Saint-François-du-Lac, Quebec
| Saint-François-du-Lac, Quebec | |
|---|---|
| — Municipality — | |
 |
|
| Coordinates (400, rue Notre-Dame [1]): 46°03′58″N 72°49′34″W / 46.06611°N 72.82611°W | |
| Country |  Canada |
| Province |  Quebec |
| Region | Centre-du-Québec |
| RCM | Nicolet-Yamaska |
| Constitution | December 31, 1997 |
| Electoral Districts Federal |
Bas-Richelieu—Nicolet—Bécancour |
| Provincial | Nicolet-Yamaska |
| Government[1][2][3] | |
| • Mayor | Georgette Critchley-Michon |
| • Federal MP(s) | Louis Plamondon (BQ) |
| • Quebec MNA(s) | Jean-Martin Aussant (PQ) |
| Area[4] | |
| • Land | 64.31 km2 (24.8 sq mi) |
| Population (2006)[4] | |
| • Total | 2,002 |
| • Density | 31.1/km2 (80.5/sq mi) |
| • Change (2001-06) |  2.1% |
| • Dwellings | 1,112 |
| Time zone | EST (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| Postal code(s) | J0G |
| Area code(s) | 450 |
| Access Routes[5] |  Route 132 Route 143 |
Saint-François-du-Lac is a community in the Nicolet-Yamaska Regional County Municipality of Quebec, Canada. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census was 2,002. It is located at the confluence of the Saint Lawrence and Saint-François rivers, at the edge of Lac Saint-Pierre (hence its name, "Saint-François of the lake").
Saint-François-du-Lac faces the town of Pierreville from across the Saint-François River, and lies at the junction of Route 132 and Route 143.
Contents |
[edit] History
This was founded as a Jesuit mission village during the colonial years. The community was called St.-Francois-de-Sales or Odanak. Indians from the community, which included refugees from wars with English colonists, participated in many raids, some of them organized and led by French military men, against English colonial settlements in New England in the aftermath of King Philip's War.
[edit] Father Rale's War
[edit] Raid on Arrowsic (1722)
On September 10, 1722, in conjunction with Father Rale at Norridgewock, 400 or 500 St. Francis (Odanak, Quebec) and Mi'kmaq Indians fell upon Arrowsic, Maine. Captain Penhallow discharged musketry from a small guard, wounding three of the Indians and killing another. This defense gave the inhabitants of the village time to retreat into the fort. In full possession of the undefended village, the Indians killed fifty head of cattle and set fire to twenty-six houses outside the fort. The Indians then assaulted the fort, killing one New Englander, but otherwise making little impression.
That night Col. Walton and Capt. Harman arrived with thirty men, to which were joined about forty men from the fort under Captains Penhallow and Temple. The combined force of seventy men attacked the natives but were overwhelmed by their numbers. The New Englanders then retreated back into the fort. Viewing further attacks on the fort as useless, the Indians eventually retired up the river.[6]
[edit] Raid on Richmond (1722)
During their return to Norridgewock the natives attacked Fort Richmond at Richmond, Maine.[6] Fort Richmond was attacked in a three-hour siege. Houses were burned and cattle slain, but the fort held. Brunswick and other settlements near the mouth of the Kennebec were destroyed.
[edit] Raid on Arrowsic (1723)
In the summer of 1723, Norridgewocks and their 250 Indian allies from St. Francis attacked Arrowsic, Maine. Incited by French missionary Sebastien Rale, they burned 37 dwellings and killed 300 cattle. The 40 inhabitants fled to the garrison, with only a child lost.[7]
After Father Rale's War, Abenaki arrived from Norridgewock, Maine. The village and buildings were burned in an attack by Rogers' Rangers, an irregular British provincial force, during the Seven Years War (also known as the French and Indian War) on October 4, 1759.
Odanak was later re-established as an Indian reserve for Abenaki next to the village of Saint-Francois-du-Lac.
[edit] Demographics
[edit] Population
Population trend[8]
| Census | Population | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 2,002 | 2.1% |
| Boundary change | 1,961 |  0.8% |
| 2001 | 1,976 | 1.2% |
| Merger (+) | 2,001 | 45.3% |
| 1996 | 1,095 | 7.5% |
| 1991 | 1,019 | N/A |
(+) Amalgamation of the Parish and the Village of Saint-François-du-Lac on December 31, 1997.
[edit] Language
Mother tongue language (2006)[4]
| Language | Population | Pct (%) |
|---|---|---|
| French only | 1,935 | 97.97% |
| English only | 30 | 1.52% |
| Both English and French | 0 | 0.00% |
| Other languages | 10 | 0.51% |
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b Ministère des Affaires Municipales et Régions: Saint-François-du-Lac
- ^ Parliament of Canada Federal Riding History: BAS-RICHELIEU--NICOLET--BÉCANCOUR (Quebec)
- ^ Chief Electoral Officer of Québec - 40th General Election Riding Results: NICOLET-YAMASKA
- ^ a b c 2006 Statistics Canada Community Profile: Saint-François-du-Lac, Quebec
- ^ Official Transport Quebec Road Map
- ^ a b William Williamson, p. 119
- ^ (William Williamson, p. 123)
- ^ Statistics Canada: 1996, 2001, 2006 census
[edit] External links
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Lac Saint-Pierre | |
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| Yamaska |  |
Saint-François River / Pierreville / Odanak |
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 Saint-François-du-Lac  |
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| Saint-Gérard-Majella | Saint-Pie-de-Guire |
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