Ferme-Neuve

Ferme-Neuve (French pronunciation: [fɛʁm nœv], lit. 'New Farm') is a municipality part of the Antoine-Labelle Regional County Municipality, in the Laurentides region of Quebec, Canada. It is the largest incorporated municipality of the Laurentides region.

Ferme-Neuve
Municipality
The Roman Catholic church in Ferme-Neuve
Motto:  Non nova sed nove (English: "Not new but in a new way")
Location within Antoine-Labelle RCM
Ferme-Neuve Location in central Quebec
Coordinates: 46°42′N 75°27′W[1]
Country	Canada
Province	Quebec
Region	Laurentides
RCM	Antoine-Labelle
Settled	1890s
Constituted	December 24, 1997
Government [2]
• Mayor	Diane Sirard
• Federal riding	Laurentides—Labelle
• Prov. riding	Labelle
Area [2][3]
• Total	875.10 km2 (337.88 sq mi)
• Land	790.29 km2 (305.13 sq mi)
Population  (2021)[3]
• Total	2,716
• Density	3.5/km2 (9/sq mi)
• Pop. 2016-2021	0.4%
• Dwellings	1,453
Time zone	UTC−5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Postal code(s)	J0W 1C0
Area code	819
Highways	R-309
Website	www.municipalite.ferme-neuve.qc.ca

The village is located on the shores of the Lièvre River and Journalists Lake, and along Quebec Route 309, about 20 kilometres (12 mi) north of Mont-Laurier.

History

In the 19th century, the area began attracting loggers because of its rich red and white pine stands. In 1850, the James MacLaren logging company built a large tree farm called "La Ferme de la Montagne" that was used as a supply camp for loggers. It was sold in 1888 to Cyrille Lafontaine and inhabited by his son Léonard who became the first settler and farmer of Ferme-Neuve.^[4] In 1898, the Ferme-Neuve Post Office opened.^[1]

In 1902, a group of 8 Montreal journalists, under direction from Lomer Gouin, Minister of Colonization, built a model farm in order to attract more settlers. They also launched a public subscription to build a school. In recognition, the lake adjacent to the settlement was called Lac des Journalistes ("Lake of Journalists").^[1]

Also in 1902, the United Township Municipality of Würtele-Moreau-et-Gravel was formed, with Toussaint Cloutier as first mayor. In 1917, the Ferme-Neuve settlement separated from the united township and became an incorporated village, with Henri Berthiaume as its first mayor. In 1930, the United Township Municipality of Würtele-Moreau-et-Gravel changed statutes and was renamed to the Parish Municipality of Ferme-Neuve.^[1][4]

On December 24, 1997, both entities were merged again into the new Municipality of Ferme-Neuve.

Demographics

Canada census – Ferme-Neuve community profile

	2021	2016
Population	2,716 (+0.4% from 2016)	2,706 (-4.1% from 2011)
Land area	786.19 km2 (303.55 sq mi)	793.44 km2 (306.35 sq mi)
Population density	3.5/km2 (9.1/sq mi)	3.4/km2 (8.8/sq mi)
Median age	53.2 (M: 52.4, F: 54.4)	50.7 (M: 49.8, F: 51.4)
Private dwellings	1,453 (total)  1,276 (occupied)	1,388 (total)
Median household income	$55,600	$48,480

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

Historical census populations – Ferme-Neuve

Year Pop. ±% 1976 2,938 —     1981 3,118 +6.1% 1986 3,025 −3.0% 1991 3,174 +4.9% 1996 3,091 −2.6%	Year Pop. ±% 2001 2,947 −4.7% 2006 3,006 +2.0% 2011 2,822 −6.1% 2016 2,706 −4.1% 2021 2,716 +0.4%
Population amounts prior to 1997 are total of Ferme-Neuve (Village) and Ferme-Neuve (Parish). Source: Statistics Canada

Population trend (prior to amalgamation):

• Population in 1996:
  • Parish of Ferme-Neuve: 913
  • Village of Ferme-Neuve: 2178
• Population in 1991:
  • Parish of Ferme-Neuve: 907
  • Village of Ferme-Neuve: 2267

Private dwellings occupied by usual residents: 1,276 (total dwellings: 1,453)^[3]

Mother tongue:

• English as first language: 0.8%
• French as first language: 98.8%
• English and French as first language: 0%
• Other as first language: 0.4%

Local government

List of former mayors:

• Sylvain Leduc (...–2005)
• Claude Dufour (2005–2009)
• Gilbert Pilote (2009–2021)
• Diane Sirard (2021–present)

See also

• List of municipalities in Quebec