Natashquan, Quebec (township)

Natashquan
Township municipality
Natashquan

Location in Côte-Nord region of Quebec

Coordinates: 50°11′N 61°49′W / 50.183°N 61.817°W / 50.183; -61.817Coordinates: 50°11′N 61°49′W / 50.183°N 61.817°W / 50.183; -61.817[1]
Country  Canada
Province  Quebec
Region Côte-Nord
RCM Minganie
Settled 1855
Constituted September 16, 1907
Government[2]
  Mayor Jacques Landry
  Federal riding Manicouagan
  Prov. riding Duplessis
Area[2][3]
  Total 200.40 km2 (77.37 sq mi)
  Land 203.51 km2 (78.58 sq mi)
  There is an apparent
contradiction between two
authoritative sources
Population (2011)[3]
  Total 246
  Density 1.2/km2 (3/sq mi)
  Pop 2006–2011 Decrease 6.8%
  Dwellings 165
Time zone Within the AST legislated time zone boundary but observes EST [4] (UTC-5)
  Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
Postal code(s) G0G 2E0
Area code(s) 418 and 581
Highways Route 138
Website www.natashquan.org

Natashquan is a township municipality and village in Minganie Regional County Municipality, Côte-Nord region, Quebec, Canada. It should not be confused with the adjacent but separate Innu reserve of Natashquan.

The township is named after the Natashquan River, that had already been mapped and named in the 17th century. It comes from the Innu language, meaning "where one hunts for bear".[1]

In addition to the village of Natashquan itself, the municipality also includes the small community of Pointe-Parent (50°07′49″N 61°48′02″W / 50.13028°N 61.80056°W / 50.13028; -61.80056) that is located on the Natashquan River, directly adjacent to the Natashquan Reserve. It is home to some fishermen homes and was served by a post office from 1953 to 1976. Once also known as Pointe-du-Poste and Village-du-Poste, Pointe-Parent was named after priest Pierre-Clément Parent (1733–1784) who served as missionary in Tadoussac and Labrador and died in Natashquan.[5]

Geography

The community is located on the north shore of the Jacques Cartier Strait and the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, straddling both banks of the Little Natashquan River, some 120 kilometres (75 mi) east of Havre-Saint-Pierre. The township is bordered on the east and south by the estuary of the Natashquan River, and encompasses an area that is riddled with numerous small ponds and lakes.[6]

History

The original fishermen huts (magasins du Galet) are since 2006 a Quebec cultural heritage site.

While Jacques Cartier had visited the area in 1534 and a trading post already existed in 1710 at the mouth of the Natashquan River, the settlement of Natashquan in the eponymous township was not founded until 1855 when the first settlers arrived. They were Acadians from the Magdalen Islands, particularly from Amherst Island (île du Havre Aubert). That same year, the Notre-Dame-de-Natashquan Mission was founded on the west bank of the Little Natashquan River. In 1869, the township was officially established, and in August 1872, the post office opened. In 1907, the place was incorporated as a township municipality. For many decades Natashquan was dependent on fishing, but nowadays few fishermen remain.[1][7]

Demographics

Population

Canada census – Natashquan, Quebec (township) community profile
2011 2006 2001
Population: 246 (-6.8% from 2006) 264 (-27.9% from 2001) 366 (+2.8% from 1996)
Land area: 203.51 km2 (78.58 sq mi) 203.51 km2 (78.58 sq mi) 203.51 km2 (78.58 sq mi)
Population density: 1.2/km2 (3.1/sq mi) 1.3/km2 (3.4/sq mi) 1.8/km2 (4.7/sq mi)
Median age: 52.5 (M: 52.8, F: 51.8) 49.2 (M: 47.7, F: 49.7) 40.0 (M: 41.5, F: 38.5)
Total private dwellings: 165 155 160
Median household income: $.N/A $50,688 $41,502
Notes: 2011 income data for this area has been suppressed for data quality or confidentiality reasons. – References: 2011[8] 2006[9] 2001[10]
Historical Census Data – Natashquan, Quebec (township)[11]
YearPop.±%
1991 380    
1996 356−6.3%
YearPop.±%
2001 366+2.8%
2006 264−27.9%
YearPop.±%
2011 246−6.8%

Language

Mother tongue:

Transport

The main road through Natashquan is Quebec Route 138, and it is also served by Natashquan Airport and Natashquan (Lac de l'Avion) Water Aerodrome.

Climate

Natashquan experiences a borderline subarctic climate (Köppen Dfc) that is just short of being classed as a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb).

Climate data for Natashquan
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 8.2
(46.8)
6.7
(44.1)
12.8
(55)
17.8
(64)
23.9
(75)
26.4
(79.5)
28.9
(84)
28.3
(82.9)
26.1
(79)
19.4
(66.9)
14.4
(57.9)
9.4
(48.9)
28.4
(83.1)
Average high °C (°F) −7.9
(17.8)
−7.2
(19)
−2
(28)
3.3
(37.9)
9.6
(49.3)
15.2
(59.4)
18.7
(65.7)
18
(64)
13.8
(56.8)
7.9
(46.2)
2
(36)
−4.8
(23.4)
5.5
(41.9)
Daily mean °C (°F) −13.5
(7.7)
−12.7
(9.1)
−7.1
(19.2)
−0.4
(31.3)
5.4
(41.7)
10.8
(51.4)
14.5
(58.1)
13.8
(56.8)
9.6
(49.3)
3.9
(39)
−1.9
(28.6)
−9.7
(14.5)
1.1
(34)
Average low °C (°F) −19.1
(−2.4)
−18.2
(−0.8)
−12
(10)
−4.1
(24.6)
1
(34)
6.3
(43.3)
10.3
(50.5)
9.5
(49.1)
5.3
(41.5)
0
(32)
−5.7
(21.7)
−14.5
(5.9)
−3.4
(25.9)
Record low °C (°F) −42.8
(−45)
−37.2
(−35)
−33.7
(−28.7)
−22.5
(−8.5)
−12.8
(9)
−3.9
(25)
1.1
(34)
−1.1
(30)
−7.8
(18)
−15
(5)
−31.7
(−25.1)
−35
(−31)
−42.8
(−45)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 95.7
(3.768)
67.4
(2.654)
95.2
(3.748)
81.7
(3.217)
88.6
(3.488)
86.2
(3.394)
99
(3.9)
96
(3.78)
100.5
(3.957)
107.9
(4.248)
106.4
(4.189)
105.3
(4.146)
1,129.9
(44.489)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 18.8
(0.74)
12.5
(0.492)
27.7
(1.091)
47.2
(1.858)
83.6
(3.291)
86.2
(3.394)
99
(3.9)
96
(3.78)
100.4
(3.953)
102.2
(4.024)
70.5
(2.776)
29.4
(1.157)
773.5
(30.456)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 79.1
(31.14)
55.8
(21.97)
66.9
(26.34)
33.3
(13.11)
4.5
(1.77)
0.0
(0)
0.0
(0)
0.0
(0)
0.0
(0)
5.5
(2.17)
34.4
(13.54)
76.8
(30.24)
356.3
(140.28)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) 19.1 15.8 15.7 14.5 13.9 13.0 14.3 13.2 14.3 15.2 15.1 17.7 181.8
Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) 2.5 2.4 4.5 8.5 13.2 13.0 14.3 13.2 14.3 14.4 9.0 4.4 113.7
Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) 18.4 14.9 13.6 9.3 1.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.03 2.2 9.2 16.1 85.53
Mean monthly sunshine hours 104.7 125.3 148.2 161.4 214.2 219.3 236.8 228.2 166.0 125.4 96.8 87.2 1,913.5
Source: Environment Canada[12]

Famous residents

Natashquan was the birthplace of singer Gilles Vigneault.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Reference number 43497 of the Commission de toponymie du Québec (French)
  2. 1 2 Ministère des Affaires municipales, des Régions et de l'Occupation du territoire – Répertoire des municipalités: Natashquan
  3. 1 2 Statistics Canada 2011 Census – Natashquan community profile
  4. National Research Council Canada – Time Zones & Daylight Saving Time
  5. "Pointe-Parent (hameau)" (in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec. Retrieved 2010-09-16.
  6. "Natashquan (Canton)" (in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec. Retrieved 2010-09-14.
  7. "Natashquan (Bureau de poste)" (in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec. Retrieved 2010-09-14.
  8. "2011 Community Profiles". Canada 2011 Census. Statistics Canada. July 5, 2013. Retrieved 2014-02-16.
  9. "2006 Community Profiles". Canada 2006 Census. Statistics Canada. March 30, 2011. Retrieved 2014-02-16.
  10. "2001 Community Profiles". Canada 2001 Census. Statistics Canada. February 17, 2012. Retrieved 2014-02-16.
  11. Statistics Canada: 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011 census
  12. Environment Canada Canadian Climate Normals 1971–2000, accessed 27 April 2010
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