Bedford, Quebec (town)

Bedford
City

Location within Brome-Missisquoi RCM.
Bedford
Location in southern Quebec.
Coordinates: 45°07′N 72°59′W / 45.117°N 72.983°W / 45.117; -72.983Coordinates: 45°07′N 72°59′W / 45.117°N 72.983°W / 45.117; -72.983[1]
Country  Canada
Province  Quebec
Region Montérégie
RCM Brome-Missisquoi
Constituted November 21, 1866
Government[2][3]
 • Mayor Yves Lévesque
 • Federal riding Brome—Missisquoi
 • Prov. riding Brome-Missisquoi
Area[2][4]
 • Total 4.40 km2 (1.70 sq mi)
 • Land 4.20 km2 (1.62 sq mi)
Elevation 53 m (174 ft)
Population (2011)[4]
 • Total 2,684
 • Density 639.4/km2 (1,656/sq mi)
 • Pop 2006-2011 Increase 2.8%
 • Dwellings 1,276
Time zone UTC−5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Postal code(s) J0J 1A0
Area code(s) 450 and 579
Highways Route 202
Route 235
Exchange# 248
GNBC Code EFMFP
NTS Map 031H02
Geocode 2446035
People Bedfordite

Bedford is a city located in the Montérégie region of southern Quebec, Canada. The population as of the Canada 2011 Census was 2,684. This small community is just an hour's drive from larger cities such as Burlington and Montreal, and is the home to southern Quebec's largest boy scout troop.

History

The first settlers arrived in 1812.

Origin of the name

The name "Bedford" could have been given by Loyalists who knew of several Bedfords back in the former American colonies. The name could also have been a tribute to Lord John Russell, who was the fourth Duke of Bedford (1710–1771), an English politician and Secretary of State (1748–1751), and governor general of Ireland from 1756 to 1761.

Geography

Bedford is part of Brome-Missisquoi Regional County Municipality, in the administrative region of Montérégie.

The town, located 86 kilometres (53 mi) southeast of Montreal, is completely enclaved within the township of Bedford. Seated in the Saint-Lawrence lowlands, at the beginning of the steep leading to the Appalachian Mountains, the Pike River (Rivière aux Brochets) flows through the middle of the town, separating it into south and north parts.

Demographics

Population

Canada census – Bedford (city), Quebec community profile
2011 2006
Population: 2,684 (+2.8% from 2006) 2,612 (-2.1% from 2001)
Land area: 4.20 km2 (1.62 sq mi) 4.20 km2 (1.62 sq mi)
Population density: 639.4/km2 (1,656/sq mi) 622.2/km2 (1,611/sq mi)
Median age: 46.8 (M: 44.6, F: 48.2) 45.0 (M: 43.3, F: 46.5)
Total private dwellings: 1,276 1,261
Median household income: $36,266 $39,329
References: 2011[5] 2006[6] earlier[7]
Historical Census Data - Bedford (city), Quebec[8]
YearPop.±%
1991 2,665—    
1996 2,748+3.1%
YearPop.±%
2001 2,667−2.9%
2006 2,612−2.1%
YearPop.±%
2011 2,684+2.8%

Language

Canada Census Mother Tongue - Bedford (city), Quebec[8]
Census Total
French
English
French & English
Other
Year Responses Count Trend Pop % Count Trend Pop % Count Trend Pop % Count Trend Pop %
2011
2,555
 1,910 Increase 2.4% 74.76% 540 Increase 9.1% 21.14% 70 Increase 55.5% 2.74% 35 Decrease 36.4% 1.37%
2006
2,460
 1,865 Decrease 2.1% 75.81% 495 Decrease 5.7% 20.12% 45 Decrease 10.0% 1.83% 55 Decrease 35.3% 2.24%
2001
2,565
 1,905 Decrease 8.2% 74.27% 525 Steady 0.0% 20.47% 50 Increase 233.3% 1.95% 85 Increase 466.7% 3.31%
1996
2,630
 2,075 n/a 78.90% 525 n/a 19.96% 15 n/a 0.57% 15 n/a 0.57%

About 20% of the population is Anglophone, many families having settled there after the arrival of the Loyalists in 1776.

Parishes

  • Roman Catholic Church
  • Saint Mitchels Parish
  • Le frontere Perish
  • The Anglican Parish of Bedford, Philipsburg and Farnham
  • United Church

Activities

Every year since 1828, at the beginning of August, the town holds its annual fair, the oldest of its kind in Quebec and the second oldest in Canada. One can play hockey, curling or figure skate at the Centre sportif. Every year since 1969, Bedford has held a PeeWee hockey exchange with Kensington, PE.

Schools

  • École primaire et secondaire Monseigneur-Desranleau (French)
  • École primaire du Premier Envol (French)
  • Butler Elementary (English 1-7)

Notable people from Bedford

  • Eric Henry Kemp (1908–1975) Mayor of Bedford in the 1950s.
  • Rob Kemp (1972-), Radio Host. The Beat 92 FM Montreal.
  • Dominic Messier (1974-), Toronto-based Entertainment Feature Writer.
  • Georges Thurston (1951–2007) a.k.a. Boule Noire, R&B singer for 30 years.
  • Pierre Paradis (1950-), Member of National Assembly of Quebec for 25 years and former Cabinet Minister
  • Marcellus Gilmore Edson (1849-1940), chemist who invented peanut butter.
  • Pietro L Serapiglia (1956-) Award-Winning IMAX Producer
  • Chester Alan Arthur (1829-1886), 21st President of the United States

See also

References

  1. ↑ Reference number 4594 of the Commission de toponymie du Québec (in French)
  2. 1 2 Ministère des Affaires municipales, des Régions et de l'Occupation du territoire: Frelighsburg
  3. ↑ Parliament of Canada Federal Riding History: BROME--MISSISQUOI (Quebec)
  4. 1 2 2011 Statistics Canada Census Profile: Bedford, Quebec
  5. ↑ "2011 Community Profiles". Canada 2011 Census. Statistics Canada. July 5, 2013. Retrieved 2014-03-11.
  6. ↑ "2006 Community Profiles". Canada 2006 Census. Statistics Canada. March 30, 2011. Retrieved 2014-03-11.
  7. ↑ "2001 Community Profiles". Canada 2001 Census. Statistics Canada. February 17, 2012.
  8. 1 2 Statistics Canada: 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011 census



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