Pownal is a small community (600 residents) located in Queens County, just east of the capital city Charlottetown. The community was founded in the mid-1700s by Scottish settlers and was named after Governor Thomas Pownall, who was governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony at the time.
Pownal was an important shipping port for local agricultural and the area’s mills, including sawmills, grist mills, and woolen mills.
During the 1800s, Pownal continued to expand with several churches, schools, and businesses including several shipyards, serving the local fishing and shipping industries.