Château-Richer, Quebec
Encyclopedia
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
.
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.
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.
Louis-Théodore Besserer
, a prominent businessman of Ottawa
, was born in Château-Richer.
In 1968, it changed statutes and became Ville de Château-Richer.
Private dwellings occupied by usual residents: 1523 (total dwellings: 1618)
Mother tongue:
Capitale-Nationale
Capitale-Nationale is one of 17 administrative regions of Quebec, Canada. Quebec City, Quebec's centre of government, is located in this region. It has a land area of 18,638.7 km2...
region 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....
, Canada. Located on the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River
Saint Lawrence River
The Saint Lawrence is a large river flowing approximately from southwest to northeast in the middle latitudes of North America, connecting the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. It is the primary drainage conveyor of the Great Lakes Basin...
east of Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
, Château-Richer is the seat for the Côte-de-Beaupré Regional County Municipality
La Côte-de-Beaupré Regional County Municipality, Quebec
300px|rightLa Côte-de-Beaupré is a regional county municipality in northeastern Quebec, Canada. Regional County municipality seat is Château-Richer, Quebec. The municipality has a land area of 4,864.67 km² and a 2006 census population of 23,015 inhabitants. Its largest community is the...
.
The first rural parish in New France
New France
New France was the area colonized by France in North America during a period beginning with the exploration of the Saint Lawrence River by Jacques Cartier in 1534 and ending with the cession of New France to Spain and Great Britain in 1763...
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
Quebec route 138
Route 138 is a major highway in the Canadian province of Quebec, following the entire north shore of the Saint Lawrence River past Montreal to the eastern terminus in Natashquan on the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. The western terminus is in Elgin, at the border with New York State south-west of Montreal...
. This road, which was originally known as the King's Road (Chemin du Roy
Chemin du Roy
The Chemin du Roy is a historic road along the north shore of the St. Lawrence River in Quebec. The road begins in Repentigny and extends almost eastward towards Quebec City, its eastern terminus...
, or Chemin royal), to be later renamed Avenue royale, is among the first ones to be built in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
.
History
In 1626, Samuel de ChamplainSamuel de Champlain
Samuel de Champlain , "The Father of New France", was a French navigator, cartographer, draughtsman, soldier, explorer, geographer, ethnologist, diplomat, and chronicler. He founded New France and Quebec City on July 3, 1608....
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.
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.
Louis-Théodore Besserer
Louis-Théodore Besserer
Louis-Théodore Besserer was a businessman, notary and political figure in Lower Canada.He was born at Château-Richer, Quebec in 1785. He studied at the Petit Séminaire de Québec and later became a notary. During the War of 1812, he was a lieutenant in the Quebec City militia, later becoming captain...
, a prominent businessman of Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, was born in Château-Richer.
In 1968, it changed statutes and became Ville de Château-Richer.
Demographics
Population trend:- Population in 2006: 3563 (2001 to 2006 population change: 3.5 %)
- Population in 2001: 3442
- Population in 1996: 3579
- Population in 1991: 3690
Private dwellings occupied by usual residents: 1523 (total dwellings: 1618)
Mother tongue:
- English as first language: 0.6 %
- French as first language: 97.7 %
- English and French as first language: 0.4 %
- Other as first language: 1.3 %
List of mayors
Successive mayors of Château-Richer:- Lemoine, H. : 1845 - 1848
- Huot, Michel : 1849 - 1851
- Renaud, Jean : 1852 - 1854
- Rheaume, Charles : 1855 - 1857
- Bernier, L.P. : 1858 - 1859
- Gravel, Alexandre : 1860 - 1871
- Cloutier, Vincent : 1872 - 1873
- Tremblay, Onésime : 1874 - 1875
- Cauchon, Pierre : 1876 - 1876
- Cloutier, Edouard : 1877 - 1885
- Gravel, Louis-Nérée : 1886 - 1887
- Premont, Joseph : 1888 - 1888
- Cloutier, Joseph. P. : 1889 - 1890
- Gariepy, Edouard : 1890 - 1891
- Simard, Etienne Romain : 1891 - 1891
- Cote, François : 1882 - 1892
- Laplante, François Xavier : 1883 - 1895
- Cloutier, Nazaire : 1896 - 1899
- Dick, Herménégilde : 1900 - 1900
- Lefrancois, Amédée : 1901 - 1901
- Jobidon, Julien : 1902 - 1902
- Cloutier, Joseph : 1903 - 1916
- Cloutier, Emile : 1917 - 1920
- Cloutier, Joseph : 1921 - 1924
- Lefrancois, Jules A. : 1925 - 1931
- Jobidon, Hilaire : 1931 - 1933
- Gravel, Edouard Lazare : 1933 - 1935
- Jobidon, Pierre : 1935 - 1937
- Cauchon, Léonidas : 1937 - 1939
- Rheaume, Lucien : 1939 - 1959
- Gagnon, Philippe : 1959 - 1965
- Laplante, Omer : 1965 - 1967
- Bolduc, Jean-Guy : 1967 - 1973
- Premont, Paul-Emile : 1973 - 1977
- Bolduc, Jean-Guy : 1977 - 1978
- Verreault, Noël : 1978 - 1985
- Laplante, Léo : 1985 - 1993
- Cloutier, Jean-Guy : 1993–2005
- Dancause, Frédéric : 2005 -