Ormstown, Quebec

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Ormstown, Quebec
—  Municipality  —
Location within Le Haut-Saint-Laurent Regional County Municipality.
Coordinates (81, rue Lambton [1]): 45°07′34″N 73°59′27″W / 45.12611°N 73.99083°W / 45.12611; -73.99083
Country  Canada
Province  Quebec
Region Montérégie
RCM Le Haut-Saint-Laurent
Incorporated January 26, 2000
Electoral Districts
Federal

Beauharnois—Salaberry
Provincial Huntingdon
Government [1][2][3]
 - Mayor John McCaig 
 - Federal MP(s) Claude DeBellefeuille (BQ)
 - Quebec MNA(s) Stéphane Billette (PLQ)
Area [4]
 - Land 141.72 km2 (54.7 sq mi)
Population (2006)[4]
 - Total 3,651
 - Density 25.8/km2 (66.8/sq mi)
 - Change (2001-06) 0.1%
 - Dwellings 1,522
Time zone EST (UTC-5)
 - Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
Postal code(s) J0S
Area code(s) 450
Access Routes[5] Route 138
Route 201

Ormstown is a municipality in Quebec, Canada, which is situated on the Chateauguay River in the heart of the Chateauguay Valley. It is approximately 1 hour southwest of Montreal and 20 minutes north of New York State in the United States. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census was 3,651. Francophones comprise about 65% of the population.

Ormstown has two elementary schools, one high school (Chateauguay Valley Regional), and two adult education facilities, several restaurants and churches. Ormstown is also well known for its numerous antique dealers and unique gift shops. There is a park north of the centre of town which is home to Ormstown Beach, an urban legend created and memorialized in the 1970s with "I've been to Ormstown Beach" bumper stickers. It is a popular summer activity to cycle along the Chateauguay River. The town has traces of an old dam, which was once the source of power for the mill. People living outside the town only gained access to electricity following World War II.

Ormstown will be the host of the 34th Quebec 4-H Rally, happening the first weekend of July. 4-H members from across the province will visit the area with their projexts that consist of cattle, horses, handicrafts, public speaking and more.

Contents

[edit] History

In the 1950s, Ormstown became the site of a significant microwave radio relay station, part of the Trans Canada Telephone System. Initially, the system passed through the major cities of Canada via towers located on top of downtown telephone buildings. Subsequently, concerns were expressed that a disaster affecting any of those city cores, such as a war or uprising, would result in an interruption of the continuity of the transcontinental communications system. The solution was to locate a "bypass" microwave site outside each of those cities with links to the east and west as well as a short link into the city. The Ormstown facility was the bypass point for Montreal, but had further significance as it also included a link to the AT&T Long Lines TD2 microwave system in the United States.

In 2000. the town merged with the surrounding parish of St-Malachie d'Ormstown to form the Municipality of Ormstown.[6]

[edit] Demographics

[edit] Population

Population trend[7]

Census Population Change (%)
2006 3,651 0.1%
2001 3,647 (+) 56.0%
1996 1,604 1.7%
1991 1,577 N/A

(+) Amalgamated with Saint-Malachie-d'Ormstown in 2000.

[edit] Language

Mother tongue language (2006)[4]

Language Population Pct (%)
French only 2,220 62.89%
English only 1,205 34.13%
Both English and French 50 1.42%
Other languages 55 1.56%

[edit] Arts and culture

[edit] Ormstown Fair

One of the town's main attractions is the Ormstown Fair, which was started in 1914. It is held annually during the second week of June, making it Quebec's earliest spring fair. Several competitions take place at the fair: farm animals, crafts, horticulture and baked goods are evaluated by judges and can be viewed by fairgoers. Other competitions include tractor pull, demolition derby, and equestrian events. Additionally, there are carnival rides, arcades, a petting zoo, and live musical performances. The Ormstown fair attracts people from all over the surrounding areas.

[edit] Attractions

[edit] Alan's Corners

Located near Ormstown, in the hamlet of Alan's Corners, is the site of the Battle of the Chateauguay, where on October 25, 1813 Canadian and Native forces fought and repelled an invading American force that was planning to attack Montreal during the War of 1812. There is a National Parks of Canada museum near the site of the battle.

[edit] Government

The mayor, John McCaig, was recently re-elected and began his 2nd term in office with promises of eliminating the power lines on main street.[citation needed].

[edit] Infrastructure

[edit] Transportation

The CIT du Haut-Saint-Laurent provides commuter and local bus services.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

[edit] External links



Coordinates: 45°08′N 74°00′W / 45.133°N 74°W / 45.133; -74

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