Montcerf-Lytton

Montcerf-Lytton is a municipality in La Vallée-de-la-Gatineau Regional County Municipality, Quebec, Canada. Its territory spans both shores of the Désert River, a tributary of the Gatineau River.

Montcerf-Lytton
Municipality
Location within La Vallée-de-la-Gatineau RCM
Montcerf-Lytton Location in western Quebec
Coordinates: 46°32′N 76°03′W[1]
Country	Canada
Province	Quebec
Region	Outaouais
RCM	La Vallée-de-la-Gatineau
Constituted	September 19, 2001
Government [2]
• Mayor	Véronique Danis
• Federal riding	Pontiac—Kitigan Zibi
• Prov. riding	Gatineau
Area [2][3]
• Total	379.67 km2 (146.59 sq mi)
• Land	354.12 km2 (136.73 sq mi)
Population  (2021)[3]
• Total	653
• Density	1.8/km2 (5/sq mi)
• Pop (2016–21)	2.7%
• Dwellings	387
Time zone	UTC−5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Postal code(s)	J0W 1N0
Area code	819
Website	www.montcerf-lytton.com

Its population centres include: Brodeur, Chute-Rouge, Lytton, and Montcerf.

Montcerf has one of the best soil for cultivation across the Gatineau Valley region, supplemented by a network of lakes (most notably Clair, Desrivières, and Lytton Lakes) and forests, which are part of the Zec Bras-Coupé–Désert.^[4] Fishing and hunting are popular sport activities in this place.^[5]

History

The Township of Lytton was formed in 1869, named after Lord Edward Bulwer-Lytton (1803-1873). The township municipality was set up in 1909.^[4] with M.W.P. O'Connor as first mayor. In 1916, telephone service is established in Lytton, but not until 1952 did electricity arrive.^[6]

Montcerf village centre

Montcerf was opened for colonization in 1870. Formerly spelled "Moncerf" or "Mont Cerf", it became Montcerf (French for "Mount Deer") during the nineteenth century. The mission of Sainte-Philomène-de-Montcerf was established in 1872 and the Montcerf Post Office opened in 1886. The Municipality of Montcerf was officially set up in 1920^[5] with Abraham Mathieu as first mayor. In 1929, electricity arrived in Montcerf, followed by telephone service in 1948.^[6]

On September 19, 2001, the Municipality of Montcerf and the Lytton Township Municipality were merged into the new Municipality of Montcerf-Lytton^[5] with Fernand Lirette (mayor of Montcerf since 1974) as first mayor.^[6]

Demographics

Historical census populations – Montcerf-Lytton

Year Pop. ±% 2006 739 —     2011 687 −7.0%	Year Pop. ±% 2016 636 −7.4% 2021 653 +2.7%
Source: Statistics Canada[7]

Private dwellings occupied by usual residents: 306 (out of 387 total)^[3]

Arts and culture

Montcerf is mentioned in David Foster Wallace's novel Infinite Jest. The character John ("no relation") Wayne is originally from Montcerf.

Government

Local government

List of former mayors:

• Fernand Lirette (2001–2009)
• Alain Fortin (2009–2021)
• Véronique Danis (2021–present)