Hinchinbrooke, Quebec
History
Its first settlers were Irish who arrived around 1820. The parish was called Saint-Patrice-de-Hinchin(g)brook(e), or in English St. Patrick Hinchinbrook, named after an ancient country estate in Huntingdon, England (but without the "g" since it was not pronounced). In 1845, the Township Municipality of Hinchinbrooke was founded, but merged into the Municipality of Beauharnois Number Two on September 1, 1847 (along with Dundee, Hemmingford, Godmanchester, St. Anicet, Russeltown, and Ormstown). It was reestablished on July 1, 1855.
Since the 1980 dissolution of Huntingdon County, Hinchinbrooke is within Le Haut-Saint-Laurent Regional County Municipality.
Long written as Hinchinbrook, the spelling was officially corrected to Hinchinbrooke in 1993. On November 5, 2011, the township municipality changed statutes and became a regular municipality.
Geography
The municipality is situated along the Canada–United States border. It is one of the two southernmost communities in Quebec, along with Elgin, with their tripoint with New York on the Châteauguay River being the southernmost point in the province.
Communities
The following locations reside within the municipality's boundaries:
- Athelstan (45°02′09″N 74°10′39″W / 45.03583°N 74.17750°W) – a hamlet situated on the western border with Elgin.
- Brooklet (45°00′25″N 74°02′51″W / 45.00694°N 74.04750°W) – a hamlet situated in the southeast.
- Herdman (45°01′34″N 74°05′43″W / 45.02611°N 74.09528°W) – a hamlet located along Quebec Route 202 in the south.
- Parc Davignon (45°00′02″N 74°04′50″W / 45.00056°N 74.08056°W) – a cottage community along the US border.
- Powerscourt (45°00′23″N 74°09′26″W / 45.00639°N 74.15722°W) – a hamlet situated on the southwest border with Elgin.
- Rockburn (45°01′19″N 74°00′28″W / 45.02194°N 74.00778°W) – a hamlet located along Quebec Route 202 in the southeast.
Lakes & Rivers
The following waterways pass through or are situated within the municipality's boundaries:
- Lac Moonlight (45°01′45″N 74°08′51″W / 45.02917°N 74.14750°W) – a small lake in the southwest.
- Châteauguay River – runs along the municipality's western boundary.
- Rivière Hinchinbrooke (45°02′21″N 74°11′04″W / 45.03917°N 74.18444°W)
- Rivière aux Outardes
Demographics
Population
| 2021 | 2016 | 2011 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 2,187 (+4.0% from 2016) | 2,103 (-6.2% from 2011) | 2,242 (-5.4% from 2006) |
| Land area | 148.36 km (57.28 sq mi) | 149.30 km (57.65 sq mi) | 149.32 km (57.65 sq mi) |
| Population density | 14.7/km (38/sq mi) | 14.1/km (37/sq mi) | 15.0/km (39/sq mi) |
| Median age | 53.6 (M: 52.8, F: 54.4) | 53.4 (M: 53.2, F: 53.8) | 49.9 (M: 49.3, F: 50.5) |
| Private dwellings | 1,177 (total) 1,026 (occupied) | 1,186 (total) 969 (occupied) | 1,148 (total) |
| Median household income | $59,600 | $48,096 | $.N/A |
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| Source: Statistics Canada | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Language
| Canada Census Mother Tongue - Hinchinbrooke, Quebec | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Total | French
|
English
|
French & English
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Other
| |||||||||||||
| Year | Responses | Count | Trend | Pop % | Count | Trend | Pop % | Count | Trend | Pop % | Count | Trend | Pop % | |||||
2016
|
2,100
|
915 |  2.7%
|
43.57% | 1,045 | 8.7%
|
49.76% | 40 |  14.3%
|
1.90% | 90 | 18.2%
|
4.29% | |||||
2011
|
2,230
|
940 | 10.9%
|
42.15% | 1,145 | 7.5%
|
51.35% | 35 | 75.0%
|
1.57% | 110 | 50.0%
|
4.93% | |||||
2006
|
2,360
|
1,055 | 7.0%
|
44.70% | 1,065 |  0.0%
|
45.13% | 20 | 55.6%
|
0.85% | 220 | 76.0%
|
9.32% | |||||
2001
|
2,370
|
1,135 | 29.0%
|
47.89% | 1,065 | 21.4%
|
44.94% | 45 | 28.6%
|
1.90% | 125 | 4.2%
|
5.27% | |||||
1996
|
2,390
|
880 | n/a | 36.82% | 1,355 | n/a | 56.69% | 35 | n/a | 1.46% | 120 | n/a | 5.02% | |||||
Economy
The primary industries in Hinchinbrooke are agriculture, with dairy cattle and apple farming being the most prevalent sub-sectors.
Local government
List of former mayors:
 |
- Normand Crête (...–2013)
- Carolyn Cameron (2013–2021)
- Mark Wallace (2021–present)
Attractions
The Powerscourt Covered Bridge over the Châteauguay River was originally built in 1861, and is now a National Historic Site of Canada.
Notable residents
Sir William Hales Hingston, physician and mayor of Montreal from 1875 to 1877, was born in Hinchinbrooke.