# Victoria (British Columbia provincial electoral district)

Victoria was a provincial electoral district in the Canadian province of British Columbia, and was one of the first twelve ridings at the time of that province's joining Confederation in 1871 and stayed on the hustings until 1890. From 1894 to 1963 it did not appear on the electoral map. During that period the Victoria area was represented by North Victoria, South Victoria, Saanich, Esquimalt, Oak Bay and Victoria City. In 1966 the old Victoria City riding was redistributed and given the name of the old "rural" riding, Victoria.

## Demographics

* Population, 1961
* Population change, 1871–1961
* Area (km$^2$)
* Population density (people per km$^2$)

## Notable MLAs

* Amor De Cosmos, 2nd Premier of British Columbia

## Electoral history

vte1871 British Columbia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | Elected |
| | Independent | Amor De Cosmos | 151 | 40.05% | Y |
| | Independent | Arthur Bunster | 123 | 32.63% | Y |
| | Independent | William Dalby | 103 | 27.32% |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 377 |
vteBritish Columbia provincial by-election, 26 November 1874 upon resignations of A. Bunster and A. De Cosmos :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | Elected |
| | Independent | William Dalby | 97 | 21.90% |
| | Independent | Charles William Horth | 25 | 5.64% |
| | Independent | James Thomas McIlmoyl | 72 | 16.25% |
| | Independent | William Archibald Robertson | 108 | 24.38% | Y |
| | Independent | William Fraser Tolmie | 141 | 31.83% | Y |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 443 |
| The byelection was due to resignations February 9, 1874 of A. Bunster and A. De Cosmos upon winning seats in the federal election January 22, 1874 (in Vancouver and Victoria federal ridings, respectively). |||||||
vte1875 British Columbia general election: Victoria :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | Elected |
| | Reform caucus | Thomas Basil Humphreys | 89 | 33.58 | Y |
| | Reform caucus | William Fraser Tolmie | 65 | 24.53 | Y |
| | Independent | William Reay | 51 | 19.25 |
| | Independent | Noah Shakespeare | 48 | 18.11 |
| | Independent | Michael Baker | 12 | 4.53 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 265 | 100.00 |
vte1878 British Columbia general election: Victoria :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | Elected |
| | Opposition | James Thomas McIlmoyl | 102 | 20.06 | Y |
| | Opposition | Thomas Basil Humphreys | 99 | 32.04 | Y |
| | Reform caucus | William Fraser Tolmie | 62 | 20.06 |
| | Independent | Thomas Lee | 46 | 14.89 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 309 | 100.00 |
vteBritish Columbia provincial by-election, 10 July 1878 due to Humphreys' appointment to cabinet :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Thomas Basil Humphreys | Acclaimed |
| The byelection was called due to Humphreys' resignation upon his appointment to the Executive Council (cabinet) June 26, 1878. This byelection was one of a series held to confirm appointments to the Executive Council, which was the old parliamentary convention. As this byelection writ was filled by acclamation, no polling day was required and the seat was filled within two weeks. The stated date is the date the return of writs was received by the Chief Electoral Officer. |||||||

## Sources

* Elections BC Historical Returns