Elgin is a rural municipality in Quebec, Canada. The population as of the 2021 Canadian census was 389. It is located southwest of Huntingdon and bounded by the Trout and Châteauguay rivers and the Canada–United States border.

Elgin
Elgin town hall
Elgin town hall
Official logo of Elgin
Location within Le Haut-Saint-Laurent RCM
Location within Le Haut-Saint-Laurent RCM
Elgin is located in Southern Quebec
Elgin
Elgin
Location in southern Quebec
Coordinates: 45°01′20″N 74°13′45″W / 45.0222°N 74.2292°W / 45.0222; -74.2292[1]
CountryCanada
ProvinceQuebec
RegionMontérégie
RCMLe Haut-Saint-Laurent
ConstitutedJuly 1, 1855
Government
 • MayorDeborah Stewart
 • Federal ridingSalaberry—Suroît
 • Prov. ridingHuntingdon
Area
 • Total
69.51 km2 (26.84 sq mi)
 • Land69.35 km2 (26.78 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[4]
 • Total
389
 • Density5.6/km2 (15/sq mi)
 • Pop (2016-21)
Decrease 1.3%
 • Dwellings
206
Time zoneUTC−5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Postal code(s)
Area code(s)450 and 579
Highways[1] R-138

History

edit

The Municipality of the Township of Elgin was formed in 1855, with the present town hall being built in 1869. Its small fields and many stone houses attest to the first Scottish settlers who began arriving in the early 19th century. It was named in honour of James Bruce, 8th Earl of Elgin, who had become popular with French Canadians for passing the Rebellion Losses Bill in 1849 to compensate the victims of the 1837 Uprising.[1]

In 2009, the township municipality changed statutes to become a regular municipality.[1]

Geography

edit

The municipality is situated on the border with the United States, 14 kilometres south-west of Huntingdon, Quebec. It is one of the two southernmost communities in Quebec, along with Hinchinbrooke, with their tripoint with New York on the Châteauguay River being the southernmost point in the province.

Communities

edit

The following locations reside within the municipality's boundaries:[1]

Lakes & rivers

edit

The following waterways pass through or are situated within the municipality's boundaries:[1]

Demographics

edit

Population

edit
Canada census – Elgin community profile
202120162011
Population389 (-1.3% from 2016)394 (-1.7% from 2011)401 (-12.4% from 2006)
Land area69.35 km2 (26.78 sq mi)69.61 km2 (26.88 sq mi)69.62 km2 (26.88 sq mi)
Population density5.6/km2 (15/sq mi)5.7/km2 (15/sq mi)5.8/km2 (15/sq mi)
Median age54.0 (M: 52.8, F: 56.0)52.4 (M: 52.1, F: 52.6)50.8 (M: 50.8, F: 51.0)
Private dwellings206 (total)  175 (occupied)221 (total)  176 (occupied)196 (total) 
Median household income$57,200$46,848$.N/A
Notes: 2011 income data for this area has been suppressed for data quality or confidentiality reasons.
References: 2021[5] 2016[6] 2011[7] earlier[8][9]
Historical Census Data - Elgin, Quebec
YearPop.±%
1921 693—    
1931 662−4.5%
1941 637−3.8%
1951 539−15.4%
1956 497−7.8%
1961 495−0.4%
YearPop.±%
1966 427−13.7%
1971 454+6.3%
1976 524+15.4%
1981 455−13.2%
1986 436−4.2%
1991 469+7.6%
YearPop.±%
1996 448−4.5%
2001 449+0.2%
2006 458+2.0%
2011 401−12.4%
2016 394−1.7%
2021 389−1.3%
Source: Statistics Canada[10]

Language

edit
Canada Census Mother Tongue - Elgin, Quebec[10]
Census Total
French
English
French & English
Other
Year Responses Count Trend Pop % Count Trend Pop % Count Trend Pop % Count Trend Pop %
2011
405
155   8.8% 38.27% 210   22.2% 51.85% 10   n/a% 2.47% 30   200.0% 7.41%
2006
450
170   3.0% 37.8% 270   14.9% 60.00% 0   100.0% 0.00% 10   77.8% 2.22%
2001
455
165   43.5% 36.26% 235   17.5% 51.65% 10   n/a% 2.20% 45   0.0% 9.89%
1996
445
115 n/a 25.84% 285 n/a 64.05% 0 n/a 0.00% 45 n/a 10.11%

Local government

edit

List of former mayors:

  • Noëlla Daoust (...–2005)
  • Jean-Pierre Proulx (2005–2009)
  • Deborah Stewart (2009–present)

Arts and culture

edit
 
Powerscourt Covered Bridge over the Châteauguay River

A rural art and music centre offers a full summer program of professional entertainment and cultural events in a renovated old church, now named Kelso Hall. Run by community volunteers Kim Moss, Nora Quinn, and Cathleen Johnston, Kelso Hall has been host to comedian Lorne Elliott, classical string quartets, silent movies with piano accompaniment, slide-music presentations, exhibits of art, and more. (Since 2013, this project has been closed)

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d e f "Banque de noms de lieux du Québec: Reference number 402676". toponymie.gouv.qc.ca (in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec.
  2. ^ a b "Répertoire des municipalités: Geographic code 69050". www.mamh.gouv.qc.ca (in French). Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l'Habitation.
  3. ^ Riding history for Beauharnois—Salaberry, Quebec from the Library of Parliament
  4. ^ a b "Elgin, Municipalité (MÉ) Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Government of Canada - Statistics Canada. 9 February 2022. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  5. ^ "2021 Community Profiles". 2021 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. February 4, 2022. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  6. ^ "2016 Community Profiles". 2016 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. August 12, 2021. Retrieved 2023-10-11.
  7. ^ "2011 Community Profiles". 2011 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. March 21, 2019. Retrieved 2014-02-09.
  8. ^ "2006 Community Profiles". 2006 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. August 20, 2019.
  9. ^ "2001 Community Profiles". 2001 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. July 18, 2021.
  10. ^ a b 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016 census
edit