Beauharnois (; ) is a city located in the Beauharnois-Salaberry Regional County Municipality of southwestern Quebec, Canada, and is part of the Greater Montreal Area. The city's population as of the Canada 2021 Census was 13,638. It is home to the Beauharnois Hydroelectric Power Station, as well as the Beauharnois Lock of the Saint Lawrence Seaway.
History
During the Lower Canada Rebellion, the Battle of Beauharnois was fought in 1838, between Lower Canada loyalists and Patriote rebels. After Edward Ellice and his family were taken prisoner by rebels, the townspeople rebelled. The British were able to quash the rebellion and captured over a hundred Patriote rebels.
The Beauharnois Canal was dug between 1842 and 1845 to connect the lakes Saint-Louis and Saint-Francois as part of a larger project that included the expansion of the Lachine canal. During these years, however, a series of labor conflicts emerged during the canal's construction. On June 3, 1843, a strike began at the canal's construction site. A battle ensued between the striking workers and employers, resulting in the death of five workers and 50 additional injured. The violence unleashed during the strike represented the bloodiest repression against workers in Canadian history.
As part of the 2000–2006 municipal reorganization in Quebec, the neighbouring towns of Maple Grove and Melocheville were amalgamated into Beauharnois on January 1, 2002.
Geography
Communities In addition to the main population centre of Beauharnois, the following locations are within the municipality's boundaries: Domaine-de-la-Pointe-des-Érables () – a residential area north of Maple Grove Maple Grove () – a former municipality that makes up the northeast boundary of Beauharnois Melocheville () – a former municipality that makes up the western boundary of Beauharnois, located on the west shore of the Beauharnois Canal Parc-Tisseur () – a residential area in southern Beauharnois Rivière-Nord () – a hamlet in southern Beauharnois Saint-Paul () – a residential area located on Route 205
Lakes & rivers The following waterways pass through or are situated within the municipality's boundaries: Rivière Saint-Louis () – runs south to north through the city centre, down Chute de la Rivière Saint Louis, emptying into the Saint Lawrence River.
Demographics
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Beauharnois had a population of living in of its total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of . With a land area of , it had a population density of in 2021.
Canada Census mother tongue - Beauharnois, QuebecStatistics Canada: 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011 census Census Total Year Responses Count Trend Pop % Count Trend Pop % Count Trend Pop % Count Trend Pop % 11,865 5.5% 93.65% 505 9.8% 3.98% 115 9.5% 0.91% 185 48% 1.46% 11,245 1.7% 94.22% 460 16.5% 3.85% 105 133.3% 0.88% 125 37.5% 1.05% 11,055 84.6% 94.53% 395 163.3% 3.38% 45 30.8% 0.38% 200 471.4% 1.71% 5,990 1.1% 95.99% 150 15.4% 2.40% 65 62.5% 1.04% 35 12.5% 0.56% 6,055 n/a 98.75% 130 n/a 0.69% 40 n/a 0.33% 40 n/a 0.23%Amalgamated with Maple Grove and Melocheville on January 1, 2002
Economy In January 2012, OVH renovated a former aluminum smelter into its first Canadian data centre in Beauharnois, choosing the location for its proximity to the Beauharnois Hydroelectric Power Station, which is ample enough to furnish its large electrical demands. The data centre's success gave way to further investments in Canadian data centres, leading to the opening of another data centre in Toronto in March 2024.
See also List of cities in Quebec Beauharnois Canal
References
External links
Beauharnois official website