New Richmond is an incorporated municipality in Quebec, Canada, situated on the southern coast of the Gaspé Peninsula between the municipalities of Maria and Caplan.
New Richmond is bounded on the west by the Grand Cascapedia River. The Little Cascapedia runs to the east of the town proper. In addition to New Richmond itself, the town's territory also includes the communities of Black Cape and Saint-Edgar.
History
New Richmond in 1910
The first European settlers arrived from Scotland in 1755. The first arrivals were the Duthie brothers, George and John Duthie and their families. Their descendants still reside in the area today. It is one of the very few remaining municipalities on the Gaspé which still has a relatively large English-speaking population. It was originally a centre of farming, logging, and shipbuilding.
Demographics
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, New Richmond had a population of 3,683 living in 1,715 of its 1,805 total private dwellings, a change of -0.6% from its 2016 population of 3,706. With a land area of 172.5 km2 (66.6 sq mi), it had a population density of 21.4/km2 (55.3/sq mi) in 2021.[3]
The town experienced considerable growth in the 1960s with the development of a linerboard paper mill by Bathurst paper, which became Consolidated Bathurst and after a number of name changes Smurfit Stone. Economic downturns in the region brought a reduction in mill operations and many residents left for other regions. In 2005 the mill completely shut down, leaving the town with no major industry.
There is a large wharf located to the east of the town. This was built to service cargo ships that would arrive to be loaded with kraft paper or bunker oil. It is now mainly recreational.
The town has a British Heritage Museum. There is a small shopping centre as well as an indoor swimming pool, a hockey arena, and a theatre.
Infrastructure
Route 132, being the longest route in Quebec, connects New Richmond to the rest of the Gaspé Peninsula and continues all the way to the United States border. Bridge Henri A. Leblanc crosses the Little Cascapédia River in the city.
Education
There is an English-language school (New Richmond High School) located in the centre of town which serves now grades K-11. French-speaking children have their own school (Bois Vivant) and complete high school in the town of Carleton.
