Caplan, Quebec

Caplan is a municipality in the Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine region of the province of Quebec in Canada.

Caplan
Municipality
Caplan skyline
Location within Bonaventure RCM
Caplan Location in eastern Quebec
Coordinates: 48°06′N 65°41′W[1]
Country	Canada
Province	Quebec
Region	Gaspésie– Îles-de-la-Madeleine
RCM	Bonaventure
Constituted	January 1, 1875
Government [2]
• Mayor	Lise Castilloux
• Federal riding	Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj
• Prov. riding	Bonaventure
Area [2][3]
• Total	85.715 km2 (33.095 sq mi)
• Land	85.69 km2 (33.09 sq mi)
Population  (2021)[3]
• Total	1,966
• Density	22.9/km2 (59/sq mi)
• Pop (2016-21)	2.9%
• Dwellings	969
Time zone	UTC−5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Postal code(s)	G0C 1H0
Area codes	418 and 581
Highways	R-132
Website	www.municipalite caplan.com

There are various explanations as to the origin of the name Caplan, including: a corruption of capelin or Cape Land; from the surname of a certain John Kaplan, an Indian who long camped at this location; or from the Mi'kmaq word gaplanjetig (meaning "capelin").^[1]

The place was incorporated in 1875 as the Parish Municipality of Saint-Charles-de-Caplan. In 1964, it changed its status and was renamed to Municipality of Caplan.^[1]

Geography

Climate

Climate data for Caplan, Quebec
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	10.0 (50.0)	10.0 (50.0)	17.0 (62.6)	25.5 (77.9)	29.4 (84.9)	32.0 (89.6)	34.4 (93.9)	33.3 (91.9)	30.0 (86.0)	22.2 (72.0)	18.3 (64.9)	12.8 (55.0)	34.4 (93.9)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	−6.6 (20.1)	−4.7 (23.5)	0.5 (32.9)	6.7 (44.1)	14.3 (57.7)	19.8 (67.6)	22.7 (72.9)	22.1 (71.8)	17.0 (62.6)	10.6 (51.1)	3.4 (38.1)	−2.7 (27.1)	8.6 (47.5)
Daily mean °C (°F)	−11.3 (11.7)	−9.7 (14.5)	−4.2 (24.4)	2.4 (36.3)	9.1 (48.4)	14.6 (58.3)	17.8 (64.0)	17.1 (62.8)	12.4 (54.3)	6.5 (43.7)	0.1 (32.2)	−6.7 (19.9)	4.0 (39.2)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	−16 (3)	−14.7 (5.5)	−8.9 (16.0)	−1.9 (28.6)	4.0 (39.2)	9.3 (48.7)	12.9 (55.2)	12.1 (53.8)	7.8 (46.0)	2.4 (36.3)	−3.3 (26.1)	−10.6 (12.9)	−0.6 (30.9)
Record low °C (°F)	−33.0 (−27.4)	−29.4 (−20.9)	−28.5 (−19.3)	−18.0 (−0.4)	−6.1 (21.0)	−6.7 (19.9)	1.5 (34.7)	2.0 (35.6)	−3.3 (26.1)	−9.0 (15.8)	−21.0 (−5.8)	−27.5 (−17.5)	−33.0 (−27.4)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	79.8 (3.14)	55.7 (2.19)	60.4 (2.38)	64.0 (2.52)	91.8 (3.61)	86.7 (3.41)	99.8 (3.93)	95.5 (3.76)	79.0 (3.11)	88.5 (3.48)	86.0 (3.39)	69.6 (2.74)	956.7 (37.67)
Average rainfall mm (inches)	15.4 (0.61)	10.7 (0.42)	28.9 (1.14)	51.6 (2.03)	91.7 (3.61)	86.7 (3.41)	99.8 (3.93)	95.5 (3.76)	79.0 (3.11)	88.1 (3.47)	70.3 (2.77)	28.7 (1.13)	746.4 (29.39)
Average snowfall cm (inches)	64.4 (25.4)	45.1 (17.8)	31.5 (12.4)	13.6 (5.4)	0.1 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.4 (0.2)	15.6 (6.1)	40.8 (16.1)	211.5 (83.3)
Source: Environment Canada[4]

Demographics

Saint Charles Church in Caplan

Population

Canada census – Caplan community profile

	2021	2016	2011
Population	1,966 (-2.9% from 2016)	2,024 (-0.7% from 2011)	2,039 (+8.2% from 2006)
Land area	85.69 km2 (33.09 sq mi)	85.31 km2 (32.94 sq mi)	85.87 km2 (33.15 sq mi)
Population density	22.9/km2 (59/sq mi)	23.7/km2 (61/sq mi)	23.7/km2 (61/sq mi)
Median age	56.4 (M: 56.0, F: 57.2)	52.8 (M: 52.0, F: 53.5)	51.8 (M: 51.9, F: 51.8)
Private dwellings	969 (total)  920 (occupied)	988 (total)	965 (total)
Median household income	$61,600	$52,565	$44,571

References: 2021^[5] 2016^[6] 2011^[7]

Historical Census Data - Caplan, Quebec

Year Pop. ±% 1881 1,069 —     1891 1,305 +22.1% 1901 1,990 +52.5% 1911 1,756 −11.8% 1921 1,646 −6.3% 1931 1,582 −3.9% 1941 1,746 +10.4% 1951 1,805 +3.4%	Year Pop. ±% 1956 1,913 +6.0% 1961 1,976 +3.3% 1966 2,036 +3.0% 1971 2,023 −0.6% 1976 1,935 −4.3% 1981 1,956 +1.1% 1986 2,076 +6.1% 1991 2,091 +0.7%	Year Pop. ±% 1996 2,145 +2.6% 2001 2,010 −6.3% 2006 1,884 −6.3% 2011 2,039 +8.2% 2016 2,024 −0.7% 2021 1,966 −2.9%
Source: Statistics Canada[8]

Language

Canada Census Mother Tongue Language - Caplan, Quebec[8]
Census		French				English				French & English				Other
Year		Count	Trend	Pop %		Count	Trend	Pop %		Count	Trend	Pop %		Count	Trend	Pop %
2021		1,880	2.8%	95.7%		60	7.7%	3.1%		10	0.0%	0.5%		15	50.0%	0.8%
2016		1,935	1.8%	95.6%		65	30.0%	3.2%		10	0.0%	0.5%		10	n/a%	0.5%
2011		1,900	5.0%	96.9%		50	25.0%	2.6%		10	n/a%	0.5%		0	100.0%	2.0%
2006		1,810	5.7%	96.5%		40	33.3%	2.1%		0	0.0%	0.0%		25	n/a%	1.3%
2001		1,920	5.2%	98.5%		30	25.0%	1.5%		0	100.0%	0.0%		0	0.0%	0.0%
1996		2,025	n/a	97.1%		40	n/a	1.9%		20	n/a	1.0%		0	n/a	0.0%

Education

The Eastern Shores School Board serves the municipality.

See also

• List of municipalities in Quebec