Beauharnois (/boʊˈhɑːrnwɑː/) is a city located in the Beauharnois-Salaberry Regional County Municipality of southwestern Quebec, Canada, and is part of the Greater Montreal Area. The city's population as of the Canada 2021 Census was 13,638. It is home to the Beauharnois Hydroelectric Power Station, as well as the Beauharnois Lock of the Saint Lawrence Seaway.

History

During the Lower Canada Rebellion, the Battle of Beauharnois was fought in 1838, between Lower Canada loyalists and Patriote rebels. After Edward Ellice and his family were taken prisoner by rebels, the townspeople rebelled. The British were able to quash the rebellion and captured over a hundred Patriote rebels.

The Beauharnois Canal was dug between 1842 and 1845 to connect the lakes Saint-Louis and Saint-Francois as part of a larger project that included the expansion of the Lachine canal. During these years, however, a series of labor conflicts emerged during the canal's construction. On June 3, 1843, a strike began at the canal's construction site. A battle ensued between the striking workers and employers, resulting in the death of five workers and 50 additional injured. The violence unleashed during the strike represented the bloodiest repression against workers in Canadian history.

As part of the 2000–2006 municipal reorganization in Quebec, the neighbouring towns of Maple Grove and Melocheville were amalgamated into Beauharnois on January 1, 2002.

Geography

Communities

In addition to the main population centre of Beauharnois, the following locations are within the municipality's boundaries:

• Domaine-de-la-Pointe-des-Érables (45°19′29″N 73°51′11″W / 45.32472°N 73.85306°W / 45.32472; -73.85306 (Domaine-de-la-Pointe-des-Érables, Beauharnois, QC)) – a residential area north of Maple Grove
• Maple Grove (45°19′15″N 73°50′20″W / 45.32083°N 73.83889°W / 45.32083; -73.83889 (Maple Grove, Beauharnois, QC)) – a former municipality that makes up the northeast boundary of Beauharnois
• Melocheville (45°19′02″N 73°56′15″W / 45.31722°N 73.93750°W / 45.31722; -73.93750 (Melocheville, Beauharnois, QC)) – a former municipality that makes up the western boundary of Beauharnois, located on the west shore of the Beauharnois Canal
• Parc-Tisseur (45°17′42″N 73°53′02″W / 45.29500°N 73.88389°W / 45.29500; -73.88389 (Parc-Tisseur, Beauharnois, QC)) – a residential area in southern Beauharnois
• Rivière-Nord (45°00′34″N 74°24′04″W / 45.00944°N 74.40111°W / 45.00944; -74.40111 (Rivière-Nord, Beauharnois, QC)) – a hamlet in southern Beauharnois
• Saint-Paul (45°18′33″N 73°53′51″W / 45.30917°N 73.89750°W / 45.30917; -73.89750 (Saint-Paul, Beauharnois, QC)) – a residential area located on Route 205

Lakes & Rivers

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

• Rivière Saint-Louis (45°18′55″N 73°52′49″W / 45.31528°N 73.88028°W / 45.31528; -73.88028 (Rivière Saint-Louis, Beauharnois, QC)) – runs south to north through the city centre, down Chute de la Rivière Saint Louis emptying into the Saint Lawrence River.

Demographics

Historical Census Data - Beauharnois, Quebec

Year Pop. ±% 1921 2,250 —     1931 3,729 +65.7% 1941 3,550 −4.8% 1951 5,694 +60.4% 1956 6,774 +19.0% 1961 8,704 +28.5% 1966 8,810 +1.2%	Year Pop. ±% 1971 8,121 −7.8% 1976 7,665 −5.6% 1981 7,025 −8.3% 1986 6,519 −7.2% 1991 6,449 −1.1% 1996 6,435 −0.2% 2001 6,387 −0.7%	Year Pop. ±% 2002+ 11,454 +79.3% 2006 11,918 +4.1% 2011 12,011 +0.8% 2016 12,884 +7.3% 2021 13,638 +5.9%
Amalgamated with Maple Grove and Melocheville on January 1, 2002. Source: Statistics Canada

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Beauharnois had a population of 13,638 living in 6,293 of its 6,451 total private dwellings, a change of 5.9% from its 2016 population of 12,884. With a land area of 68.22 km (26.34 sq mi), it had a population density of 199.9/km (517.8/sq mi) in 2021.

Canada Census Mother Tongue - Beauharnois, Quebec
Census		Total		French				English				French & English				Other
Year		Responses		Count	Trend	Pop %		Count	Trend	Pop %		Count	Trend	Pop %		Count	Trend	Pop %
2016		12,670		11,865	5.5%	93.65%		505	9.8%	3.98%		115	9.5%	0.91%		185	48%	1.46%
2011		11,935		11,245	1.7%	94.22%		460	16.5%	3.85%		105	133.3%	0.88%		125	37.5%	1.05%
2006		11,695		11,055	84.6%	94.53%		395	163.3%	3.38%		45	30.8%	0.38%		200	471.4%	1.71%
2001		6,240		5,990	1.1%	95.99%		150	15.4%	2.40%		65	62.5%	1.04%		35	12.5%	0.56%
1996		6,265		6,055	n/a	98.75%		130	n/a	0.69%		40	n/a	0.33%		40	n/a	0.23%
Amalgamated with Maple Grove and Melocheville on January 1, 2002

Economy

In 2012, OVH started construction of its first Canadian data centre in Beauharnois, one of the largest in the world.

See also

• List of cities in Quebec
• Beauharnois Canal