Baytona is a small rural community found in Newfoundland and Labrador. It is situated off of Route 340, which runs from Lewisporte to Twillingate island, aptly named "Road to the Isles". A bay separates Baytona from a neighboring town called Birchy Bay. The first settlers of Baytona were fishermen, with women mainly staying home to raise children; however, with a depletion in cod stocks and lobsters, there was a shift away from the fishing industry.

Baytona
Birchy Bay North
Community
Baytona is located in Newfoundland
Baytona
Baytona
Location of Baytona in Newfoundland
Coordinates: 49°20′32″N 54°45′56″W / 49.34222°N 54.76556°W / 49.34222; -54.76556
Country Canada
Province Newfoundland and Labrador
Government
 • MayorRobbie Burt
 • MHADerek Bennett
 • MPClifford Small
Area
 • Land15.38 km2 (5.94 sq mi)
Elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Population
 (2021)
 • Total251
 • Density17.0/km2 (44/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC-3:30 (Newfoundland Time)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-2:30 (Newfoundland Daylight Time)
Area code709
Highways Route 340

Baytona has a fire department, town council and a recreation committee. There is currently one running convenience store. The community has a playground, and a basketball court.

The town also has an Anglican and a Pentecostal church.

Demographics

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Historical population
YearPop.±%
2006276—    
2011264−4.3%
2016262−0.8%
2021251−4.2%
[2][1]

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Baytona had a population of 251 living in 111 of its 162 total private dwellings, a change of -4.2% from its 2016 population of 262.[1] With a land area of 15.15 km2 (5.85 sq mi), it had a population density of 16.6/km2 (42.9/sq mi) in 2021.[3]

Name change

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Originally, Baytona was known as "Birchy Bay North". In 1958 the name was changed to "Gayside" to help the flow of mail delivery. The name was a play on the word "gay", which at that time meant happy, implying that Gayside was the more pleasant of the two communities. However, in 1985, due to a change in definition of the word "gay", and subsequent joking and harassment of neighbouring communities, the name of the town was, once again, changed from "Gayside" to "Baytona".[4][5]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Census Profile, 2016 Census Baytona, Town [Census subdivision], Newfoundland and Labrador". Statistics Canada. 8 February 2017. Retrieved October 22, 2019.
  2. ^ 2006 Census
  3. ^ "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions (municipalities), Newfoundland and Labrador". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  4. ^ The History Of Baytona
  5. ^ "Life on the Gayside | the Scope Archive".