New Richmond, Quebec

New Richmond (French pronunciation: [nju ʁitʃmənd]) is an incorporated municipality in Quebec, Canada, situated on the southern coast of the Gaspé Peninsula between the municipalities of Maria and Caplan.

New Richmond
City
Our Lady of the Saint Angels Church in New Richmond
Coat of arms
Motto:  Entente et Cordialité
Location within Bonaventure RCM
New Richmond Location in eastern Quebec
Coordinates: 48°10′N 65°52′W[1]
Country	Canada
Province	Quebec
Region	Gaspésie– Îles-de-la-Madeleine
RCM	Bonaventure
Constituted	July 1, 1855
Government [2]
• Mayor	Eric Dubé
• Federal riding	Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj
• Prov. riding	Bonaventure
Area [2][3]
• Total	199.48 km2 (77.02 sq mi)
• Land	172.50 km2 (66.60 sq mi)
• Urban [4]	4.04 km2 (1.56 sq mi)
Population  (2021)[3]
• Total	3,683
• Density	21.4/km2 (55/sq mi)
• Urban [4]	1,886
• Urban density	467.2/km2 (1,210/sq mi)
• Pop (2016-21)	0.6%
• Dwellings	1,805
Time zone	UTC−5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Postal code(s)	G0C 1C0 & G0C 2B0
Area codes	418 and 581
Highways	R-132
Website	www.ville newrichmond.com

New Richmond is bounded on the west by the Grand Cascapedia River. The Little Cascapedia runs to the east of the town proper. In addition to New Richmond itself, the town's territory also includes the communities of Black Cape and Saint-Edgar.

History

New Richmond in 1910

The first European settlers arrived from Scotland in 1755. The first arrivals were the Duthie brothers, George and John Duthie, and their families. Their descendants still reside in the area today. It is one of the very few remaining municipalities on the Gaspésie which still has a relatively large English-speaking population. It was originally a centre of farming, logging, and shipbuilding. During WW2, it was a German base for submarines.

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, New Richmond had a population of 3,683 living in 1,715 of its 1,805 total private dwellings, a change of -0.6% from its 2016 population of 3,706. With a land area of 172.5 km² (66.6 sq mi), it had a population density of 21.4/km² (55.3/sq mi) in 2021.^[3]

Canada census – New Richmond community profile

	2021	2016	2011
Population	3,683 (-0.6% from 2016)	3,706 (-2.7% from 2011)	3,810 (+1.7% from 2006)
Land area	172.50 km2 (66.60 sq mi)	171.34 km2 (66.15 sq mi)	168.84 km2 (65.19 sq mi)
Population density	21.4/km2 (55/sq mi)	21.6/km2 (56/sq mi)	22.6/km2 (59/sq mi)
Median age	50.8 (M: 49.6, F: 52.0)	50.3 (M: 49.4, F: 51.5)	44.4 (M: 43.7, F: 45.0)
Private dwellings	1,805 (total)  1,715 (occupied)	1,774 (total)	1,746 (total)
Median household income	$63,600	$54,480	$49,798

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

Historical Census Data - New Richmond, Quebec

Year Pop. ±% 1861 1,510 —     1871 1,815 +20.2% 1881 1,893 +4.3% 1891 2,050 +8.3% 1901 2,318 +13.1% 1911 2,789 +20.3% 1921 2,711 −2.8% 1931 2,689 −0.8%	Year Pop. ±% 1941 2,689 +0.0% 1951 2,539 −5.6% 1956 2,642 +4.1% 1961 2,628 −0.5% 1966 3,853 +46.6% 1971 3,957 +2.7% 1976 4,295 +8.5% 1981 4,257 −0.9%	Year Pop. ±% 1986 4,100 −3.7% 1991 4,012 −2.1% 1996 3,941 −1.8% 2001 3,760 −4.6% 2006 3,748 −0.3% 2011 3,810 +1.7% 2016 3,706 −2.7% 2021 3,683 −0.6%
Source: Statistics Canada[8]

Mother tongue language (2021):^[3]

Language	Population	Pct (%)
French only	3,095	85.1%
English only	465	12.8%
Both English and French	50	1.4%
Other languages	15	0.4%

Economy

The town experienced considerable growth in the 1960s with the development of a linerboard paper mill by Bathurst paper, which became Consolidated Bathurst and after a number of name changes Smurfit Stone. Economic downturns in the region brought a reduction in mill operations and many residents left for other regions. In 2005 the mill completely shut down, leaving the town with no major industry.

There is a large wharf located to the east of the town. This was built to service cargo ships that would arrive to be loaded with kraft paper or bunker oil. It is now mainly recreational.

The town has a British Heritage Museum. There is a small shopping centre as well as an indoor swimming pool, a hockey arena, and a theatre.

Infrastructure

Route 132, being the longest route in Quebec, connects New Richmond to the rest of the Gaspé Peninsula and continues all the way to the United States border. Bridge Henri A. Leblanc crosses the Little Cascapédia River in the city.

Education

There is an English-language school (New Richmond High School) located in the centre of town which serves now grades K-11. French-speaking children have their own school (Bois Vivant) and complete high school in the town of Carleton.

Notable people

François Bourque

• François Bourque (born 1984), alpine skier

See also

• List of anglophone communities in Quebec
• List of cities in Quebec