La Vallée-du-Richelieu Regional County Municipality, Quebec
Encyclopedia
La Vallée-du-Richelieu is a Regional County Municipality in southwestern Quebec
, Canada
. It surrounds the Richelieu River as the river makes its way from Lake Champlain
in the United States
north to the Saint Lawrence River
northeast of Montreal
at Sorel-Tracy
, Quebec
. Dramatically different from the mountainous terrain to the south, the river valley is a vast plain with extensive farmlands. Its seat is in Belœil.
The Richelieu River
itself is very popular for both U.S. and Canadian recreational boaters, providing a connection that can bring boaters all the way from the outlet of the Saint Lawrence River to New York Harbor
. A number of old fortifications existed dating back to the 17th century were built to prevent the Iroquois
from using the river as a way to attack the French settlers in the area. Fort Richelieu
is at the mouth of the Richelieu River. Fort St. Louis
(now Fort Chambly
) at Chambly
, Fort Sainte-Thérèse, and Fort Saint-Jean
at Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, are on the way. Fort St. Anne Isle La Motte, Vermont
in Lake Champlain
is near its source. The forts were built in order to protect travellers on the river from the Iroquois
. The region is informally known as la Vallée-des-Forts.
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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 surrounds the Richelieu River as the river makes its way from Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain is a natural, freshwater lake in North America, located mainly within the borders of the United States but partially situated across the Canada—United States border in the Canadian province of Quebec.The New York portion of the Champlain Valley includes the eastern portions of...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
north to 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...
northeast of 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...
at Sorel-Tracy
Sorel-Tracy, Quebec
Sorel-Tracy is a city in southwestern Quebec, Canada and the geographical end point of the Lake Champlain Valley at the confluence of the Richelieu River and the St. Lawrence River, on the western edge of Lac Saint-Pierre downstream and east of nearby Montreal. The population as of the Canada 2006...
, Quebec
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....
. Dramatically different from the mountainous terrain to the south, the river valley is a vast plain with extensive farmlands. Its seat is in Belœil.
The Richelieu River
Richelieu River
The Richelieu River is a river in Quebec, Canada. It flows from the north end of Lake Champlain about north, ending at the confluence with the St. Lawrence River at Sorel-Tracy, Quebec downstream and northeast of Montreal...
itself is very popular for both U.S. and Canadian recreational boaters, providing a connection that can bring boaters all the way from the outlet of the Saint Lawrence River to New York Harbor
New York Harbor
New York Harbor refers to the waterways of the estuary near the mouth of the Hudson River that empty into New York Bay. It is one of the largest natural harbors in the world. Although the U.S. Board of Geographic Names does not use the term, New York Harbor has important historical, governmental,...
. A number of old fortifications existed dating back to the 17th century were built to prevent the Iroquois
Iroquois
The Iroquois , also known as the Haudenosaunee or the "People of the Longhouse", are an association of several tribes of indigenous people of North America...
from using the river as a way to attack the French settlers in the area. Fort Richelieu
Fort Richelieu
Fort Richelieu is a historic fort in the Canadian La Vallée-du-Richelieu Regional County Municipality, Quebec. The fort is designated as a National Historic Site. Fort Richelieu was part of a series of five forts built along the Richelieu River. Fort Richelieu is at the mouth of the Richelieu...
is at the mouth of the Richelieu River. Fort St. Louis
Fort St. Louis
Fort St. Louis or Fort Saint Louis or Fort Ste. Louis may mean one of several French forts of the late 17th century, two of which were founded by explorer La Salle:...
(now Fort Chambly
Fort Chambly
Fort Chambly is a historic fort in the Canadian La Vallée-du-Richelieu Regional County Municipality, Quebec. The fort is designated as a National Historic Site. Fort Richelieu was part of a series of five forts built along the Richelieu River. Fort Richelieu is at the mouth of the Richelieu River....
) at Chambly
Chambly, Quebec
Chambly is a city in southwestern Quebec, Canada, about to the south east of Montreal.- Geography :It sits on the Richelieu River in the Regional County Municipality of La-Vallée-du-Richelieu, at .-History:...
, Fort Sainte-Thérèse, and Fort Saint-Jean
Fort Saint-Jean (Quebec)
Fort Saint-Jean is a fort in the Canadian La Vallée-du-Richelieu Regional County Municipality, Quebec located on the Richelieu River. The fort was first built in 1666 by soldiers of the Carignan-Salières Regiment and was part of a series of forts built along the Richelieu River...
at Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, are on the way. Fort St. Anne Isle La Motte, Vermont
Isle La Motte, Vermont
-Notable events:Around 480 Million Years ago when the Chazy Formation was flourishing, Strematoporoid colonies were among the most common builders of the reef.In 1609, Samuel de Champlain debarked on Isle La Motte July 9....
in Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain is a natural, freshwater lake in North America, located mainly within the borders of the United States but partially situated across the Canada—United States border in the Canadian province of Quebec.The New York portion of the Champlain Valley includes the eastern portions of...
is near its source. The forts were built in order to protect travellers on the river from the Iroquois
Iroquois
The Iroquois , also known as the Haudenosaunee or the "People of the Longhouse", are an association of several tribes of indigenous people of North America...
. The region is informally known as la Vallée-des-Forts.
Communities
- Cities and Towns
- Belœil
- CarignanCarignan, QuebecCarignan is a town in southwestern Quebec, Canada on the Richelieu River in the Regional County Municipality of La-Vallée-du-Richelieu. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census was 7,426....
- ChamblyChambly, QuebecChambly is a city in southwestern Quebec, Canada, about to the south east of Montreal.- Geography :It sits on the Richelieu River in the Regional County Municipality of La-Vallée-du-Richelieu, at .-History:...
- Mont-Saint-HilaireMont-Saint-Hilaire, QuebecMont-Saint-Hilaire is an off-island suburb of Montréal in southeastern Québec, Canada on the Richelieu River in the Regional County Municipality of La Vallée-du-Richelieu...
- Otterburn ParkOtterburn Park, QuebecOtterburn Park is a small town located 40km east of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census was 8,464. The town lies south of Mont-Saint-Hilaire, on the Richelieu River, and is one of the few officially bilingual towns in Québec....
- Saint-Basile-le-GrandSaint-Basile-le-Grand, QuebecSaint-Basile-le-Grand is a city located in La Vallée-du-Richelieu Regional County Municipality in southwestern Quebec, Canada. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census was 15,605.-Population:Population trend-Language:...
- Municipalities
- McMastervilleMcMasterville, QuebecMcMasterville is a municipality in southwestern Quebec, Canada on the Richelieu River in the Regional County Municipality of La Vallée-du-Richelieu. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census was 5,234. It is within the Administrative Region of Montérégie....
- Saint-Antoine-sur-RichelieuSaint-Antoine-sur-Richelieu, QuebecSaint-Antoine-sur-Richelieu is a municipality in southwestern Quebec, Canada, on the Richelieu River in the Regional County Municipality of La Vallée-du-Richelieu. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census was 1,594.-Population:Population trend...
- Saint-Charles-sur-RichelieuSaint-Charles-sur-Richelieu, QuebecSaint-Charles-sur-Richelieu is a municipality in southwestern Quebec, Canada, on the Richelieu River in the Regional County Municipality of La Vallée-du-Richelieu. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census was 1,742.-Population:Population trend...
- Saint-Denis-sur-Richelieu
- Saint-Ours-sur-RichelieuSaint-Ours, QuebecSaint-Ours is a town located in the Pierre-De Saurel Regional County Municipality of Québec , in the administrative region of Montérégie. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census was 1,700.-Population:Population trend-Language:...
- Saint-Jean-BaptisteSaint-Jean-Baptiste, QuebecSaint-Jean-Baptiste is a municipality in the Montérégie region of the Canadian province of Quebec. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census was 3,035...
- Saint-Marc-sur-RichelieuSaint-Marc-sur-Richelieu, QuebecSaint-Marc-sur-Richelieu is a municipality in southwestern Quebec, Canada, on the Richelieu River in the Regional County Municipality of La Vallée-du-Richelieu. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census was 1,876.-Population:Population trend...
- Saint-Mathieu-de-BeloeilSaint-Mathieu-de-Beloeil, QuebecSaint-Mathieu-de-Beloeil is a municipality in southwestern Quebec, Canada, east of Montreal in the Regional County Municipality of La Vallée-du-Richelieu. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census was 2,288.-Population:Population trend-Language:...
- McMasterville
Demographics
Mother tongue language from Canada 2006 CensusCanada 2006 Census
The Canada 2006 Census was a detailed enumeration of the Canadian population. Census day was May 16, 2006. The next census following will be the 2011 Census. Canada's total population enumerated by the 2006 census was 31,612,897...
| Language | Population | Pct (%) |
|---|---|---|
| French only | 98,870 | 93.39% |
| English only | 4,035 | 3.81% |
| Both English and French | 595 | 0.56% |
| Other languages | 2,370 | 2.24% |
Access Routes
Highways and numbered routes that run through the municipality, including external routes that start or finish at the county border:- Autoroutes
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- Principal Highways
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- Secondary Highways:
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- External Routes:
- None