Saint-Félicien, Quebec
Encyclopedia
Saint-Félicien is a city in the Canadian province of Quebec
. The town is located within the Le Domaine-du-Roy Regional County Municipality
in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean
region. Its population as of 2006 is 10,477.
north of Roberval
, near the mouth of the Ashuapmushuan River
. It is accessible from Chibougamau
and northern Quebec via Quebec Route 167
and from locations around the lake and elsewhere across central and southern Quebec via Quebec Route 169
.
and Chicoutimi
arrived. It became a municipality in 1882 and the parish was established in 1884 before becoming a city in 1976 after a merger. Agriculture
and saw wood were the predominant economic activities across the region in addition to hunting, fishing and dairy. The railroad started to serve the area in 1917. Wood pulp
become a major contributor in the local economy starting in the 1970s.
In 1996, the municipality of Saint-Methode was merged with Saint-Felicien as part of a municipal re-organization in the area.
Private dwellings occupied by usual residents: 4411 (total dwellings: 4884)
Mother tongue:
, arctic fox
, Canada goose
, snowy owl
, Canada lynx
, American black bear
, grizzly bear
, bighorn sheep
, mountain goat
, American bison
and the black-tailed prairie dog
. Until 1994, the zoo contained various exotic animals but today it contains almost exclusively species native to the boreal climate. In the last years, the zoo acquired animal species living in boreal climate from all around the world: Siberian tiger, Japanese macaque
, red-crowned crane
and the Bactrian camel
.
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....
. The town is located within the Le Domaine-du-Roy Regional County Municipality
Le Domaine-du-Roy Regional County Municipality, Quebec
right|300pxLe Domaine-du-Roy is a Regional County Municipality in northeastern Quebec, Canada. Its seat is in Roberval, Quebec. It is named for the King of France, who at the time of the colonization of Quebec owned this land...
in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean
Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean
Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean is a region in Quebec, Canada. It contains the Saguenay Fjord, the estuary of the Saguenay River, stretching through much of the region...
region. Its population as of 2006 is 10,477.
Geography
The municipality is located on the western shores of Lac Saint-JeanLac 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...
north of Roberval
Roberval, Quebec
Roberval is a city on the south-western shore of Lac Saint-Jean in the Le Domaine-du-Roy Regional County Municipality of Quebec, Canada. With a population of 10,544 in the Canada 2006 Census, it is the third largest city on this lake after Alma and Dolbeau-Mistassini.It is the seat of the...
, near the mouth of the Ashuapmushuan River
Ashuapmushuan River
The Ashuapmushuan River is a river in the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region of the Canadian provinces of Quebec. It starts at the outlet of Lake Ashuapmushuan, and flows first in a north-easterly direction for about whereafter it continues south-east to Saint-Félicien...
. It is accessible from Chibougamau
Chibougamau, Quebec
Chibougamau is a town in central Quebec, Canada, located on Lake Gilman. It has a population of 7,563 people , which makes it the largest community in northern Quebec...
and northern Quebec via Quebec Route 167
Quebec Route 167
Route 167 is an isolated provincial highway in Quebec, Canada. It begins at the shore of Lac Saint-Jean in Saint-Félicien. It proceeds north-west to Chibougamau away. There are no services along this long stretch. At Chibougamau, the highway turns north-east towards Mistissini.Maps are conflicting...
and from locations around the lake and elsewhere across central and southern Quebec via Quebec Route 169
Quebec Route 169
Route 169 begins south of Lac Saint-Jean, Quebec, Canada, at Route 175. It proceeds north to Lac Saint-Jean at Alma and encircles the lake, returning to Alma and its terminus in Hebertville.-Municipalities along Route 169:* Lac-Pikauba* Lac-Jacques-Cartier...
.
History
The town was founded in 1864 when the first settlers from CharlevoixCharlevoix
The Charlevoix region, located in Quebec, includes parts of the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River and the Laurentian Mountains region of the Canadian Shield...
and Chicoutimi
Chicoutimi, Quebec
Chicoutimi is one of the three boroughs of Saguenay, Quebec, Canada, and was a separate city in its own right until 2002. Chicoutimi had a population of 59,764 in the Canada 2001 Census, the last census in which Chicoutimi was counted as a separate city....
arrived. It became a municipality in 1882 and the parish was established in 1884 before becoming a city in 1976 after a merger. Agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
and saw wood were the predominant economic activities across the region in addition to hunting, fishing and dairy. The railroad started to serve the area in 1917. Wood pulp
Wood pulp
Pulp is a lignocellulosic fibrous material prepared by chemically or mechanically separating cellulose fibres from wood, fibre crops or waste paper. Wood pulp is the most common raw material in papermaking.-History:...
become a major contributor in the local economy starting in the 1970s.
In 1996, the municipality of Saint-Methode was merged with Saint-Felicien as part of a municipal re-organization in the area.
Demographics
Population trend:- Population in 2006: 10,477 (2001 to 2006 population change: -1.4 %)
- Population in 2001: 10,622
- Population total in 1996: 10,797
- Saint-Félicien (ville): 9,599
- Saint-Méthode (municipality): 1,198
- Population in 1991:
- Saint-Félicien (ville): 9,340
- Saint-Méthode (municipality): 1,048
Private dwellings occupied by usual residents: 4411 (total dwellings: 4884)
Mother tongue:
- English as first language: 0.5 %
- French as first language: 98.4 %
- English and French as first language: 0.6 %
- Other as first language: 0.4 %
Zoo
The main attraction of the municipality is the 485 acres (2 km²) wildlife zoo founded in 1960. The attraction contains about 80 different species including the polar bearPolar Bear
The polar bear is a bear native largely within the Arctic Circle encompassing the Arctic Ocean, its surrounding seas and surrounding land masses. It is the world's largest land carnivore and also the largest bear, together with the omnivorous Kodiak Bear, which is approximately the same size...
, arctic fox
Arctic fox
The arctic fox , also known as the white fox, polar fox or snow fox, is a small fox native to Arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere and is common throughout the Arctic tundra biome. The Greek word alopex, means a fox and Vulpes is the Latin version...
, Canada goose
Canada Goose
The Canada Goose is a wild goose belonging to the genus Branta, which is native to arctic and temperate regions of North America, having a black head and neck, white patches on the face, and a brownish-gray body....
, snowy owl
Snowy Owl
The Snowy Owl is a large owl of the typical owl family Strigidae. The Snowy Owl was first classified in 1758 by Carolus Linnaeus, the Swedish naturalist who developed binomial nomenclature to classify and organize plants and animals. The bird is also known in North America as the Arctic Owl, Great...
, Canada lynx
Canada Lynx
The Canada lynx or Canadian lynx is a North American mammal of the cat family, Felidae. It is a close relative of the Eurasian Lynx . Some authorities regard both as conspecific. However, in some characteristics the Canada lynx is more like the bobcat than the Eurasian Lynx...
, American black bear
American black bear
The American black bear is a medium-sized bear native to North America. It is the continent's smallest and most common bear species. Black bears are omnivores, with their diets varying greatly depending on season and location. They typically live in largely forested areas, but do leave forests in...
, grizzly bear
Grizzly Bear
The grizzly bear , also known as the silvertip bear, the grizzly, or the North American brown bear, is a subspecies of brown bear that generally lives in the uplands of western North America...
, bighorn sheep
Bighorn Sheep
The bighorn sheep is a species of sheep in North America named for its large horns. These horns can weigh up to , while the sheep themselves weigh up to . Recent genetic testing indicates that there are three distinct subspecies of Ovis canadensis, one of which is endangered: Ovis canadensis sierrae...
, mountain goat
Mountain goat
The Mountain Goat , also known as the Rocky Mountain Goat, is a large-hoofed mammal found only in North America. Despite its vernacular name, it is not a member of Capra, the genus of true goats...
, American bison
American Bison
The American bison , also commonly known as the American buffalo, is a North American species of bison that once roamed the grasslands of North America in massive herds...
and the black-tailed prairie dog
Black-tailed Prairie Dog
The black-tailed prairie dog , is a rodent of the family Sciuridae found in the Great Plains of North America from about the USA-Canada border to the USA-Mexico border. Unlike some other prairie dogs, these animals do not truly hibernate. The black-tailed prairie dog can be seen aboveground in...
. Until 1994, the zoo contained various exotic animals but today it contains almost exclusively species native to the boreal climate. In the last years, the zoo acquired animal species living in boreal climate from all around the world: Siberian tiger, Japanese macaque
Japanese Macaque
The Japanese macaque , historically known as saru , but now known as Nihonzaru to distinguish it from other primates, is a terrestrial Old World monkey species native to Japan....
, red-crowned crane
Red-crowned Crane
The Red-crowned Crane , also called the Japanese Crane or Manchurian Crane , is a large east Asian crane and among the rarest cranes in the world...
and the Bactrian camel
Bactrian camel
The Bactrian camel is a large, even-toed ungulate native to the steppes of central Asia. It is presently restricted in the wild to remote regions of the Gobi and Taklamakan Deserts of Mongolia and Xinjiang. A small number of wild Bactrian camels still roam the Mangystau Province of southwest...
.