Elgin is a rural municipality in Quebec, Canada. The population as of the 2021 Canadian census was 389. It is located southwest of Huntingdon and bounded by the Trout and Châteauguay rivers and the Canada–United States border.
History The Municipality of the Township of Elgin was formed in 1855, with the present town hall being built in 1869. Its small fields and many stone houses attest to the first Scottish settlers who began arriving in the early 19th century. It was named in honour of James Bruce, 8th Earl of Elgin, who had become popular with French Canadians for passing the Rebellion Losses Bill in 1849 to compensate the victims of the 1837 Uprising.
In 2009, the township municipality changed statutes to become a regular municipality.
Geography The municipality is situated on the border with the United States, 14 kilometres south-west of Huntingdon, Quebec. It is one of the two southernmost communities in Quebec, along with Hinchinbrooke, with their tripoint with New York on the Châteauguay River being the southernmost point in the province.
Communities The following locations reside within the municipality's boundaries: Trout River () – a hamlet situated on Route 138, just north of the U.S. border. Includes Canada & US Customs border crossing.
Lakes & rivers The following waterways pass through or are situated within the municipality's boundaries: Trout River () – runs along the municipality's Western and Northern border. Châteauguay River () – delineates the municipality's Eastern border.
Demographics
Population
Language Canada Census Mother Tongue - Elgin, Quebec Census Total Year Responses Count Trend Pop % Count Trend Pop % Count Trend Pop % Count Trend Pop % 155 8.8% 38.27% 210 22.2% 51.85% 10 n/a% 2.47% 30 200.0% 7.41% 170 3.0% 37.8% 270 14.9% 60.00% 0 100.0% 0.00% 10 77.8% 2.22% 165 43.5% 36.26% 235 17.5% 51.65% 10 n/a% 2.20% 45 0.0% 9.89% 115 n/a 25.84% 285 n/a 64.05% 0 n/a 0.00% 45 n/a 10.11%
Local government List of former mayors:
Noëlla Daoust (...–2005) Jean-Pierre Proulx (2005–2009) Deborah Stewart (2009–present)
Arts and culture
A rural art and music centre offers a full summer program of professional entertainment and cultural events in a renovated old church, now named Kelso Hall. Run by community volunteers Kim Moss, Nora Quinn, and Cathleen Johnston, Kelso Hall has been host to comedian Lorne Elliott, classical string quartets, silent movies with piano accompaniment, slide-music presentations, exhibits of art, and more. (Since 2013, this project has been closed)
See also Jamieson Line Border Crossing List of anglophone communities in Quebec List of municipalities in Quebec
References
External links
Elgin website Percy Covered Bridge, Powerscourt Quebec