and Montague rivers.
The Port of Georgetown is a deep-water harbour in Cardigan Bay on Prince Edward Island's east coast, south of the Port of Souris. The port remains ice-free from April 15 through December 31. Georgetown is approximately 100 km from the port of Charlottetown, the province's capital. The PEIR mainline from Georgetown extended through Montague Junction to Mount Stewart and on to Royalty Junction, Summerside, and Alberton.
Georgetown is adjacent to Brudenell River Provincial Park, which hosts a campground and tourist accommodations. Two of the province's top golf courses, Brudenell River Golf Course and Dundarave Golf Course, are located at the Brudenell River Resort.
A lit boardwalk along the water features benches, lookouts, a gazebo, and beach access. The Confederation Trail passes through Georgetown, offering water views and excellent conditions for walking or cycling.
Georgetown is home to 10 historical buildings, and a walking tour is available for visitors to explore these and other buildings of interest. A.A. Macdonald Memorial Park, the largest garden in Prince Edward Island, commemorates Andrew Archibald Macdonald, one of Canada's Fathers of Confederation. In 2015, it was nominated as one of Canada's Great Places.
