New Richmond, Quebec


New Richmond 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 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.
WWW villenewrichmond.com

History

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. A modern linerboard paper mill was opened there in 1966, then closed and subsequently demolished in 2005.

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, New Richmond had a population of living in of its total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of. With a land area of, it had a population density of in 2021.
Mother tongue language :
LanguagePopulationPct
French only3,09585.1%
English only46512.8%
Both English and French501.4%
Other languages150.4%

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 located in the centre of town which serves now grades K-11. French-speaking children have their own school and complete high school in the town of Carleton.

Notable people