Bristol, Quebec

Bristol
Municipality

Location within Pontiac RCM.
Bristol

Location in western Quebec.

Coordinates: 45°32′N 76°28′W / 45.533°N 76.467°W / 45.533; -76.467Coordinates: 45°32′N 76°28′W / 45.533°N 76.467°W / 45.533; -76.467[1]
Country  Canada
Province  Quebec
Region Outaouais
RCM Pontiac
Constituted July 1, 1855
Government[2]
  Mayor Brent Orr
  Federal riding Pontiac
  Prov. riding Pontiac
Area[2][3]
  Total 235.00 km2 (90.73 sq mi)
  Land 206.86 km2 (79.87 sq mi)
Population (2011)[3]
  Total 1,128
  Density 5.5/km2 (14/sq mi)
  Pop 2006-2011 Decrease 6.8%
  Dwellings 1,031
Time zone EST (UTC−5)
  Summer (DST) EDT (UTC−4)
Postal code(s) J0X 1G0
Area code(s) 819
Highways Route 148
Website www.bristol
municipality.qc.ca
Public beach at Norway Bay

Bristol is a municipality in the Outaouais region, part of the Pontiac Regional County Municipality, Quebec, Canada. It is located on the north shore of Lac des Chats (part of the Ottawa River) across from Arnprior, Ontario.

Its settlements include Bristol Village, Bristol Mines, Bristol Ridge, Caldwell, Doherty, Elmside, Maple Ridge, Maryland, McKee, Norway Bay, and Weirstead.

History

Bristol Township, already shown on the Gale and Duberger Map of 1795, was officially created in 1834. It was named after the City of Bristol in south-west England, known for its port facilities.[4]

The first settlers came from England, Scotland, and Ireland, followed later on by settlers from Germany, France, and Poland.[5] In 1845, a post office was established, and in 1855, the township municipality was created together with the neighbouring hamlet of Norway Bay, an area that is now a sought-after resort location on the Ottawa River.[6] Its first mayor was William Craig and the mayor as of November 2009 is Brent Orr.[7]

Canada's first horse-drawn railroad was in the Bristol area. It was operated by the Union Forwarding Company, and ran from Pontiac Village to Union Village until 1886.[5]

From 1872 to 1894, iron ore was first mined. In 1956, a new open pit iron ore mine and processing facilities were built, employing up to 300 people. This was the first iron ore mining and pelletizing plant built in Quebec. It closed in 1976.[7]

On April 24, 2004, the Township Municipality of Bristol was changed to Municipality of Bristol.[6]

Demographics

Population

Historical Census Data - Bristol, Quebec[11]
YearPop.±%
1991 1,116    
1996 1,129+1.2%
YearPop.±%
2001 993−12.0%
2006 1,210+21.9%
YearPop.±%
2011 1,128−6.8%

Language

Languages:[12]

Tourism and attractions

Norway Bay is a popular summer destination with numerous cottages and some hotels and inns catering to tourists. Also located here is McLellan Park with a public beach and wharf on the Ottawa River.[13]

Other outdoor activities include cycling on the Cycloparc PPJ trail, golfing on 2 golf courses, boating, fishing, and hiking.[13]

In the winter, snowmobiling can be done on local trails.

See also

References

  1. Reference number 379116 of the Commission de toponymie du Québec (French)
  2. 1 2 "Bristol". Répertoire des municipalités (in French). Ministère des Affaires municipales, des Régions et de l'Occupation du territoire. Retrieved 2012-04-03.
  3. 1 2 "Bristol census profile". 2011 Census of Population. Statistics Canada. Retrieved 2012-04-03.
  4. "Canton de Bristol" (in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec. Retrieved 2008-05-30.
  5. 1 2 "History of Bristol". Municipality of Bristol. Retrieved 2008-06-02.
  6. 1 2 "Municipalité de Canton de Bristol" (in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec. Retrieved 2008-05-30.
  7. 1 2 "Pontiac MRC Gateway: Bristol". Pontiac MRC Gateway. Archived from the original on October 7, 2006. Retrieved 2008-05-27.
  8. "2011 Community Profiles". Canada 2011 Census. Statistics Canada. July 5, 2013. Retrieved 2014-02-01.
  9. "2006 Community Profiles". Canada 2006 Census. Statistics Canada. March 30, 2011. Retrieved 2012-04-03.
  10. "2001 Community Profiles". Canada 2001 Census. Statistics Canada. February 17, 2012. Retrieved 2012-04-03.
  11. Statistics Canada: 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011 census
  12. 1 2 "Tourism in Bristol". Municipality of Bristol. Retrieved 2008-06-03.



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