Pierrefonds, Quebec

Pierrefonds (French pronunciation: ​[pjɛʁfɔ̃]) is a former city in southwestern Quebec, Canada. It is located along the Rivière des Prairies on the northwestern part of the Island of Montreal. It was merged into Montreal on January 1, 2002, and is today part of the borough of Pierrefonds-Roxboro.

For the Montreal borough of Pierrefonds-Roxboro, see Pierrefonds-Roxboro. For the former Montreal borough of Pierrefonds-Senneville, see Pierrefonds-Senneville.
Pierrefonds
Former city
Pierrefonds
Location of Pierrefonds in Montreal
Coordinates: 45°28′0″N 73°53′0″W
Country Canada
Province Quebec
City Montreal
BoroughPierrefonds-Roxboro
Area
 • Land24.91 km2 (9.62 sq mi)
Population
 (2006)[1]
 • Total59,093
 • Density2,372.5/km2 (6,145/sq mi)
 • Change (2001-2006)
7.5%
 • Dwellings (2006)
22,510
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
Postal code span
H8Z
Area code(s)(514) and (438)

History

Its origin dates back to the eighteenth century, and is intimately linked to that of Sainte-Geneviève, which was composed at the time of Pierrefonds, L'Île-Bizard, Sainte-Geneviève, Roxboro and Dollard-des-Ormeaux.

In 1904, following several previous divisions, the Town of Sainte-Geneviève was split into two new villages: Sainte-Geneviève and Sainte-Geneviève de Pierrefonds. This was the first appearance of the name Pierrefonds. At the heart of the conflict leading to the separation was the notary and local member of the Legislative Assembly Joseph-Adolphe Chauret, who, in 1902, had a "seigniorial" residence built for himself reminiscent of the community of Pierrefonds in France’s Department of Oise. He named his thatched home "Château Pierrefonds", apparently providing the name for the future city.

In 1935 the two villages of Sainte-Geneviève and Sainte-Geneviève de Pierrefonds merged once again into a single village called Sainte-Geneviève. The name Pierrefonds disappeared, resurfacing on December 18, 1958, when the rest of the territory of the old parish became the City of Pierrefonds.

Dissolution
Main article: Pierrefonds-Roxboro

On 2002-01-01, as part of a province-wide municipal reorganization, Pierrefonds was joined with Senneville and they became a borough of the city of Montreal named Pierrefonds-Senneville. In the demerger referendums of 2004, Senneville demerged from Montreal but Pierrefonds did not. On 2006-01-01, Pierrefonds merged with the former city of Roxboro to form the Montreal borough of Pierrefonds-Roxboro.

Origin of the name Pierrefonds
The new Château Pierrefonds. The original burned down in 1993 and was rebuilt in 1994.[2]

One of the leading figures who brought about the 1904 split was a famous (or infamous), fiery notary named Joseph-Adolphe Chauret. Always in the limelight, this colourful fellow was praised by some and criticized by others. His reputation remains controversial to this day, mostly because of his stormy and ostentatious lifestyle.

Inspired by an engraving of the feudal Castle of Pierrefonds in Oise, France, in 1902 Chauret built a turreted, gabled residence with the inscription Château de Pierrefonds on two of its socles. The building only somewhat resembled the much heralded fortress Chauret finally visited in 1911 when he journeyed in Europe. At a time when few people travelled abroad, his trip aroused considerable curiosity among local residents – so much so that crowds greeted him upon his return to Canada.

The name Pierrefonds therefore can be traced to Chauret’s residence.

Demographics

Pre-amalgamation demographics, Canada 2001 Census.[3]

  • Total Population - 54,310
  • Visible minority population - 13,995
  • Male - 27,285
  • Female - 25,020
  • Land area - 24.90 km2 (9.61 sq mi)
  • Population density per km2 - 2,207.2/km2 (5,717/sq mi)

Note: last census figures before annexation by Montreal.

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References
  1. "Community Profile — Pierrefonds". Canada 2006 Census. Statistics Canada. 2010-12-06. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
  2. Château Pierrefonds is celebrating its 20th Anniversary
  3. "Community Highlights for Pierrefonds". Statistics Canada. 2007-02-01. Retrieved 2008-01-01.
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