New Richmond, Quebec

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Ville de New Richmond
Town of New Richmond
Coordinates: 48°10′N 65°52′W / 48.167, -65.867
Country Flag of Canada Canada
Province Flag of Quebec Quebec
Region Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine
RCM Bonaventure
Constitution July 1st, 1855
Government
 - Mayor Nicole Appleby
Area [1]
 - Land 168.84 km² (65.2 sq mi)
Population (2006)[1]
 - Total 3,748
 - Density 22.2/km² (57.5/sq mi)
Time zone EST (UTC-5)
 - Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
Postal code G0C 2B0
Area code(s) 418
Website: http://www.villenewrichmond.com

New Richmond is an incorporated municipality in Quebec, Canada situated on the southern coast of the Gaspé Peninsula between the municipalities of Maria and Caplan. It is one of the very few remaining municipalities on the Gaspé which still has a relatively large English-speaking population. It was originally a centre of farming, logging, and shipbuilding.

The town experienced considerable growth in the 1960s with the development of a linerboard paper mill by Bathurst paper, later Consolidated Bathurst and then through a number of name changes until it became Smurfit Stone. Economic downturns in the region led to the mill being reduced in operations and subsequently many residents left for other regions. In 2006 the mill completely halted operations, leaving the town with no major industry.

New Richmond is bounded on the west by the Grand Cascapedia River. The Little Cascapedia runs to the east of the town proper. Both are well know internationally for Atlantic salmon and trout fishing. In the springtime smelt are also caught. On the Grand Cascapedia river fishing is centered in the towns of Cascapedia and St. Jules located a few miles outside New Richmond.

There is a large wharf located to the east of the town. This was built to service cargo ships which would arrive to be loaded with "Kraft" paper. It now serves a primarily recreational role.

The town itself is quite picturesque with tree-lines streets, a relaxed and friendly population, and a British Heritage Museum. There is a small shopping center, an ice-hockey arena which hosts a regional Midget-age (15-16) hockey tournament. The Arena complex also includes a football field which is home to the "Carcajou", a juvenile football team in the Eastern Quebec League. Team members and coaching staff travel within a 70km range to practice and play with the team. The team is also culturally dynamic with children of French, English and Miqmaq backgrounds participating. There is also a theater located in the town. There is an English-language school (New Richmond High School) located in the center of town which serves grades K-8, after which students attend high school in the town of Bonaventure at Bonaventure Polyvalent School. French-speaking children have their own school and complete high school in the town of Carleton.

The area is quite spectacular in the fall when the hardwood trees change color. Summers are warm and pleasant and winters are long and cold.

[edit] Demographics

Language Population Percentage (%)
French only 3,210 86.29%
English only 480 12.9%
Both English and French 30 0.81%
Other languages 10 0.27%

Source: [2]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2006 and 2001 censuses - 100% data. Statistics Canada, 2006 Census of Population (2007-03-13). Retrieved on 2007-08-24.
  2. ^ .
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