Ormstown, Quebec

Ormstown is a municipality in Quebec, Canada, which is situated on the Chateauguay River in the heart of the Chateauguay Valley. It is approximately one hour southwest of Montreal and 20 minutes north of New York State in the United States. The population as of the Canada 2011 Census was 3,595 of which Francophones comprise about 65%.

Ormstown
Municipality
Location within Le Haut-Saint-Laurent RCM
Ormstown
Location in southern Quebec
Coordinates: 45°08′N 74°00′W[1]
Country Canada
Province Quebec
RegionMontérégie
RCMLe Haut-Saint-Laurent
ConstitutedJanuary 26, 2000
Government
 • MayorChrystian Soucy
 • Federal ridingSalaberry—Suroît
 • Prov. ridingHuntingdon
Area
 • Total144.50 km2 (55.79 sq mi)
 • Land142.79 km2 (55.13 sq mi)
Population
 (2016)[4]
 • Total3,595
 • Density25.2/km2 (65/sq mi)
 • Pop 2011-2016
 0.0%
 • Dwellings
1,641
Time zoneUTC−5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Postal code(s)
J0S 1K0
Area code(s)450 and 579
Highways Route 138
Route 201
Websitewww.ormstown.ca

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.

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.[5]

Geography

Communities

The following locations reside within the municipality's boundaries:[1]

Lakes & Rivers

The following waterways pass through or are situated within the municipality's boundaries:[1]

Demographics

Population
Canada census – Ormstown, Quebec community profile
2011 2006
Population: 3,595 (-1.5% from 2006) 3,651 (+0.1% from 2001)
Land area: 142.19 km2 (54.90 sq mi) 141.72 km2 (54.72 sq mi)
Population density: 25.3/km2 (66/sq mi) 25.8/km2 (67/sq mi)
Median age: 47.0 (M: 45.6, F: 47.7) 44.6 (M: 44.2, F: 44.9)
Total private dwellings: 1,516 1,522
Median household income: $.N/A $39,042
Notes: 2011 income data for this area has been suppressed for data quality or confidentiality reasons. – References: 2011[6] 2006[7] earlier[8]
Historical Census Data - Ormstown, Quebec[9]
YearPop.±%
1991 1,577—    
1996 1,604+1.7%
ADJ 3,700+130.7%
2001 3,647−1.4%
YearPop.±%
2006 3,651+0.1%
2011 3,595−1.5%
2016 3,595+0.0%
(+) Amalgamated with Saint-Malachie-d'Ormstown in 2000.

Language
Canada Census Mother Tongue - Ormstown, Quebec[9]
Census Total
French
English
French & English
Other
Year Responses Count Trend Pop % Count Trend Pop % Count Trend Pop % Count Trend Pop %
2016
3,465
 2,145 0.7% 61.90% 1,160 3.7% 33.48% 75 15.4% 2.16% 70 7.7% 2.02%
2011
3,495
 2,160 2.7% 61.80% 1,205 0.0% 34.48% 65 30.0% 1.86% 65 18.2% 1.86%
2006
3,530
 2,220 1.1% 62.89% 1,205 3.0% 34.13% 50 0.0% 1.42% 55 21.4% 1.56%
2001
3,535
 2,245 152.2% 63.51% 1,170 103.5% 33.10% 50 66.7% 1.41% 70 600.0% 1.98%
1996
1,505
 890 n/a 59.14% 575 n/a 38.21% 30 n/a 1.99% 10 n/a 0.66%

Attractions

Expo Ormstown

One of the town's main attractions is the Expo Ormstown -- formally known as the Ormstown Fair -- which was started in 1910. 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 fair goers. Other competitions include a 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 surrounding areas.

Allan's Corners

Located near Ormstown, in the hamlet of Allan's Corners, is the site of the Battle of the Chateauguay, where on October 26, 1813 Canadian and Native forces fought and repelled an invading American force that was planning to attack Montreal during the War of 1812. The site is a National Historic Site of Canada,[10] and there is a Parks Canada museum near the site of the battle.

Government

Jacques Lapierre was elected to fill the post of mayor on November 1, 2009, replacing interim mayor Luc Lavigueur. Lavigueur took over the post after former mayor John McCaig resigned for health reasons.

Infrastructure

Transportation

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

See also

References
  1. Reference number 358447 of the Commission de toponymie du Québec (in French)
  2. Ministère des Affaires municipales, des Régions et de l'Occupation du territoire: Ormstown
  3. Riding history for Beauharnois—Salaberry, Quebec from the Library of Parliament
  4. 2011 Statistics Canada Census Profile: Ormstown, Quebec
  5. www.rootsweb.com
  6. "2011 Community Profiles". 2011 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. July 5, 2013. Retrieved 2014-02-10.
  7. "2006 Community Profiles". 2006 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. March 30, 2011. Retrieved 2014-02-10.
  8. "2001 Community Profiles". 2001 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. February 17, 2012.
  9. Statistics Canada: 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011 census
  10. Battle of the Chateauguay. Canadian Register of Historic Places. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
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