Cap-Chat, Quebec

Cap-Chat (Cape Cat)
City

Location within La Haute-Gaspésie RCM.
Cap-Chat (Cape Cat)

Location in eastern Quebec.

Coordinates: 49°06′N 66°41′W / 49.100°N 66.683°W / 49.100; -66.683Coordinates: 49°06′N 66°41′W / 49.100°N 66.683°W / 49.100; -66.683[1]
Country  Canada
Province  Quebec
Region Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine
RCM La Haute-Gaspésie
Settled 1815
Constituted March 15, 2000
Government[2]
 • Mayor Judes Landry
 • Federal riding Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine
 • Prov. riding Gaspé
Area[2][3]
 • Total 207.40 km2 (80.08 sq mi)
 • Land 181.89 km2 (70.23 sq mi)
Population (2011)[3]
 • Total 2,623
 • Density 14.4/km2 (37/sq mi)
 • Pop 2006-2011 Decrease 5.5%
 • Dwellings 1,368
Time zone EST (UTC−5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC−4)
Postal code(s) G0J 1E0
Area code(s) 418 and 581
Highways Route 132

Cap-Chat (English: Cape Cat) is a town in the Canadian province of Québec, in the Regional County Municipality of Haute-Gaspésie, and in the administrative region of Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine. Cap-Chat is found 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) west of Sainte-Anne-des-Monts. As of 2006, Cap-Chat's population is 2,777.[4]

In addition to Cap-Chat itself, the town's territory also includes the communities of Cap-Chat-Est, Capucins, and Petit-Fonds.

History

There are two theories about the origin of the town's name. One simply holds that the headland called Cap-Chat bore a likeness to a cat ("chat" in French). The other theory is a bit more fanciful. According to a local legend, a cat walking along the shore killed and ate various animals, whereupon the "cat fairy" accused him of having eaten her offspring. For his punishment, the cat was turned into stone for ever.

It seems most likely, however, that the town's name is a corruption of "Aymar de Chaste", who was New France's lieutenant-general in 1603.

Cap-Chat was one of the prime viewing areas for the total solar eclipse of July 10, 1972. Unfortunately, cloudy skies prevented most observers from viewing the total phase of the eclipse.

On March 15, 2000, the Municipality of Capucins was amalgamated into the Town of Cap-Chat.[1]

Demographics

Population

Canada census – Cap-Chat, Quebec community profile
2011 2006
Population: 2,623 (-5.5%% from 2006) 2,777 (-4.7% from 2001)
Land area: 181.89 km2 (70.23 sq mi) 181.89 km2 (70.23 sq mi)
Population density: 14.4/km2 (37/sq mi) 15.3/km2 (40/sq mi)
Median age: 53.7 (M: 53.1, F: 54.5) 50.1 (M: 49.6, F: 50.6)
Total private dwellings: 1,368 1,347
Median household income: $37,511 $31,051
Notes: Municipality of Capucins was amalgamated into the Town of Cap-Chat on March 15, 2000. – References: 2011[5] 2006[6] earlier[7]
Historical Census Data - Cap-Chat, Quebec[8]
YearPop.±%
1991 2,926—    
1996 2,847−2.7%
YearPop.±%
(2000) 3,127+9.8%
2001 2,913−6.8%
YearPop.±%
2006 2,777−4.7%
2011 2,623−5.5%

Economy

Cap-Chat has become synonymous with wind energy. There is a wind farm there containing 76 wind generators in revenue service. Each one of these is a horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT), but there is also to be seen there one called Éole, which is the world's tallest vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) at 110 m. It is capable of producing 4 MW of power. Everything that there is to know about wind power at Cap-Chat may be learnt at the interpretative centre at the wind farm.

Cap-Chat has other things that are worth seeing, such as the aforesaid cat-shaped headland, and a lighthouse.

Those interested in wilderness and spectacular scenery can explore the areas inland from Cap-Chat, where there was once a village called Saint-Octave-de-l'Avenir (which ironically means Saint Octavius of the Future, though it's long in the past now). Salmon fishing and moose hunting are other activities available in the Cap-Chat area, as are hiking, horseback riding, and off-road four-wheel drive excursions in the back country.

In winter, Cap-Chat has a downhill skiing centre, as well as trails for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling.

Images

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Cap-Chat (Ville)" (in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec. Retrieved 2011-12-19.
  2. 1 2 "Cap-Chat". Répertoire des municipalités (in French). Ministère des Affaires municipales, des Régions et de l'Occupation du territoire. Retrieved 2011-12-19.
  3. 1 2 "Cap-Chat census profile". 2011 Census data. Statistics Canada. Retrieved 2011-12-19.
  4. ↑ "Cap-Chat community profile". 2006 Census data. Statistics Canada. Retrieved 2011-12-19.
  5. ↑ "2011 Community Profiles". Canada 2011 Census. Statistics Canada. July 5, 2013. Retrieved 2014-01-28.
  6. ↑ "2006 Community Profiles". Canada 2006 Census. Statistics Canada. March 30, 2011. Retrieved 2011-12-19.
  7. ↑ "2001 Community Profiles". Canada 2001 Census. Statistics Canada. February 17, 2012.
  8. ↑ Statistics Canada: 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011 census
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cap-Chat.


Adjacent Municipal Subdivisions
 Gulf of Saint Lawrence
Les Méchins Sainte-Anne-des-Monts
   Cap-Chat  
Coulée-des-Adolphe Mont-Albert


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