Elgin, Quebec

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
Municipality
Elgin town hall
Location within Le Haut-Saint-Laurent RCM
Elgin Location in southern Quebec
Coordinates: 45.0222°N 74.2292°W / 45.0222; -74.2292[1]
Country	Canada
Province	Quebec
Region	Montérégie
RCM	Le Haut-Saint-Laurent
Constituted	July 1, 1855
Government [2][3]
• Mayor	Deborah Stewart
• Federal riding	Salaberry—Suroît
• Prov. riding	Huntingdon
Area [2][4]
• Total	69.51 km2 (26.84 sq mi)
• Land	69.35 km2 (26.78 sq mi)
Population  (2021)[4]
• Total	389
• Density	5.6/km2 (15/sq mi)
• Pop (2016-21)	1.3%
• Dwellings	206
Time zone	UTC−5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Postal code(s)	J0S 2E0
Area codes	450 and 579
Highways[1]	R-138

History

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

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

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

• Trout River (44°59′52″N 74°19′00″W) – a hamlet situated on Route 138, just north of the U.S. border. Includes Canada & US Customs border crossing.

Lakes & rivers

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

• Trout River (45°04′24″N 74°11′07″W) – runs along the municipality's Western and Northern border.
• Châteauguay River (45°01′56″N 74°11′08.9″W) – delineates the municipality's Eastern border.

Demographics

Population

Canada census – Elgin community profile

	2021	2016	2011
Population	389 (-1.3% from 2016)	394 (-1.7% from 2011)	401 (-12.4% from 2006)
Land area	69.35 km2 (26.78 sq mi)	69.61 km2 (26.88 sq mi)	69.62 km2 (26.88 sq mi)
Population density	5.6/km2 (15/sq mi)	5.7/km2 (15/sq mi)	5.8/km2 (15/sq mi)
Median age	54.0 (M: 52.8, F: 56.0)	52.4 (M: 52.1, F: 52.6)	50.8 (M: 50.8, F: 51.0)
Private dwellings	206 (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]

Historical Census Data - Elgin, Quebec

Year Pop. ±% 1921 693 —     1931 662 −4.5% 1941 637 −3.8% 1951 539 −15.4% 1956 497 −7.8% 1961 495 −0.4%	Year Pop. ±% 1966 427 −13.7% 1971 454 +6.3% 1976 524 +15.4% 1981 455 −13.2% 1986 436 −4.2% 1991 469 +7.6%	Year Pop. ±% 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[8]

Language

Canada Census Mother Tongue - Elgin, Quebec[8]
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

List of former mayors:

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

Arts and culture

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

• Jamieson Line Border Crossing
• List of anglophone communities in Quebec
• List of municipalities in Quebec