Huntingdon County, Quebec
Encyclopedia
Huntingdon County, is an historical county in southwestern Quebec
, Canada
. It is named after the town and county of the same name (Huntingdon
, Huntingdonshire
) in east central England
. It is situated in the Montreal
South Shore region of Montérégie
, one of the roughly 12 regions of Quebec. The county is bound entirely on its south by the Canadian-American border
(45° N for 88.75 km from 73°32′ W to 74°40′ W), along its northwestern flank by Lake St-Francis (Lac St-François) of the Saint Lawrence River
to its most northern point on the river at 45°13′ N and 74°13′ W, to the east by Saint-Jean County
, with its easternmost point at 45°5.5' N and 73°31′ W (this point forms the junction of the borders of Châteauguay County, Napierville County and Saint-Jean County) and to the north from east to west by Napierville County, Châteauguay County, and Beauharnois County. On the other side of the Saint Lawrence River is Soulanges County, Quebec, the Township of Lancaster and the Township of Charlottenburgh in Glengarry County
, Ontario
, and the Township of Cornwall in Stormont County
, Ontario
.
Huntingdon County is the only county in the St Lawrence Valley to be entirely and totally divided into townships, of which there are 7. All these townships run in a straight line and have the Canadian-American border as a common southern border. From east to west they are the Township of Hemmingford
, the Township of Havelock
, the Franklin Township
, the Township of Hinchinbrooke, the Township of Elgin
, the Township of Godmanchester
, and the Township of Dundee
. The county seat, Huntingdon
, located at 45°5′ N and 74°10′ W, straddles the border between Hinchinbrook and Godmanchester. Except for Godmanchester, all the other townships have a community that takes the name of the township in which it is situated (Hemmingford, Havelock, Franklin, Hinchinbrook, Elgin, Dundee).
A notable feature of Huntingdon County is the presence of the Saint Regis Akwesasne
Mohawk
Reserve at the westernmost point of the county in the Township of Dundee. That area of the Saint Lawrence, like many along its length, contains many small islands. The Reserve straddles the meeting point of the Quebec-Ontario-New York State borders at that point. The American side of the Reserve is Franklin County, New York
.
In the early 1980s, the County was dissolved. Most of the County became part of the MRC de Le Haut-Saint-Laurent
except for a small section in the far east (The Township and Village of Hemmingford) which became part of MRC de Les Jardins-de-Napierville
.
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
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...
. It is named after the town and county of the same name (Huntingdon
Huntingdon
Huntingdon is a market town in Cambridgeshire, England. The town was chartered by King John in 1205. It is the traditional county town of Huntingdonshire, and is currently the seat of the Huntingdonshire district council. It is known as the birthplace in 1599 of Oliver Cromwell.-History:Huntingdon...
, Huntingdonshire
Huntingdonshire
Huntingdonshire is a local government district of Cambridgeshire, covering the area around Huntingdon. Traditionally it is a county in its own right...
) in east central England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is situated in the Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
South Shore region of Montérégie
Montérégie
Montérégie is an administrative region in southwest Québec. It includes the cities of Boucherville, Brossard, Granby, Longueuil, Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Saint-Hyacinthe, Sorel-Tracy, and Vaudreuil-Dorion....
, one of the roughly 12 regions of Quebec. The county is bound entirely on its south by the Canadian-American border
Canada-United States border
The Canada–United States border, officially known as the International Boundary, is the longest border in the world. The terrestrial boundary is 8,891 kilometers long, including 2,475 kilometres shared with Alaska...
(45° N for 88.75 km from 73°32′ W to 74°40′ W), along its northwestern flank by Lake St-Francis (Lac St-François) 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...
to its most northern point on the river at 45°13′ N and 74°13′ W, to the east by Saint-Jean County
Saint-Jean County, Quebec
Saint-Jean County is an historical county in Quebec and is on the west bank of the Richelieu River about 40 km southeast of Montreal.The county was organized in 1854 from the counties of Huntingdon and Chambly....
, with its easternmost point at 45°5.5' N and 73°31′ W (this point forms the junction of the borders of Châteauguay County, Napierville County and Saint-Jean County) and to the north from east to west by Napierville County, Châteauguay County, and Beauharnois County. On the other side of the Saint Lawrence River is Soulanges County, Quebec, the Township of Lancaster and the Township of Charlottenburgh in Glengarry County
Glengarry County, Ontario
thumb|right|Glengarry located within OntarioGlengarry County , an area covering , is a county in the Canadian province of Ontario, and is historically known for its settlement of Scottish Highlanders due to the Highland Clearances.Glengarry was founded in 1792 by Scottish loyalists, mainly from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, and the Township of Cornwall in Stormont County
Stormont County, Ontario
Stormont County area is a county in the Canadian province of Ontario.Stormont was created in 1792, however, it was settled seven years earlier in 1785. Veterans of Loyalist regiments were among the first settlers...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
.
Huntingdon County is the only county in the St Lawrence Valley to be entirely and totally divided into townships, of which there are 7. All these townships run in a straight line and have the Canadian-American border as a common southern border. From east to west they are the Township of Hemmingford
Hemmingford, Quebec
Hemmingford, Quebec may refer to any of two entities:*Hemmingford , Quebec, a township municipality*Hemmingford , Quebec, a village municipality enclaved in the township one...
, the Township of Havelock
Havelock, Quebec
For other places with the same name, see HavelockHavelock is a township in Le Haut-Saint-Laurent Regional County Municipalityin southern Quebec, Canada. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census was 761. Neighboring townships include Franklin to the west, St-Chrysostome to the north and...
, the Franklin Township
Franklin, Quebec
Franklin is a Canadian municipality located in the Montérégie region of Quebec along the American border. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census was 1,651.-Geography:...
, the Township of Hinchinbrooke, the Township of Elgin
Elgin, Quebec
-About Elgin:Elgin is a rural municipality of less than 500 people in Quebec, Canada. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census was 458. It is located southwest of Huntingdon and bounded by the Trout and Chateauguay rivers and the Québec - US border...
, the Township of Godmanchester
Godmanchester, Quebec
Godmanchester is a township municipality located in Le Haut-Saint-Laurent Regional County Municipality in the Montérégie region of Quebec. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census was 1,457...
, and the Township of Dundee
Dundee, Quebec
Dundee is a township of Quebec, located within the Le Haut-Saint-Laurent Regional County Municipality in the Montérégie administrative region. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census was 436.-Population:Population trend-Language:...
. The county seat, Huntingdon
Huntingdon, Quebec
Huntingdon is a small town in Huntingdon County in the Haut-Saint-Laurent Regional County Municipality and the Montérégie region of the province of Quebec, Canada. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census was 2,587...
, located at 45°5′ N and 74°10′ W, straddles the border between Hinchinbrook and Godmanchester. Except for Godmanchester, all the other townships have a community that takes the name of the township in which it is situated (Hemmingford, Havelock, Franklin, Hinchinbrook, Elgin, Dundee).
A notable feature of Huntingdon County is the presence of the Saint Regis Akwesasne
Akwesasne
The Mohawk Nation of Akwesasne is a Mohawk Nation territory that straddles the intersection of international and provincial borders on both banks of the Saint Lawrence River. Most of the land is in what is otherwise the United States...
Mohawk
Mohawk nation
Mohawk are the most easterly tribe of the Iroquois confederation. They call themselves Kanien'gehaga, people of the place of the flint...
Reserve at the westernmost point of the county in the Township of Dundee. That area of the Saint Lawrence, like many along its length, contains many small islands. The Reserve straddles the meeting point of the Quebec-Ontario-New York State borders at that point. The American side of the Reserve is Franklin County, New York
Franklin County, New York
Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 51,599. It is named in honor of American Founding Father Benjamin Franklin...
.
In the early 1980s, the County was dissolved. Most of the County became part of the MRC de Le Haut-Saint-Laurent
Le Haut-Saint-Laurent Regional County Municipality, Quebec
Le Haut-Saint-Laurent is a regional county municipality in southwestern Quebec, Canada in the Montérégie region. Its seat is in Huntingdon and it is named for the Saint Lawrence River which forms its western and northwestern boundary....
except for a small section in the far east (The Township and Village of Hemmingford) which became part of MRC de Les Jardins-de-Napierville
Les Jardins-de-Napierville Regional County Municipality, Quebec
Les Jardins-de-Napierville is a Regional County Municipality in southwestern Quebec, Canada in the Montérégie region. Founded on January 1, 1982...
.