Charlesbourg, Quebec
Encyclopedia
Founded in 1659, Charlesbourg is a borough of Quebec City
, in the northeastern part of the city and West of the city of Beauport
. Incorporated in 1976 following the merger of the cities of Orsainville, Notre-Dame-des-Laurentides, the town of Charlesbourg (1949) and the municipality of Charlesbourg-Est (1928). It became part of Quebec City on January 1, 2002 after a controversial province-wide city merger project.
This residential suburb of Quebec City is the fourth-largest urban centre of the Québec Urban Community. Like Beauport, it has increased by more than 20,000 people over the last 25 years.
According to the Canada 2006 Census:
The first settlement of Charlesbourg dates back to the 1660s when the Jesuits organized the nucleus of a colony in a place known as the Trait Carré, meaning "perpendicular." The name Charlesbourg originates from this time from a chapel built at Bourg-Royal, in honour of St Charles Borromée. The village site at the Trait-Carré had a rather characteristic triangular parcelling-out of the land radiating outwards from a central square, in the centre of which the church was located. The land allotted to every tenant would fan out from that point in an isosceles triangular shape away from the town square. In this way, the farmhouses would all be situated close to the town centre, making it easy for everyone to help out and to participate in community-oriented tasks and festivities while being in a position to defend the village against attacks.
This geographical and architectural trademark of Old Charlesbourg, recognized as a provincial historic site (1965), is well worth a visit by enthusiasts of cultural geography and architectural heritage. There are only two examples of this kind of settlement layout in all of Canada
: Charlesbourg and Bourg-Royal. Charlesbourg is rich in architectural landmarks: the church, built between 1827-33; the Jesuits grist mill and 15 other houses dating back to the pre-1830 period; and about 40 other buildings typical of the second half of the 19th century.
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...
, in the northeastern part of the city and West of the city of Beauport
Beauport, Quebec
Beauport is a borough of Quebec City, Quebec, Canada on the Saint Lawrence River.Beauport is a northeastern suburb of Quebec City. Manufactures include paint, construction materials, printers, and hospital supplies. Food transportation is important to the economy...
. Incorporated in 1976 following the merger of the cities of Orsainville, Notre-Dame-des-Laurentides, the town of Charlesbourg (1949) and the municipality of Charlesbourg-Est (1928). It became part of Quebec City on January 1, 2002 after a controversial province-wide city merger project.
This residential suburb of Quebec City is the fourth-largest urban centre of the Québec Urban Community. Like Beauport, it has increased by more than 20,000 people over the last 25 years.
According to the Canada 2006 Census:
- Population: 72,814
- % Change (2001-2006): +3.6
- Dwellings: 33,497
- Area (km²): 66.29
- Density (persons per km²): 1,098.4
The first settlement of Charlesbourg dates back to the 1660s when the Jesuits organized the nucleus of a colony in a place known as the Trait Carré, meaning "perpendicular." The name Charlesbourg originates from this time from a chapel built at Bourg-Royal, in honour of St Charles Borromée. The village site at the Trait-Carré had a rather characteristic triangular parcelling-out of the land radiating outwards from a central square, in the centre of which the church was located. The land allotted to every tenant would fan out from that point in an isosceles triangular shape away from the town square. In this way, the farmhouses would all be situated close to the town centre, making it easy for everyone to help out and to participate in community-oriented tasks and festivities while being in a position to defend the village against attacks.
This geographical and architectural trademark of Old Charlesbourg, recognized as a provincial historic site (1965), is well worth a visit by enthusiasts of cultural geography and architectural heritage. There are only two examples of this kind of settlement layout in all of Canada
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...
: Charlesbourg and Bourg-Royal. Charlesbourg is rich in architectural landmarks: the church, built between 1827-33; the Jesuits grist mill and 15 other houses dating back to the pre-1830 period; and about 40 other buildings typical of the second half of the 19th century.
Notable residents
- Vancouver CanucksVancouver CanucksThe Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
forward Marc ChouinardMarc ChouinardMarc Chouinard is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre-winger who most recently played for Kölner Haie. He has not formally announced his retirement, but has not played in over two and a half seasons.-Career:...
comes from Charlesbourg. - Olympic gold medalist speed skater Gaétan BoucherGaétan BoucherGaétan Boucher, OC, CQ is a former Speed skating Olympic champion from Canada.A four-time Olympic medalist, Boucher was awarded the Lou Marsh Trophy as Canada's outstanding male athlete of 1984. He was named number 10 on the list of Canada's Athletes of the 20th Century...
. - Singer Bruno PelletierBruno PelletierBruno Pelletier , is a francophone Quebecer singer.-Life:Pelletier was born in Charlesbourg, a suburb of Quebec City. In 1983 Pelletier performed in the bands Amanite and Sneak Preview, which sang in English. He later started a group called Pëll, singing in French. At 23 years old, he moved to...
comes from Charlesbourg.
See also
- Municipal reorganization in QuebecMunicipal reorganization in QuebecThe most recent episode of municipal reorganization in Quebec, Canada, was undertaken in 2002 by the Parti Québécois Government of Quebec, headed by Premier Lucien Bouchard and his successor Bernard Landry....