Métabetchouan–Lac-à-la-Croix, Quebec
Encyclopedia
Métabetchouan–Lac-à-la-Croix is a city in Quebec
, Canada, in the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region.
The city consists of the population centres of Métabetchouan, on the shores of Lac Saint-Jean
at the mouth of the small Couchepaganiche River, and Lac-à-la-Croix, a few kilometres to the east on Cross Lake.
, the first European, Jesuit Jean de Quen
, visited the place in 1647, followed by Charles Albanel
in 1671, during the meeting of twenty Indian nations. Five years later in 1676, a trading post and mission were established there. But real colonization only began after the proclamation of Métabetchouan Township in 1857, and the first settlers arrived from the South Shore
and Bagotville in 1861. That same year, Stanislas Drapeau reported the presence of 154 people including 36 "savages" in Métabetchouan Township.
The place was first called Saint-Jérôme, in honour of Jérôme Demers (1774-1853), vicar general of the Bishop of Quebec (1825-1853). In 1870, it was nearly destroyed by a great fire, that only spared some twenty houses. In 1872, the Parish Municipality of Saint-Jérôme was formed, and in 1898, the village itself separated and was incorporated as the Village Municipality of Saint-Jérôme.
As for Lac-à-la-Croix, the first settlers came in 1864, and by 1910, it had some 800 inhabitants. Its parish was established in March 1911 and in December that same year, it was incorporated as the Parish Municipality of Sainte-Croix. In 1953, the village itself separated and formed the Village Municipality of Sainte-Croix, later renamed to Lac-à-la-Croix (French for "Lake at the Cross"). It was named after the adjacent lake where, according to popular thought, a cross that was planted on its shores by François de Crespieul in the 17th century. But this has been proven untrue since missionaries never went through this place. The lake was probably named for having a resemblance to a cross.
In 1975, the Parish and Village Municipalities of Saint-Jérôme merged to form the new City of Métabetchouan, named after the township and the nearby Métabetchouane River. The following year, the Parish Municipality of Sainte-Croix and the Village Municipality of Lac-à-la-Croix also merged to form the Municipality of Lac-à-la-Croix. And on January 6, 1999, the City of Métabetchouan and the Municipality of Lac-à-la-Croix amalgamated to form the new city of Métabetchouan-Lac-à-la-Croix.
Private dwellings occupied by usual residents: 1606 (total dwellings: 1832)
Mother tongue:
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, in the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region.
The city consists of the population centres of Métabetchouan, on the shores of Lac Saint-Jean
Lac Saint-Jean
Lac Saint-Jean is a large, relatively shallow lake in south-central Quebec, Canada, in the Laurentian Highlands. It is situated 206 kilometres north of the Saint Lawrence River, into which it drains via the Saguenay River. It covers an area of 1003 km² Lac Saint-Jean is a large, relatively...
at the mouth of the small Couchepaganiche River, and Lac-à-la-Croix, a few kilometres to the east on Cross Lake.
History
Historically the territory of the indigenous InnuInnu
The Innu are the indigenous inhabitants of an area they refer to as Nitassinan , which comprises most of the northeastern portions of the provinces of Quebec and some western portions of Labrador...
, the first European, Jesuit Jean de Quen
Jean de Quen
Jean de Quen was a French Jesuit missionary, priest and historian who discovered Lac Saint-Jean. As head of the missions of the Jesuits of New France, he founded the missions to the Saguenay....
, visited the place in 1647, followed by Charles Albanel
Charles Albanel
Charles Albanel was a Freech missionary explorer in Canada, and Jesuit priest. In 1649, he arrived in Canada, at Tadoussac. In 1672, at the time when the Hudson's Bay Company was beginning operations, he was a leader of a French party that went by the Saguenay River, Lake Mistassini, and the...
in 1671, during the meeting of twenty Indian nations. Five years later in 1676, a trading post and mission were established there. But real colonization only began after the proclamation of Métabetchouan Township in 1857, and the first settlers arrived from the South Shore
South Shore (Montreal)
The South Shore is the general term for the suburbs of Montreal, Quebec located on the southern shore of the Saint Lawrence River opposite the Island of Montreal. The South Shore is located within the Quebec administrative region of Montérégie....
and Bagotville in 1861. That same year, Stanislas Drapeau reported the presence of 154 people including 36 "savages" in Métabetchouan Township.
The place was first called Saint-Jérôme, in honour of Jérôme Demers (1774-1853), vicar general of the Bishop of Quebec (1825-1853). In 1870, it was nearly destroyed by a great fire, that only spared some twenty houses. In 1872, the Parish Municipality of Saint-Jérôme was formed, and in 1898, the village itself separated and was incorporated as the Village Municipality of Saint-Jérôme.
As for Lac-à-la-Croix, the first settlers came in 1864, and by 1910, it had some 800 inhabitants. Its parish was established in March 1911 and in December that same year, it was incorporated as the Parish Municipality of Sainte-Croix. In 1953, the village itself separated and formed the Village Municipality of Sainte-Croix, later renamed to Lac-à-la-Croix (French for "Lake at the Cross"). It was named after the adjacent lake where, according to popular thought, a cross that was planted on its shores by François de Crespieul in the 17th century. But this has been proven untrue since missionaries never went through this place. The lake was probably named for having a resemblance to a cross.
In 1975, the Parish and Village Municipalities of Saint-Jérôme merged to form the new City of Métabetchouan, named after the township and the nearby Métabetchouane River. The following year, the Parish Municipality of Sainte-Croix and the Village Municipality of Lac-à-la-Croix also merged to form the Municipality of Lac-à-la-Croix. And on January 6, 1999, the City of Métabetchouan and the Municipality of Lac-à-la-Croix amalgamated to form the new city of Métabetchouan-Lac-à-la-Croix.
Demographics
Population trend:- Population in 2006: 4084 (2001 to 2006 population change: -2.7 %)
- Population in 2001: 4198
- Population total in 1996: 4487
- Métabetchouan (ville): 3474
- Lac-à-la-Croix (municipality): 1013
- Population in 1991:
- Métabetchouan (ville): 3379
- Lac-à-la-Croix (municipality): 971
Private dwellings occupied by usual residents: 1606 (total dwellings: 1832)
Mother tongue:
- English as first language: 0 %
- French as first language: 99.7 %
- English and French as first language: 0 %
- Other as first language: 0.3 %