Ferme-Neuve is a municipality in the Laurentides

Laurentides (region)

The Laurentides is a region of Quebec. While it is often called the Laurentians in English, the region includes only part of the Laurentian mountains...

 region of Quebec, Canada, part of the Antoine-Labelle Regional County Municipality

Antoine-Labelle Regional County Municipality, Quebec

Antoine-Labelle Regional County Municipality is located in central Quebec, Canada, in the Laurentides region. The Regional County Municipality seat is Mont-Laurier.-Municipalities:* Chute-Saint-Philippe* Ferme-Neuve* Kiamika* La Macaza* Lac-des-Écorces...

. It is the largest incorporated municipality of the Laurentides region.

The village is located on the shores of the Du Lièvre River

Du Lièvre River

The du Lièvre River is a river in western Quebec which flows south from the Mitchinamécus reservoir and empties into the Ottawa River at Masson-Angers. The river is 330 km in length and drains an area of 10,400 km²...

 and Journalists Lake, and along Quebec Route 309

Quebec Route 309

Route 309 is a provincial highway located in the Outaouais region in western Quebec. It starts at the junction of Autoroute 50 in the Buckingham sector, in the city of Gatineau's east end...

, about 20 kilometres (12.4 mi) north of Mont-Laurier.

History

In the 19th century, the area began attracting loggers because of its rich red and white pine stands. In 1850, the James MacLaren logging company built a large tree farm called "La Ferme de la Montagne" that was used as a supply camp for loggers. It was sold in 1888 to Cyrille Lafontaine and inhabited by his son Léonard who became the first settler and farmer of Ferme-Neuve. In 1898, the Ferme-Neuve Post Office opened.

In 1902, a group of 8 Montreal journalists, under direction from Lomer Gouin

Lomer Gouin

Sir Jean Lomer Gouin, PC, KCMG was a Canadian politician.-Biography:He was born in Grondines, Quebec and served as 13th Premier of the Canadian province of Quebec, as a Cabinet minister in the federal government of Canada, and as the 15th Lieutenant Governor of Quebec.On May 24, 1888, he married...

, Minister of Colonization, built a model farm in order to attract more settlers. They also launched a public subscription to build a school. In recognition, the lake adjacent to the settlement was called Lac des Journalistes ("Lake of Journalists").

Also in 1902, the United Township Municipality of Würtele-Moreau-et-Gravel was formed, with Toussaint Cloutier as first mayor. In 1917, the Ferme-Neuve settlement separated from the united township and became an incorporated village, with Henri Berthiaume as its firs mayor. In 1930, the United Township Municipality of Würtele-Moreau-et-Gravel changed statutes and was renamed to the Parish Municipality of Ferme-Neuve.

On December 24, 1997, both entities were merged again into the new Municipality of Ferme-Neuve.

Demographics

Population:

• Population in 2006: 3006 (2001 to 2006 population change: 2.0 %)
• Population in 2001: 2947
• Population in 1996:
  • Parish of Ferme-Neuve: 913
  • Village of Ferme-Neuve: 2178
• Population in 1991:
  • Parish of Ferme-Neuve: 907
  • Village of Ferme-Neuve: 2267

Private dwellings, excluding seasonal cottages: 1217 (total: 1483)

Mother tongue:

• English as first language: 0.8 %
• French as first language: 98.8 %
• English and French as first language: 0 %
• Other as first language: 0.4 %