Chichester, Quebec

Chichester
—  Township municipality  —
Cultural museum in Chichester
Coordinates: 45°55′02″N 77°04′37″W / 45.91722°N 77.07694°W / 45.91722; -77.07694Coordinates: 45°55′02″N 77°04′37″W / 45.91722°N 77.07694°W / 45.91722; -77.07694
Country	Canada
Province	Quebec
Region	Outaouais
Regional county	Pontiac
Incorporation	January 1, 1857
Government[1]
- Mayor	Donald Gagnon
- Ridings:
- Federal	Pontiac
- Provincial	Pontiac
Area[1][2]
- Total	225.71 km2 (87.1 sq mi)
- Land	221.21 km2 (85.4 sq mi)
Population (2006)[2]
- Total	388
- Density	1.8/km2 (4.7/sq mi)
Time zone	EST (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
Postal Code	J0X 1M0
Area code(s)	819

Chichester is a township and village in the Canadian province of Quebec, located within the Pontiac Regional County Municipality. The township had a population of 388 in the Canada 2006 Census.

Chichester is located along the north shores of the Ottawa River across from Chapeau on Allumette Island.

Its settlements include Chichester and Nichabau. Nichabau, also known as Nicabeau or Nichabong, is a scenic hamlet located northwest of Chichester in what used to be referred to as Poupore's Limits. It is noted for its great number of square log homes. ^[3]

Geography

The northern part of the municipal territory is sparsely populated and undeveloped, dotted with several lakes including Lake McGillivray. In its centre there are hills some of which reach an altitude of 400 meters (1,300 ft). The southern portion is mostly cleared and used for agriculture, and where the 2 communities are located.^[4]

History

The Gale and Duberger Map of 1795 already showed the planned "Chicheter" [sic] Township but it was not officially proclaimed until 1849. It is named after the administrative capital of West Sussex, England.^[4]

In 1854, the local post office opened (closed in 1970). In 1855, the township was incorporated as a municipality^[5] with John B. Poupore as its first mayor.^[3]

Chichester was once a thriving community with numerous sawmills, a grist mill, shingle mill, blacksmith shop and two hotels. In the 19th century (1873-1876), the township tried to boost its economy by petitioning the Federal Department of Public Works^[6] to build large wooden locks in the Culbute Channel of the Ottawa River, claimed to be the largest wooden ones in Canada. The locks were meant to allow steamboat travel on the upper portion of the river but this idea never caught on.^[3] The Culbute Locks (and associated dam) were in use from 1876 until the fall of 1889 when they were "...abandoned to the forces of the river and Nature's wood-rotting agents..."^[6]

Today, the municipality is predominantly dependant on farming, lumbering, and some summer tourism.^[3]

Demographics

Population trend:^[7]

• Population in 2006: 388 (2001 to 2006 population change: 1.8 %)
• Population in 2001: 381
• Population in 1996: 462
• Population in 1991: 460

Total private dwellings (excluding seasonal cottages): 157

Mother tongue:

• English as first language: 87 %
• French as first language: 10 %
• Other as first language: 3 %

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Chichester" (in French). Répertoire des municipalités. Ministère des Affaires Municipales, Régions et Occupation du territoire. http://www.mamrot.gouv.qc.ca/repertoire-des-municipalites/fiche/municipalite/84090/. Retrieved 2011-01-11. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "Chichester community profile". 2006 Census data. Statistics Canada. http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/prof/92-591/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=2484090&Geo2=PR&Code2=24&Data=Count&SearchText=Chichester&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom=. Retrieved 2011-01-11. 
3. ^ ^{a b c d} "Pontiac MRC Gateway: Chichester". Pontiac MRC Gateway. http://www.mrcpontiac.qc.ca/en/dossiers/dossiers.php?id_dossier=34. Retrieved 2008-06-27. ^{[dead link]}
4. ^ ^{a b} "Canton de Chichester" (in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec. http://www.toponymie.gouv.qc.ca/ct/topos/carto.asp?Speci=13171&Latitude=46&Longitude=-77,08334&Zoom=1700. Retrieved 2008-06-27. 
5. ^ "Municipalité de Canton de Chichester" (in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec. http://www.toponymie.gouv.qc.ca/ct/topos/carto.asp?Speci=13173&Latitude=45,91666&Longitude=-77,11667&Zoom=1700. Retrieved 2008-06-27. 
6. ^ ^{a b} The Upper Ottawa Valley, by Clyde C. Kennedy published by the Renfrew County Council, Pembroke, Ontario, 1970
7. ^ Statistics Canada: 1996, 2001, 2006 census