Marsoui,_Quebec
Marsoui, Quebec
Village municipality in Quebec, Canada
Marsoui is a village municipality in the Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine region of Quebec, Canada.
Marsoui | |
|---|---|
Church in Marsoui | |
Location within La Haute-Gaspésie RCM. | |
| Coordinates: 49°13′N 66°04′W[1] | |
| Country |  Canada |
| Province |  Quebec |
| Region | Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine |
| RCM | La Haute-Gaspésie |
| Settled | 1830s |
| Constituted | January 1, 1950 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Ghislain Deschenes |
| • Federal riding | Haute-Gaspésie—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia |
| • Prov. riding | Gaspé |
| Area | |
| • Total | 177.10 km2 (68.38 sq mi) |
| • Land | 181.75 km2 (70.17 sq mi) |
| There is an apparent contradiction between two authoritative sources | |
| Population | |
| • Total | 275 |
| • Density | 1.5/km2 (4/sq mi) |
| • Pop 2011-2016 |  11% |
| • Dwellings | 182 |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Postal code(s) | |
| Area code(s) | 418 and 581 |
| Highways |  R-132 |
| Website | www |
The name Marsoui is thought to originate from the Mi'kmaq word malseoui, meaning "flint" which is abundant in the area. However, another theory explains that it comes from the French word marsouin, the vernacular term for porpoise or beluga whale that used to be present in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence in large numbers. Alternate spellings used over time were Marsouis, Marsoin, and Marsouins.[1]
While the beluga hunt and cod fishing was popular in this area during the late 17th century, it was not until 1836 that the first permanent settlers, the Henley family of Mont-Louis, arrived. They were followed by people from Jersey.[1]
In 1890, the Mission of Sainte-Émélie-de-Marsoui was founded there, and 3 years later, the local post office opened.[1] Subsistence fishing was the main economic activity until 1911. Then a small saw mill was built that started the transformation to a forestry-based economy. Over the following decades, several saw mills burnt down and were rebuilt.[5]
During the Prohibition era in the United States, Marsoui was a favorite hideout for smugglers fleeing the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.[1]
In 1923, the villages of Marsoui and Rivière-à-la-Marthe separated from the municipality of Sainte-Anne-des-Monts to form the Township Municipality of Christie. In turn, Marsoui separated from this township in 1950 to be incorporated as a village municipality. Its first mayor was Alphonse Couturier, whose company had built a large saw mill in Marsoui in 1940.[6]
From 1945 to 1954, a lead and zinc mine operated about 21 kilometres (13 mi) southwest of Marsoui.[5]
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 475 | — |
| 1996 | 440 | −7.4% |
| 2001 | 373 | −15.2% |
| 2006 | 341 | −8.6% |
| 2011 | 309 | −9.4% |
| 2016 | 275 | −11.0% |
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Marsoui had a population of 289 living in 149 of its 179 total private dwellings, a change of 5.1% from its 2016 population of 275. With a land area of 181.4 km2 (70.0 sq mi), it had a population density of 1.6/km2 (4.1/sq mi) in 2021.[8]
| 2021 | 2016 | 2011 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 289 (+5.1% from 2016) | 275 (-11.0% from 2011) | 309 (-9.4% from 2006) |
| Land area | 181.40 km2 (70.04 sq mi) | 181.75 km2 (70.17 sq mi) | 183.63 km2 (70.90 sq mi) |
| Population density | 1.6/km2 (4.1/sq mi) | 1.5/km2 (3.9/sq mi) | 1.7/km2 (4.4/sq mi) |
| Median age | 62.4 (M: 61.2, F: 62.8) | 57.2 (M: 56.2, F: 57.7) | 55.2 (M: 55.1, F: 55.3) |
| Private dwellings | 179 (total) 149 (occupied) | 182 (total) | 177 (total) |
| Median household income | $50,400 | $48,768 | $55,296 |
Mother tongue language (2016)[14]
| Language | Population | Pct (%) |
|---|---|---|
| French only | 270 | 98.2% |
| English only | 0 | 0.0% |
| Both English and French | 0 | 0.0% |
| Other languages | 5 | 1.8% |
The primary industry of Marsoui is forestry. The Bois Marsoui GDS mill supports 60% of its population. There is also a small tourism industry, including 2 commercial sugar houses. Other businesses provide local commercial and public services.[15][16]
- "Marsoui (Municipalité de village)" (in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec. Retrieved 2012-02-06.
- "Marsoui". Répertoire des municipalités (in French). Ministère des Affaires municipales, des Régions et de l'Occupation du territoire. Archived from the original on 2012-06-07. Retrieved 2012-04-02.
- "Economie, historique" (in French). Municipalité de Marsoui. Retrieved 2011-12-16.
- "Municipalité, historique" (in French). Municipalité de Marsoui. Retrieved 2011-12-16.
- "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), Quebec". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
- "2021 Community Profiles". 2021 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. February 4, 2022. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
- "2016 Community Profiles". 2016 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. August 12, 2021. Retrieved 2022-07-13.
- "2011 Community Profiles". 2011 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. March 21, 2019. Retrieved 2014-02-03.
- "2006 Community Profiles". 2006 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. August 20, 2019.
- "2001 Community Profiles". 2001 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. July 18, 2021.
- "Municipalité de Marsoui" (in French). MRC de La Haute-Gaspésie. Retrieved 2011-12-19.