Albanel, Quebec
Encyclopedia
Albanel is a municipality in the Canadian
province of Quebec
, located within the regional county municipality
of Maria-Chapdelaine
. The municipality had a population of 2,326 in the Canada 2006 Census
.
(ca. 1616-1696). It had excellent land for farming, among the finest in the Lac Saint-Jean
region at the time. Circa 1891, a mission was established in the township, served by pastors from Saint-Méthode
and Normandin. In 1892, the Albanel post office opened. In 1899, the township was incorporated as the Township Municipality of Albanel.
The presence of adequate hydraulic power
, in particular the Chute aux Français on the Mistassini River
, and several dairies had contributed to modest, but significant, economic growth of the village of Albanel. In 1930, it separated from the township and formed the Village Municipality of Albanel.
In April 1990, the township and village municipalities of Albanel were merged again to form the Municipality of Albanel.
Private dwellings occupied by usual residents: 887 (total dwellings: 911)
Mother tongue:
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
province of Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, located within the regional county municipality
Regional county municipality
The term regional county municipality or RCM is used in Quebec to designate one of 86 county-like political and geographic units. In most cases, they are also census divisions. Regional County Municipalities are a supralocal type of "Regional Municipality" and are still commonly referred to as...
of Maria-Chapdelaine
Maria-Chapdelaine Regional County Municipality, Quebec
Maria-Chapdelaine is a Regional County Municipality in northeastern Quebec, Canada. Its seat is in Dolbeau-Mistassini. The RCM runs from Lac Saint-Jean in the south to the deep interior of northern Quebec in the north...
. The municipality had a population of 2,326 in the Canada 2006 Census
Canada 2006 Census
The Canada 2006 Census was a detailed enumeration of the Canadian population. Census day was May 16, 2006. The next census following will be the 2011 Census. Canada's total population enumerated by the 2006 census was 31,612,897...
.
History
The geographic township of Albanel was proclaimed in 1883, named after Jesuit missionary and explorer Charles AlbanelCharles Albanel
Charles Albanel was a Freech missionary explorer in Canada, and Jesuit priest. In 1649, he arrived in Canada, at Tadoussac. In 1672, at the time when the Hudson's Bay Company was beginning operations, he was a leader of a French party that went by the Saguenay River, Lake Mistassini, and the...
(ca. 1616-1696). It had excellent land for farming, among the finest in the Lac Saint-Jean
Lac Saint-Jean
Lac Saint-Jean is a large, relatively shallow lake in south-central Quebec, Canada, in the Laurentian Highlands. It is situated 206 kilometres north of the Saint Lawrence River, into which it drains via the Saguenay River. It covers an area of 1003 km² Lac Saint-Jean is a large, relatively...
region at the time. Circa 1891, a mission was established in the township, served by pastors from Saint-Méthode
Saint-Félicien, Quebec
Saint-Félicien is a city in the Canadian province of Quebec. The town is located within the Le Domaine-du-Roy Regional County Municipality in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region. Its population as of 2006 is 10,477.-Geography:...
and Normandin. In 1892, the Albanel post office opened. In 1899, the township was incorporated as the Township Municipality of Albanel.
The presence of adequate hydraulic power
Hydropower
Hydropower, hydraulic power, hydrokinetic power or water power is power that is derived from the force or energy of falling water, which may be harnessed for useful purposes. Since ancient times, hydropower has been used for irrigation and the operation of various mechanical devices, such as...
, in particular the Chute aux Français on the Mistassini River
Mistassini River
The Mistassini River is a river in central Quebec, Canada, draining into the north-western portion of Lac Saint-Jean. It is long and has a watershed area of...
, and several dairies had contributed to modest, but significant, economic growth of the village of Albanel. In 1930, it separated from the township and formed the Village Municipality of Albanel.
In April 1990, the township and village municipalities of Albanel were merged again to form the Municipality of Albanel.
Demographics
Population trend:- Population in 2006: 2326 (2001 to 2006 population change: -5.3 %)
- Population in 2001: 2455
- Population in 1996: 2540
- Population in 1991: 2496
Private dwellings occupied by usual residents: 887 (total dwellings: 911)
Mother tongue:
- English as first language: 0.4 %
- French as first language: 98.9 %
- English and French as first language: 0 %
- Other as first language: 0.7 %