Verchères

Verchères is an off-island suburb of Montreal, in Montérégie, Quebec, located on the south bank of the Saint Lawrence River. The population as of the Canada 2011 Census was 5,692.

Verchères
Municipality
Statue honouring heroine Madeleine de Verchères.
Location within Marguerite-D'Youville RCM.
Verchères
Location in southern Quebec.
Coordinates: 45°47′N 73°21′W[1]
Country Canada
Province Quebec
RegionMontérégie
RCMMarguerite-D'Youville
ConstitutedSeptember 18, 1971
Government
 • MayorAlexandre Bélisle
 • Federal ridingPierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères
 • Prov. ridingVerchères
Area
 • Total85.20 km2 (32.90 sq mi)
 • Land73.27 km2 (28.29 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)[4]
 • Total5,692
 • Density77.7/km2 (201/sq mi)
 • Pop 2006-2011
 8.6%
 • Dwellings
2,406
Time zoneUTC−5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Postal code(s)
J0L 2R0
Area code(s)450 and 579
Highways
A-30
Route 132
Websitewww.ville.vercheres.qc.ca

History

In the 17th century, the settlement at Verchères was the scene of an Iroquois raid that was apparently thwarted by the ingenuity of a 14-year-old girl named Madeleine (now known as Madeleine de Verchères). A cast-iron statue of Madeleine de Verchères stands today by the former location of the settlement stronghold on the shore of the Saint-Lawrence river.

In French, the word Verchères can be used as an adjective to describe a specific type of rowboat invented in Verchères at the end of the 19th century, i.e. chaloupe verchères. A specimen of the rowboat is on permanent outdoor display during the summer and fall at the Parc Jean-Marie Moreau across from the town office.

The motto of Verchères is In Tenebris Lumen Rectis Corde. The streets of Verchères are mostly named after the patronyms of residing families but also after local people who rose to celebrity in Canadian history.

Demographics

Population
Canada census – Verchères community profile
2011 2006
Population: 5,692 (+8.6% from 2006) 5,243 (+9.6% from 2001)
Land area: 73.27 km2 (28.29 sq mi) 73.24 km2 (28.28 sq mi)
Population density: 77.7/km2 (201/sq mi) 71.6/km2 (185/sq mi)
Median age: 40.7 (M: 40.1, F: 41.3) 40.3 (M: 39.8, F: 40.9)
Total private dwellings: 2,406 2,162
Median household income: $68,946 $58,764
References: 2011[5] 2006[6] earlier[7]
Historical Census Data - Verchères, Quebec[8]
YearPop.±%
1991 4,781—    
1996 4,854+1.5%
YearPop.±%
2001 4,782−1.5%
2006 5,243+9.6%
YearPop.±%
2011 5,692+8.6%

Language
Canada Census Mother Tongue - Verchères, Quebec[8]
Census Total
French
English
French & English
Other
Year Responses Count Trend Pop % Count Trend Pop % Count Trend Pop % Count Trend Pop %
2011
5,675
 5,545 10.1% 97.71% 60 50.0% 1.06% 25 25.0% 0.44% 45 50.0% 0.79%
2006
5,185
 5,035 8.3% 97.11% 40 33.3% 0.77% 20 100.0% 0.39% 90 125.0% 1.73%
2001
4,730
 4,650 2.3% 98.31% 30 25.0% 0.63% 10 n/a% 0.21% 40 60.0% 0.85%
1996
4,825
 4,760 n/a 98.65% 40 n/a 0.83% 0 n/a 0.00% 25 n/a 0.52%

Notable natives and residents

Panorama
View of Verchères from the Saint Lawrence River in winter
View of Verchères from the Saint Lawrence River in summer

See also

References
  1. Reference number 65404 of the Commission de toponymie du Québec (in French)
  2. Ministère des Affaires municipales, des Régions et de l'Occupation du territoire: Verchères
  3. Parliament of Canada Federal Riding History: VERCHÈRES--LES PATRIOTES (Quebec)
  4. 2011 Statistics Canada Census Profile: Verchères, Quebec
  5. "2011 Community Profiles". 2011 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. July 5, 2013. Retrieved 2014-05-18.
  6. "2006 Community Profiles". 2006 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. March 30, 2011. Retrieved 2014-05-18.
  7. "2001 Community Profiles". 2001 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. February 17, 2012.
  8. Statistics Canada: 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011 census

Media related to Verchères at Wikimedia Commons



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