Les Méchins

Les Méchins is a municipality in Quebec, Canada, about 47 kilometres (29 mi) east of Matane along Quebec Route 132.

Les Méchins
Municipality
Location within La Matanie RCM.
Location within La Matanie RCM.
Les Méchins is located in Eastern Quebec
Les Méchins
Les Méchins
Location in eastern Quebec.
Coordinates: 49°00′N 66°59′W[1]
Country Canada
Province Quebec
RegionBas-Saint-Laurent
RCMLa Matanie
Settled1850s
ConstitutedNovember 27, 1982
Government
[2]
 • MayorJean-Sébastien Barriault
 • Federal ridingHaute-Gaspésie—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia
 • Prov. ridingMatane-Matapédia
Area
[2][3]
 • Total469.80 km2 (181.39 sq mi)
 • Land441.39 km2 (170.42 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[3]
 • Total995
 • Density2.3/km2 (6/sq mi)
 • Pop 2016-2021
Increase 0.8%
 • Dwellings
671
Time zoneUTC−5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Postal code(s)
G0J 1T0
Area code(s)418 and 581
Highways R-132
Websitewww.lesmechins.com

In addition to Les Méchins (formerly known as Grands-Méchins) itself, the municipality also includes the communities of Anse-des-Méchins, Cherbourg, Cherbourg-Centre, Les Îlets Méchins, and Petits-Méchins.

The name Méchins is of uncertain origin although according to one theory, it may come from the French word méchants, meaning "wicked", and referring to rocks in the sea that would make navigation there dangerous. Another, less likely suggestion is that it may be a transformation of "Matsi", a 2.5 metres (8 ft 2 in) tall one-eyed monster of Mi'kmaq folklore who would come down from the mountains with a stick as big as a tree to terrorize the local people.[1]

History
Grands-Mechins in 1930

Colonization began in 1859 when three families arrived. By 1865, it had grown to 119 inhabitants. The Mission of Saint-Édouard was established in 1876 and the following year, the area was incorporated as the United Township Municipality of Dalibaire-et-Romieu. In 1880, the chapel was completed and its registers were opened. From that year onward, the place experienced a development boom due to the founding of a herring smokehouse and maritime industry, including ship building in the late 19th century.[1][4]

While Méchins became a separate municipality in 1952, it was not until 1982 that the current Municipality of Méchins was formed through the merger of Méchins with Saint-Paulin-Dalibaire (formed in 1954) and Saint-Thomas-de-Cherbourg (formed in 1954).[1]

Demographics
Canada census – Les Méchins community profile
202120162011
Population995 (+0.8% from 2016)987 (-10.8% from 2011)1,107 (-3.6% from 2006)
Land area441.39 km2 (170.42 sq mi)443.40 km2 (171.20 sq mi)441.77 km2 (170.57 sq mi)
Population density2.3/km2 (6.0/sq mi)2.2/km2 (5.7/sq mi)2.5/km2 (6.5/sq mi)
Median age59.2 (M: 58.8, F: 59.6)56.8 (M: 56.9, F: 56.8)53.1 (M: 53.3, F: 53.0)
Private dwellings671 (total)  753 (total)  699 (total) 
Median household income$44,800$40,576$36,887
References: 2021[5] 2016[6] 2011[7] earlier[8][9]
Historical Census Data - Les Méchins, Quebec[10]
YearPop.±%
1891 661—    
1901 802+21.3%
1911 1,006+25.4%
1921 800−20.5%
1931 1,201+50.1%
YearPop.±%
1941 1,598+33.1%
1951 2,804+75.5%
1956 1,495−46.7%
1961 1,525+2.0%
1966 1,438−5.7%
YearPop.±%
1971 1,504+4.6%
1976 1,459−3.0%
1981 1,490+2.1%
1986 1,491+0.1%
1991 1,339−10.2%
YearPop.±%
1996 1,280−4.4%
2001 1,220−4.7%
2006 1,148−5.9%
2011 1,107−3.6%
2016 987−10.8%
YearPop.±%
2021 995+0.8%

Mother tongue:[11]

  • English as first language: 0.5%
  • French as first language: 98.5%
  • English and French as first language: 0.5%
  • Other as first language: 0.5%

See also

References
  1. "Les Méchins (Municipalité)" (in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec. Retrieved 2012-01-20.
  2. "Les Méchins". Répertoire des municipalités (in French). Ministère des Affaires municipales, des Régions et de l'Occupation du territoire. Archived from the original on 2014-03-25. Retrieved 2012-01-17.
  3. https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?LANG=E&GENDERlist=1&STATISTIClist=1,4&DGUIDlist=2021A00052408005&HEADERlist=0&SearchText=Les%20mechins
  4. "Les Méchins 125 Ans d'Histoire" (in French). Municipalité de Les Méchins. Archived from the original on 2009-05-19. Retrieved 2012-01-20.
  5. "2021 Community Profiles". 2021 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. February 4, 2022. Retrieved 2022-11-01.
  6. "2016 Community Profiles". 2016 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. August 12, 2021. Retrieved 2022-06-02.
  7. "2011 Community Profiles". 2011 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. March 21, 2019. Retrieved 2014-02-08.
  8. "2006 Community Profiles". 2006 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. August 20, 2019.
  9. "2001 Community Profiles". 2001 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. July 18, 2021.
  10. Statistics Canada: 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016, 2021 census
  11. "Les Méchins community profile". 2021 Census data. Statistics Canada. 26 October 2022. Retrieved 2011-11-01.
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