Montcerf-Lytton, Quebec

Montcerf-Lytton
Coordinates: 46°32′N 76°03′W / 46.533°N 76.05°W / 46.533; -76.05Coordinates: 46°32′N 76°03′W / 46.533°N 76.05°W / 46.533; -76.05
Country	Canada
Province	Quebec
Region	Outaouais
Regional county	Vallée-de-la-Gatineau
Incorporation	September 19, 2001
Government
– Type	Municipality
– Mayor	Fernand Lirette
– Federal riding	Pontiac
– Prov. riding	Gatineau
Area[1]
– Total	358.34 km2 (138.4 sq mi)
– Land	353.12 km2 (136.3 sq mi)
Population (2006)[2]
– Total	739
– Density	2.1/km2 (5.4/sq mi)
Time zone	EST (UTC-5)
– Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
Postal Code	J0W 1N0
Area code(s)	819
Website	www.montcerf-lytton.com

Montcerf village centre

Montcerf-Lytton is a municipality in La Vallée-de-la-Gatineau Regional County Municipality, Quebec, Canada. Its territory spans both shores of the Désert River, a tributary of the Gatineau River.

Its population centres include: Brodeur, Chute-Rouge, Lytton, and Montcerf.

Montcerf has one of the best soil for cultivation across the Gatineau Valley region, supplemented by a network of lakes (most notably Clair, Desrivières, and Lytton Lakes) and forests, which are part of the Bras-Coupé–Désert ZEC.^[3] Fishing and hunting are popular sport activities in this place.^[4]

History

The Township of Lytton was formed in 1869, named after Lord Edward Bulwer-Lytton (1803-1873). The township municipality was set up in 1909.^[3] with M.W.P. O'Connor as first mayor. In 1916, telephone service is established in Lytton, but not until 1952 did electricity arrive.^[5]

Montcerf was opened for colonization in 1870. Formerly spelled "Moncerf" or "Mont Cerf", it became Montcerf (French for "Mount Deer") during the nineteenth century and the name presumably refers to a mountain which rises near the village and once teemed with deer and moose. The mission of Sainte-Philomène-de-Montcerf was established in 1872 and the Montcerf Post Office opened in 1886. The Municipality of Montcerf was officially set up in 1920 ^[4] with Abraham Mathieu as first mayor. In 1929, electricity arrived in Montcerf, followed by telephone service in 1948.^[5]

On September 19, 2001, the Municipality of Montcerf and the Lytton Township Municipality were merged into the new Municipality of Montcerf-Lytton ^[4] with Fernand Lirette (mayor of Montcerf since 1974) as first mayor.^[5]

Demographics

Population:^[6]

• Population in 2006: 739 (2001 to 2006 population change: 5.1 %)
• Population total in 2001: 703
  • Montcerf: 422
  • Lytton: 281
• Population in 1996:
  • Montcerf: 474
  • Lytton: 252
• Population in 1991:
  • Montcerf: 484
  • Lytton: 240

Total private dwellings (excluding seasonal cottages): 323

Languages:

• French as first language: 100 %

In Popular Culture

Montcerf is mentioned in David Foster Wallace's novel Infinite Jest. The character John ("no relation") Wayne originally hails from Montcerf.

References

1. ^ Total area: Ministère des Affaires Municipales et Régions
   Land area: Statistics Canada
2. ^ Statistics Canada 2006 Census
3. ^ ^{a b} "Lytton (Canton)" (in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec. http://www.toponymie.gouv.qc.ca/ct/topos/carto.asp?Speci=37664&Latitude=46,65&Longitude=-76,03333&Zoom=1700. Retrieved 2008-08-21. 
4. ^ ^{a b c} "Montcerf (Municipalité)" (in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec. http://www.toponymie.gouv.qc.ca/ct/topos/odo.asp?Speci=42058. Retrieved 2008-08-21. 
5. ^ ^{a b c} "Historique Montcerf-Lytton" (in French). Municipalité de Montcerf-Lytton. http://www.montcerf-lytton.com/pages_municipal/Histoire/historique.html. Retrieved 2008-08-21. 
6. ^ Statistics Canada: 1996, 2001, 2006 census