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Verchères

Coordinates: 45°47′N 73°21′W / 45.783°N 73.350°W / 45.783; -73.350
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Verchères
Statue honouring heroine Madeleine de Verchères.
Statue honouring heroine Madeleine de Verchères.
Location within Marguerite-D'Youville RCM.
Location within Marguerite-D'Youville RCM.
Verchères is located in Southern Quebec
Verchères
Verchères
Location in southern Quebec.
Verchères is located in Quebec
Verchères
Verchères
Verchères (Quebec)
Verchères is located in Canada
Verchères
Verchères
Verchères (Canada)
Coordinates: 45°47′N 73°21′W / 45.783°N 73.350°W / 45.783; -73.350[1]
Country Canada
Province Quebec
RegionMontérégie
RCMMarguerite-D'Youville
ConstitutedSeptember 18, 1971
Government
 • MayorAlexandre Bélisle
 • Federal ridingPierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères
 • Prov. ridingVerchères
Area
 • Total85.20 km2 (32.90 sq mi)
 • Land72.63 km2 (28.04 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[4]
 • Total5,759
 • Density79.3/km2 (205/sq mi)
 • Pop 2016-2021
Decrease 1.3%
 • Dwellings
2,453
Time zoneUTC−5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Postal code(s)
Area codes450 and 579
Highways
A-30

R-132
Websitewww.ville.vercheres.qc.ca

Verchères is an off-island suburb of Montreal, in Montérégie, Quebec, located on the south bank of the Saint Lawrence River. The population as of the Canada 2021 Census was 5,759.

History

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Welcome sign at the south entrance, along the Marie-Victorin road
Overview of the magnificent village cemetery
Heritage house along the Marie-Victorin road (route 132)

In the 17th century, the settlement at Verchères was the scene of an Iroquois raid that was apparently thwarted by the ingenuity of a 14-year-old girl named Madeleine (now known as Madeleine de Verchères). A cast-iron statue of Madeleine de Verchères stands today by the former location of the settlement stronghold on the shore of the Saint-Lawrence river.

In French, the word Verchères can be used as an adjective to describe a specific type of rowboat invented in Verchères at the end of the 19th century, i.e. chaloupe verchères. A specimen of the rowboat is on permanent outdoor display during the summer and fall at the Parc Jean-Marie Moreau across from the town office.

The motto of Verchères is In Tenebris Lumen Rectis Corde. The streets of Verchères are mostly named after the patronyms of residing families but also after local people who rose to celebrity in Canadian history.

Geography

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Verchères is located about 40 km east of Montréal. The municipality is traversed by Road 132, an important road that runs along the St. Lawrence River and connects several municipalities along the south shore. The river plays a significant role in the economy of Verchères, offering picturesque views and opportunities for recreational activities.

The terrain is relatively flat, typical of the Great Lakes–St. Lawrence Lowlands, with some gentle elevations and wppded areas. The landscape of Verchères is typically rural, with farmland, natural areas and residential zones.

Demographics

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City Hall of Verchères
Florentine-Dansereau residence

Population

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Canada census – Verchères community profile
202120162011
Population5,759 (-1.3% from 2016)5,835 (+2.5% from 2011)5,692 (+8.6% from 2006)
Land area72.63 km2 (28.04 sq mi)72.57 km2 (28.02 sq mi)73.27 km2 (28.29 sq mi)
Population density79.3/km2 (205/sq mi)80.4/km2 (208/sq mi)77.7/km2 (201/sq mi)
Median age41.8 (M: 42.4, F: 43.2)40.8 (M: 40.8, F: 40.9)40.7 (M: 40.1, F: 41.3)
Private dwellings2,453 (total)  2,440 (total)  2,406 (total) 
Median household income$90,000$75,955$68,946
References: 2021[5] 2016[6] 2011[7] earlier[8][9]
Historical Census Data - Verchères, Quebec[10]
YearPop.±%
1976 3,586—    
1981 4,473+24.7%
1986 4,530+1.3%
1991 4,781+5.5%
YearPop.±%
1996 4,854+1.5%
2001 4,782−1.5%
2006 5,243+9.6%
2011 5,692+8.6%
YearPop.±%
2016 5,835+2.5%
2021 5,759−1.3%

Language

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Canada Census Mother Tongue - Verchères, Quebec[10]
Census Total
French
English
French & English
Other
Year Responses Count Trend Pop % Count Trend Pop % Count Trend Pop % Count Trend Pop %
2021
5,760
5,550 Decrease 0.7% 96.4% 60 Decrease 7.7% 1.0% 50 Increase 100.0% 0.9% 75 Steady 0.0% 1.3%
2016
5,770
5,590 Increase 0.8% 96.9% 65 Increase 8.3% 1.1% 25 Steady 0.0% 0.4% 75 Increase 66.7% 1.3%
2011
5,675
5,545 Increase 10.1% 97.7% 60 Increase 50.0% 1.1% 25 Increase 25.0% 0.4% 45 Decrease 50.0% 0.8%
2006
5,185
5,035 Increase 8.3% 97.1% 40 Increase 33.3% 0.8% 20 Increase 100.0% 0.4% 90 Increase 125.0% 1.7%
2001
4,730
4,650 Decrease 2.3% 98.3% 30 Decrease 25.0% 0.6% 10 Increase n/a% 0.2% 40 Increase 60.0% 0.9%
1996
4,825
4,760 n/a 98.7% 40 n/a 0.8% 0 n/a 0.0% 25 n/a 0.5%

Notable people

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Panorama

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View of Verchères from the Saint Lawrence River in winter
View of Verchères from the Saint Lawrence River in summer

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Banque de noms de lieux du Québec: Reference number 65404". toponymie.gouv.qc.ca (in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec.
  2. ^ a b Ministère des Affaires municipales, des Régions et de l'Occupation du territoire: Verchères
  3. ^ Parliament of Canada Federal Riding History: VERCHÈRES--LES PATRIOTES (Quebec)
  4. ^ a b 2021 Statistics Canada Census Profile: Verchères, Quebec
  5. ^ "2021 Community Profiles". 2021 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. February 4, 2022. Retrieved 2024-06-08.
  6. ^ "2016 Community Profiles". 2016 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. August 12, 2021. Retrieved 2024-06-08.
  7. ^ "2011 Community Profiles". 2011 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. March 21, 2019. Retrieved 2014-05-18.
  8. ^ "2006 Community Profiles". 2006 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. August 20, 2019.
  9. ^ "2001 Community Profiles". 2001 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. July 18, 2021.
  10. ^ a b Statistics Canada: 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016, 2021 census
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Media related to Verchères at Wikimedia Commons