Sainte-Marie, Quebec

Sainte-Marie
Aerial view of Sainte-Marie
Motto: 
"Unum Corpus Sumus"
(Latin for, "We Are One Body")
Location within La Nouvelle-Beauce RCM
Sainte-Marie
Location in southern Quebec
Coordinates: 46°27′N 71°02′W / 46.450°N 71.033°W / 46.450; -71.033[1]
CountryCanada
ProvinceQuebec
RegionChaudière-Appalaches
RCMLa Nouvelle-Beauce
ConstitutedApril 15, 1978
Government
 • MayorLuce Lacroix
 • Federal ridingBeauce
 • Prov. ridingBeauce-Nord
Area
 • City
108.90 km2 (42.05 sq mi)
 • Land107.55 km2 (41.53 sq mi)
 • Urban
10.65 km2 (4.11 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[3]
 • City
13,134
 • Density122.1/km2 (316/sq mi)
 • Urban
10,716
 • Urban density1,006.1/km2 (2,606/sq mi)
 • Pop 2016-2021
3.2%
 • Dwellings
5,630
Demonym(s)Mariverains, Mariveraines
Time zoneUTC−5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Postal code(s)
Area codes418 and 581
Highways
A-73

R-173
R-216
Websitewww.sainte-marie.ca

Sainte-Marie (French pronunciation: [sɛ̃t maʁi] ) is a city in the province of Quebec, Canada. It is the seat of La Nouvelle-Beauce Regional County Municipality, in Chaudière-Appalaches, Quebec, Canada. It had a population of 13,134 as of the Canada 2021 Census, when 95.7% was French-speaking. It is located 59 kilometres (37 mi) south-east of Quebec City, on the Chaudière River.

History

The seigneurie of Sainte-Marie-de-la-Nouvelle-Beauce was granted to Thomas-Jacques Taschereau in 1736. He chose the name in honour of his wife, Marie-Claire de Fleury de La Gorgendière. The religious parish was founded in 1737 and the municipality in 1845.

The territory of Sainte-Marie was divided on several occasions, as population increased, in order to found neighbouring communities: Saint-Bernard, Saint-Isidore, Saint-Maxime-de-Scott (now Scott), Sainte-Marguerite, Sainte-Hénédine, Saint-Sylvestre, Saint-Elzéar, Saint-Séverin, Saints-Anges, and Vallée-Jonction.

In 1913, the territory was split again, following the detachment of the village (urban part of the territory) from the parish municipality (rural part). In 1958, the village was constituted as a city and in 1959, Sainte-Marie-de-la-Nouvelle-Beauce was renamed as Sainte-Marie. In 1978, the city and the parish municipality governments amalgamated.

Geography

The Chaudière River, which flows through Sainte-Marie, is the area’s most striking feature. 70% of the area is used for agriculture. It is crossed by the Autoroute 73 and the Route 173. For cyclists, it is also crossed by the Route Verte 6 cycle route.

Hydrography

Several watercourses run through the city: the Chaudière River flows through the city, to the west, from south-east to north-west.

From its source, the Rivière du Moulin flows south-west to join the Rivière Chaudière to the north-west of the city; from its source, the Rivière du Domaine flows west to join the Rivière Chassé, which crosses the city from north-east to south-west, The Belair River flows through the south-east of the city.

The Vallée River, which flows eastwards in the north-west of the city, and the Savoie River in the west.

Demographics

Historical census population counts
YearPop.±%
1921 1,311—    
1931 1,598+21.9%
1941 1,736+8.6%
1951 2,431+40.0%
1956 3,094+27.3%
1961 3,662+18.4%
1966 4,192+14.5%
1971 4,307+2.7%
1976 4,462+3.6%
1981 8,936+100.3%
1986 9,536+6.7%
1991 10,542+10.5%
1996 10,966+4.0%
2001 11,320+3.2%
2006 11,584+2.3%
2011 12,889+11.3%
2016 13,565+5.2%
2021 13,134−3.2%
Source: Statistics Canada

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Sainte-Marie had a population of 13,134 living in 5,500 of its 5,630 total private dwellings, a change of -3.2% from its 2016 population of 13,565. With a land area of 107.55 km2 (41.53 sq mi), it had a population density of 122.1/km2 (316.3/sq mi) in 2021.[4]

Sister cities

Notable people

References

  1. ^ "Banque de noms de lieux du Québec: Reference number 56297". toponymie.gouv.qc.ca (in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec.
  2. ^ a b "Répertoire des municipalités: Geographic code 26030". www.quebec.ca (in French). Gouvernement du Québec.
  3. ^ a b "Census Profile, 2021 Census, Statistics Canada - Validation Error".
  4. ^ "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), Quebec". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  • Media related to Sainte-Marie, Quebec at Wikimedia Commons
  • Official website