Pre-20th-century municipal history of Quebec

The municipal history of Quebec started in 1796 with the creation of administrations for Montréal and Quebec City, but it really developed immediately prior to the creation of the Province of Canada in 1841 with the formation of municipal districts,, followed in March 1845 when the Parliament of the Province of Canada adopted an Act to create local authorities in Lower Canada which took effect in July 1845.

The structure was abolished and replaced in September 1847 by a system of county municipalities, whose councillors were elected from the parishes and townships existing therein, with provision for the creation of towns and villages that would be separated from their counties.10–11 Vic. c. 7, Second Part Further reform came into effect in July 1855 for all parts of Lower Canada other than Montreal, Quebec City and Saint-Hyacinthe,18 Vic. c. 100, s. 4 which included provision for the creation of local councils for parishes and townships,18 Vic. c. 100, s. 10 the representation of towns and villages on county councils,18 Vic. c. 100, s. 11 and the formation of towns and villages by order in council upon the recommendation of the relevant county council.18 Vic. c. 100, s. 34 The municipal law of Lower Canada was consolidated into a single Act in 1860.

Municipalities written in bold are on their current form.

1599 to 1793

1599

Foundation of Tadoussac

1608 3 July: Foundation of Quebec City.

1634 4 July: Foundation of Trois-Rivières.

1642 17 May: Foundation of Ville-Marie.

1793 Foundation of Sherbrooke.

19th century

1802 17 May: Creation of Sherbrooke.

1832 1 January: Montréal and Quebec City became Cities.

1841 15 April: Creation of the Municipal Districts.

1845 1 July: Creation of 167 Municipalities, 115 Parishes and 39 Townships to replace the Municipal districts. See List of Municipalities created in Quebec in 1845. 13 October: Creation of the Village of Montmagny from territories taken from the Parish of Saint-Thomas. 3 November: The Municipality of Baie-de-Gaspé is split into the Municipality of Baie-de-Gaspé-Nord and the Municipality of Baie-de-Gaspé-Sud. The Municipality of Saint-François-de-Sales changed its name to Saint-François-de-Sales-Isle-Jésus.The Canada Gazette, 8 novembre 1845, pages 2208–2209. 11 December: The Municipality of Saint-Raymond became the Parish of Saint-Raymond-Nonnat.The Canada Gazette, 27 décembre 1845, pages 2346–2347 ; The Canada Gazette, 3 janvier 1846, page 2368 ; The Canada Gazette, 10 janvier 1846, page 2396.

1846 7 January: The Municipality of Sault-au-Récollet became the Parish of La Visitation-du-Sault-au-Récollet.The Canada Gazette, 10 janvier 1846, page 2395 ; The Canada Gazette, 17 janvier 1846, pages 2430–2432 ; The Canada Gazette, 24 janvier 1846, pages 2463–2464. 12 January: Creation of the Village of Philipsburg from territories taken from the Municipality of Philipsburg.The Canada Gazette, 17 janvier 1846, page 2430 ; The Canada Gazette, 24 janvier 1846, pages 2462–2463 ; The Canada Gazette, 31 janvier 1846, pages 2491–2492. 9 February: The Municipality of Saint-Cuthbert became a Parish.The Canada Gazette, 21 février 1846, pages 2577–2578 ; The Canada Gazette, 28 février 1846, page 2602 ; The Canada Gazette, 7 mars 1846, page 2628. 25 February: The Municipality of Châteauguay became the Parish of Saint-Joachim-de-Châteauguay.The Canada Gazette, 28 février 1846, pages 2601–2602 ; The Canada Gazette, 7 mars 1846, pages 2627–2628 ; The Canada Gazette, 14 mars 1846, page 2663. 17 March: The Municipality of Onslow is split into the Township of Eardly and the Township of Onslow.The Canada Gazette, 28 mars 1846, page 2722 ; The Canada Gazette, 4 avril 1846, pages 2743–2744 ; The Canada Gazette, 11 avril 1846, pages 2769–2770. 30 March: Creation of the Village of Laprairie-de-la-Magdeleine from territories taken from the Municipality of Laprairie.The Canada Gazette, 18 avril 1846, page 2793 ; The Canada Gazette, 25 avril 1846, pages 2812–2813 ; The Canada Gazette, 2 mai 1846, pages 2828–2829. 8 April: Creation of the Village of L'Assomption from territories taken from the Municipality of L'Assomption.The Canada Gazette, 18 avril 1846, pages 2793–2794 ; The Canada Gazette, 25 avril 1846, page 2813 ; The Canada Gazette, 2 mai 1846, page 2829. 18 May: The Municipality of Isles-de-la-Magdelaine changed its name to Isles-de-la-Magdeleine.Statuts provinciaux du Canada, 9 Victoria, 1846, chapitre XV, pages 733–735. 1 July: The Municipality of Hochelaga is split into the Village of Côte-des-Neiges, the Village of Hochelaga, the Village of Saint-Henri, the Village of Saint-Pierre and the Village of Visitation.Statuts provinciaux du Bas Canada, 9 Victoria, 1846, chapitre LXXVIII, pages 1063–1067. The Municipality of Trois-Rivières is split into the Town of Trois-Rivières and the Suburb of Trois-Rivières.Statuts provinciaux du Bas Canada, 9 Victoria, 1846, chapitre LXXVIII, pages 1063–1067 « Acte pour diviser les Municipalités d’Hochelaga et des Trois-Rivières, respectivement, en Municipalités distinctes, et pour pourvoir plus efficacement au maintien des Ecoles, et à la direction des affaires locales des dites Municipalités. (9 Juin, 1846.) » 4 July: Creation of the Parish of Sainte-Gertrude from territories taken from the Parish of Bécancour and the Parish of Gentilly.The Canada Gazette, 25 juillet 1846, page 3003 ; The Canada Gazette, 1er août 1846, pages 3023–3024 ; The Canada Gazette, 8 août 1846, page 3048. 23 July: The Municipality of Coteau-du-Lac became the Parish of Saint-Ignace-du-Coteau-du-Lac.The Canada Gazette, 1er août 1846, pages 3022–3023 ; The Canada Gazette, 8 août 1846, page 3047 ; The Canada Gazette, 15 août 1846, page 3070. 24 July: Creation of the Municipality of Sainte-Brigide from territories taken from the Parish of Sainte-Marie-de-Monnoir.The Canada Gazette, 1er août 1846, page 3023 ; The Canada Gazette, 8 août 1846, page 3047 ; The Canada Gazette, 15 août 1846, pages 3070–3071. 26 July: Creation of the Village of Beauharnois from territories taken from the Parish of Saint-Clément.The Canada Gazette, 1er août 1846, page 3022 ; The Canada Gazette, 8 août 1846, page 3046 ; The Canada Gazette, 15 août 1846, pages 3069–3070. 14 October: Creation of the Village of La Côte-Saint-Louis from territories taken from the Village of Visitation.The Canada Gazette, 7 novembre 1846, page 3407 ; The Canada Gazette, 14 novembre 1846, pages 3449–3450 ; The Canada Gazette, 21 novembre 1846, page 3498. 4 November: Creation of the Parish of Saint-Janvier-de-Blainville from territories taken from the Municipality of Saint-Jérôme.The Canada Gazette, 7 novembre 1846, page 3408 ; The Canada Gazette, 14 novembre 1846, pages 3450–3451 ; The Canada Gazette, 21 novembre 1846, page 3499. 20 November: The Municipality of Clarendon is split into the Township of Clarendon and the Township of Lichfield.The Canada Gazette, 28 novembre 1846, page 3538 ; The Canada Gazette, 5 décembre 1846, page 3581 ; The Canada Gazette, 12 décembre 1846, page 3623. 24 November: The Municipality of Arthabaska is split into the Municipality Saint-Christophe-d'Arthabaska and the Municipality of Saint-Norbert-d'Arthabaska.The Canada Gazette, 28 novembre 1846, page 3537 ; The Canada Gazette, 5 décembre 1846, pages 3579–3580 ; The Canada Gazette, 12 décembre 1846, page 3622. 25 November: Creation of the Municipality of Sainte-Marthe from territories taken from the Municipality of Rigaud.The Canada Gazette, 28 novembre 1846, page 3536 ; The Canada Gazette, 5 décembre 1846, page 3579 ; The Canada Gazette, 12 décembre 1846, pages 3621–3622. 23 December: Creation of the Village of Christieville from territories taken from the Parish of Saint-Athanase.The Canada Gazette, 26 décembre 1846, pages 3683–3684 ; The Canada Gazette, 2 janvier 1847, pages 3718–3719 ; The Canada Gazette, 9 janvier 1847, pages 3749–3750.

1847 6 February: Creation of the Village of Saint-Ours from territories taken from the Municipality of Saint-Ours.The Canada Gazette, 27 février 1847, pages 3947–3948 ; The Canada Gazette, 6 mars 1847, page 3981 ; The Canada Gazette, 13 mars 1847, page 4016. 22 April: The Municipality of Tring is split into the Municipality of Lambton and the Township of Tring.The Canada Gazette, 24 avril 1847, page 4262 ; The Canada Gazette, 1er mai 1847, page 4304 ; The Canada Gazette, 8 mai 1847, page 4341. 7 May: The Municipality of Saint-Grégoire-le-Grand-de-Monnoir became the Parish of Saint-Grégoire-le-Grand.The Canada Gazette, 22 mai 1847, page 4412-4413 (cette dernière page fait partie du supplément) ; The Canada Gazette, 29 mai 1847, pages 4447–4448 ; The Canada Gazette, 5 juin 1847, pages 4475–4476. The Municipality of Sainte-Brigide became the Parish of Sainte-Brigide-de-Monnoir.The Canada Gazette, 22 mai 1847, pages 4413–4414 (ces deux pages font partie du supplément) ; The Canada Gazette, 29 mai 1847, page 4443 ; The Canada Gazette, 5 juin 1847, page 4474. 14 May: Creation of the Township of Calumet and the Township of Isle-des-Allumettes.The Canada Gazette, 29 mai 1847, page 4447. 3 June: The Township of Stukely is split into the Municipality of North-Stukely and the Municipality of South-Stukely.The Canada Gazette, 19 juin 1847, page 4515 ; The Canada Gazette, 26 juin 1847, page 4532 ; The Canada Gazette, 3 juillet 1847, pages 4550–4551 20 July: Creation of the Village of Aylmer from territories taken from the Township of Hull.The Canada Gazette, 24 juillet 1847, page 4599 ; The Canada Gazette, 31 juillet 1847, page 4619 ; The Canada Gazette, 7 août 1847, page 4641. 1 September: Parishes and Townships are merged into County municipalities.

1848 10 May: Creation of the Town of William-Henry from territories taken from the County of Richelieu. 8 June: Creation of the Village of Varennes from territories taken from the County of Verchères.The Canada Gazette, 17 juin 1848, page 5430 ; The Canada Gazette, 24 juin 1848, page 5454 ; The Canada Gazette, 1er juillet 1848, page 5475. 14 June: Creation of the Village of Longueuil from territories taken from the County of Chambly.The Canada Gazette, 17 juin 1848, pages 5431–5432 ; The Canada Gazette, 24 juin 1848, pages 5455–5456 ; The Canada Gazette, 1er juillet 1848, pages 5476–5477. 20 July: Creation of the Village of Saint-Jean from territories taken from the County of Chambly.The Canada Gazette, 22 juillet 1848, page 5534 ; The Canada Gazette, 29 juillet 1848, page 5556 ; The Canada Gazette, 5 août 1848, pages 5574–5575. 10 August: Creation of the Village of Saint-Eustache from territories taken from the County of Lac-des-Deux-Montagnes.The Canada Gazette, 19 août 1848, page 5620 ; The Canada Gazette, 26 août 1848, pages 5642–5643 ; The Canada Gazette, 2 septembre 1848, page 5665. 24 August: Creation of the Village of Lachine from territories taken from the County of Montreal. 9 October: Creation of the Village of Huntingdon from territories taken from the County of Beauharnois.The Canada Gazette, 14 octobre 1848, pages 5820–5821 ; The Canada Gazette, 21 octobre 1848, pages 5841–5842 ; The Canada Gazette, 28 octobre 1848, pages 5866–5867. 26 October: Creation of the Village of Chambly from territories taken from the County of Chambly.The Canada Gazette, 4 novembre 1848, pages 5887–5888 ; The Canada Gazette, 11 novembre 1848, pages 5911–5912 ; The Canada Gazette, 18 novembre 1848, pages 5933–5934.

1849 30 May: Creation of the Municipality of Sainte-Anne-des-Monts from territories taken from the County of Gaspé.Statuts de la province du Canada, 12 Victoria, 1849, chapitre CXXVI, pages 761–763. 1 June: Creation of the Village of Saint-Thérèse-de-Blainville from territories taken from the County of Terrebonne.The Canada Gazette, 9 juin 1849, pages 6673–6674 ; The Canada Gazette, 16 juin 1849, pages 6748–6749 ; The Canada Gazette, 23 juin 1849, pages 6789–6790.