Château-Richer, Quebec

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.

Château-Richer
City
Houses along Avenue royale in Château-Richer.
Motto(s): 
Union et Paix
Location within La Côte-de-Beaupré RCM
Château-Richer
Location in central Quebec
Coordinates: 46°58′N 71°01′W[1]
CountryCanada
ProvinceQuebec
RegionCapitale-Nationale
RCMLa Côte-de-Beaupré
ConstitutedJuly 1, 1855
Government
 • MayorFrédéric Dancause
 • Federal ridingBeauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d'Orléans—Charlevoix
 • Prov. ridingCharlevoix–Côte-de-Beaupré
Area
 • Total243.80 km2 (94.13 sq mi)
 • Land229.55 km2 (88.63 sq mi)
Population
 • Total4,126
 • Density18.0/km2 (47/sq mi)
 • Pop 2011-2016
 7.6%
 • Dwellings
1,905
Time zoneUTC−5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Postal code(s)
G0A
Area code(s)418 and 581
Highways Route 138
Route 360
Websitewww.chateauricher.qc.ca
Maison Rouge (Red House) in Château-Richer. Recently inhabited by French Author, Patrick de Friberg, it is now owned by longtime Chateau Richer resident, Renaud Emond.

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.

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.[1][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.[1][4] Château-Richer was the county town of defunct Montmorency County.[5]

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

In 1968, it changed statutes and became Ville de Château-Richer.[1]

Demographics
Historical census populations – Château-Richer, Quebec
YearPop.±%
1986 3,802—    
1991 3,690−2.9%
1996 3,579−3.0%
2001 3,442−3.8%
2006 3,563+3.5%
2011 3,834+7.6%
2016 4,126+7.6%
Source: Statistics Canada[6]

Private dwellings occupied by usual residents: 1,778 (total dwellings: 1,905)[3]

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:[4]

See also

References
  1. "Château-Richer (Ville)" (in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec. Retrieved 2010-04-26.
  2. Ministère des Affaires municipales, des Régions et de l'Occupation du territoire - Répertoire des municipalités: Château-Richer Archived 2015-12-08 at the Wayback Machine
  3. "(Code 2421035) Census Profile". 2016 census. Statistics Canada. 2017.
  4. "Présentation de la municipalité" (in French). Ville de Château-Richer. Retrieved 2010-04-26.
  5. Montmorency – Quebec History
  6. 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011 census

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