Château-Richer, Quebec

Château-Richer
—  Town  —
Houses along Avenue royale in Château-Richer.
Motto: Union et Paix
Château-Richer
Coordinates:
Country  Canada
Province  Quebec
Region Capitale-Nationale
Regional county La Côte-de-Beaupré
Settled
Incorporated July 1, 1855
Government[1]
 • Mayor Frédéric Dancause
 • Federal riding Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord
 • Prov. riding Montmorency
Area[1][2]
 • Land 229.45 km2 (88.6 sq mi)
Population (2006)[2]
 • Total 3,563
 • Density 15.5/km2 (40.1/sq mi)
Time zone EST (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
Postal Code G0A
Area code(s) 418 and 581
Website www.chateauricher.qc.ca

Château-Richer is a small town situated in the Capitale-Nationale region of Quebec, Canada. Located on the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River east of Quebec City, Château-Richer is the seat for the Côte-de-Beaupré Regional County Municipality.

The first rural parish in New France was established there in 1678 and many of the oldest families in Quebec first settled there. Even today, a fairly large segment of the town's population can be traced back to those pioneering families.

The town stretches for several miles alongside Route 138. This road, which was originally known as the King's Road (Chemin du Roy, or Chemin royal), to be later renamed Avenue royale, is among the first ones to be built in North America.

Contents

History

In 1626, Samuel de Champlain established in Château-Richer the first farm in the Saint Lawrence valley, to feed the people of Quebec city. Jean Bourdon's map of 1641 is the earliest source that mentions the name "Chateau Richer", referring only to the cape or headland on which stands the present church. But the origin of this name remains uncertain. In 1646, Olivier Letardif, Lord and Chief Prosecutor, granted 20 concessions to the inhabitants of Château-Richer so that they could officially establish themselves properly.[3][4]

In 1678, the local parish was formed, named La Visitation-de-Notre-Dame. On March 15, 1753, Château-Richer became very first organized village in New France. In 1832, the post office opened. In 1845, the municipality was first established but abolished in 1847. It was reestablished in 1855 when it was incorporated as a parish municipality.[3][4]

Louis-Théodore Besserer, a prominent businessman of Ottawa, was born in Château-Richer.

In 1968, it changed statutes and became Ville de Château-Richer.[3]

Demographics

Population trend:[5]

Private dwellings occupied by usual residents: 1523 (total dwellings: 1618)

Mother tongue:

List of mayors

Successive mayors of Château-Richer:[4]

References

  1. ^ a b Ministère des Affaires Municipales, Régions et Occupation du territoire - Répertoire des municipalités: Château-Richer
  2. ^ a b Statistics Canada 2006 Census - Château-Richer community profile
  3. ^ a b c "Château-Richer (Ville)" (in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec. http://www.toponymie.gouv.qc.ca/CT/toposweb/fiche.aspx?no_seq=12702. Retrieved 2010-04-26. 
  4. ^ a b c "Présentation de la municipalité" (in French). Ville de Château-Richer. http://www.chateauricher.qc.ca/indexFr.asp?numero=31. Retrieved 2010-04-26. 
  5. ^ Statistics Canada: 1996, 2001, 2006 census