Saint-Pierre-de-l'Île-d'Orléans

Saint-Pierre-de-l'Île-d'Orléans
Municipality
Location within L'Île-d'Orléans RCM.
Saint-Pierre-de-l'Île-d'Orléans Location in central Quebec.
Coordinates: 46°53′N 71°04′W / 46.883°N 71.067°W / 46.883; -71.067Coordinates: 46°53′N 71°04′W / 46.883°N 71.067°W / 46.883; -71.067[1]
Country	Canada
Province	Quebec
Region	Capitale-Nationale
RCM	L'Île-d'Orléans
Settled	c. 1660
Constituted	July 1, 1855
Government[2]
• Mayor	Jacques Trudel
• Federal riding	Montmorency—Charlevoix— Haute-Côte-Nord
• Prov. riding	Charlevoix–Côte-de-Beaupré
Area[2][3]
• Total	32.20 km2 (12.43 sq mi)
• Land	31.34 km2 (12.10 sq mi)
Population (2011)[3]
• Total	1,789
• Density	57.1/km2 (148/sq mi)
• Pop 2006-2011	1.5%
• Dwellings	748
Time zone	EST (UTC−5)
• Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC−4)
Postal code(s)	G0A 4E0
Area code(s)	418 and 581
Highways	Route 368

Saint-Pierre-de-l'Île-d'Orléans is a municipality in the Capitale-Nationale region of Quebec, Canada, part of the L'Île-d'Orléans Regional County Municipality. It is situated on the west side of Orléans Island, and accessible by Quebec Route 368 and the Île d'Orléans Bridge which connects Saint-Pierre with the Beauport borough of Quebec City. Until 1997, it was known simply as Saint-Pierre.

The Quebec poet and songwriter Félix Leclerc (1914-1988) is buried in this town, having lived there from 1958 to his death.

History

Église St-Pierre

The first European settlers came to the area around 1660. They constructed the first chapel in 1662 and by 1679 the Parish of Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul was formed which at that time also included the territory of Sainte-Pétronille. Between 1716 and 1718, one of the oldest churches in Quebec was built (since 1954 classified as a historic momument and occasionally used as a concert hall). In 1722, the civil parish was established. For 54 years from 1734 to 1788, the first bishop of Quebec born in Canada, Louis-Philippe Mariauchau d'Esgly (1710-1788), served there as the resident priest.^[1]

In 1845, the Parish Municipality was formed under the name of Saint-Pierre-Isle-d'Orléans, probably in honour of Apostle Peter. It was abolished two years later in 1847 when it became part of the County Municipality, but restored again in 1855 as Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul.^[1] In 1874, it lost a portion of its territory when Sainte-Pétronille separated and became a municipality.^[4] Over time, only the "Saint-Pierre" part of the name was retained.

In 1935, the Île d'Orléans Bridge was built, leading to a steady increase of residential development and making Saint-Pierre now the most populated municipality on the island. In 1997, the Parish Municipality of Saint-Pierre was renamed to Saint-Pierre-de-l'Île-d'Orléans to better distinguish the town from other namesake municipalities.^[1]

Demographics

Population trend:^[5]

• Population in 2011: 1789 (2006 to 2011 population change: -1.5 %)
• Population in 2006: 1816
• Population in 2001: 1891
• Population in 1996: 1982
• Population in 1991: 1992

Private dwellings occupied by usual residents: 715 (total dwellings: 748)

Mother tongue:

• English as first language: 0.6%
• French as first language: 96.3%
• English and French as first language: 0.6%
• Other as first language: 2.5%

Tourism and attractions

Île d'Orléans pastoral character is well preserved in Saint-Pierre.

Orleans Island, known as the "Garden of Quebec", attracts many vacationers and daytrippers with its pastoral character and cultural heritage. Since they enter the island through Saint-Pierre, it is home to many businesses catering to tourism, such as bed-and-breakfast accommodations, restaurants, art galleries, and sugar houses.^[6]

Local attractions include:

• Espace Félix-Leclerc - a museum and art gallery in a historic building dedicated to the works of poet and songwriter Félix Leclerc, as well as showcasing other Quebec folk singers
• Wineries and vineyards - offering tours and tasting local wines

References

External links

• Île d'Orléans - Saint-Pierre-de-l'Île-d'Orléans portrait

	Saint Lawrence River / Boischatel	Saint Lawrence River / L'Ange-Gardien, Château-Richer	Sainte-Famille
	Saint Lawrence River, bridge to Quebec City (Beauport)
	Saint-Pierre-de-l'Île-d'Orléans
	Sainte-Pétronille, Quebec		Saint-Laurent-de-l'Île-d'Orléans

v t e  Subdivisions of L'Île-d'Orléans Regional County Municipality Municipalities Saint-François-de-l'Île-d'Orléans Saint-Jean-de-l'Île-d'Orléans Saint-Laurent-de-l'Île-d'Orléans Saint-Pierre-de-l'Île-d'Orléans Parishes Sainte-Famille Villages Sainte-Pétronille Regional County Municipalities (RCM): in Capitale-Nationale: Charlevoix Charlevoix-Est La Côte-de-Beaupré La Jacques-Cartier L'Île-d'Orléans Portneuf Equivalent territories (ET): Quebec City Independent Parishes: Notre-Dame-des-Anges Native Reserves: Wendake