The first European to set foot on Victoria Island was Captain James Cook in 1778. However, it took a number of years before a permanent settlement was established. On March 14, 1843, the site for Fort Victoria was chosen and construction began.
The Imperial Government of the Crown Colony began operating under a constitution in 1849, with the first governor assuming office the following year. This established the first British colony west of the Great Lakes.
The Hudson Bay Company was primarily responsible for maintaining Victoria until 1858, when gold was discovered. An estimated 20,000 new residents joined the population of 450 community members.
On July 21, 1871, Victoria joined the rest of British Columbia to become part of the Dominion of Canada. The settlement became the oldest in Western Canada.
As of 2009, Victoria is one of the most populated areas of British Columbia, with a population of over 300,000. The island is the seat of government, finance and tourism for Western Canada.
