Quebec, often referred to as “La Belle Province” (The Beautiful Province), is the largest province in Canada by area and the second-largest by population.[1] Quebec covers an area of approximately 1.5 million square kilometers (595,391 square miles).[2] As of 2024, the estimated population of Quebec is around 9 million people.[3] The majority of the population resides in urban areas, with Montreal being the largest city and Quebec City serving as the provincial capital.[1]
Quebec’s economy is diverse and post-industrial, with a strong emphasis on the manufacturing and service sectors. The province is highly integrated with the economies of the rest of Canada and the United States.[4] Quebec is a global leader in the aerospace industry.[5] Quebec province Is also one of the largest producers of hydroelectric power in the world.[6] and the province has significant mining operations, particularly in aluminum and iron ore.[7] The pharmaceutical industry is a vital part of Quebec’s economy.[8] Quebec is known for extensive forests and paper production[9] and it produces about 75% of the world’s maple syrup.[10]. Quebec has a variety of national and provincial parks such as Jacques-Cartier National Park that is known for its stunning glacial valley and diverse wildlife. Additional national parks include Grands-Jardins National Park, Forillon National Park,, Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve, and Mont Tremblant National Park.
Quebec is renowned for its historical and cultural attractions. Old Quebec, A UNESCO World Heritage Site, is known for its well-preserved colonial architecture and cobblestone streets. Château Frontenac, the most photographed hotel in the world, located in Quebec City. Montmorency Falls is a spectacular waterfall that is higher than Niagara Falls.
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History of Quebec
The first European to explore the region was French explorer Jacques Cartier, who arrived in the Gulf of St. Lawrence in 1534 and claimed the land for France.[11] In 1608, Samuel de Champlain founded Quebec City, establishing the first permanent French settlement in the St. Lawrence Valley. This marked the beginning of New France, with Quebec City becoming the capital of the colony.[11]
Following the Seven Years’ War, the Treaty of Paris in 1763 ceded control of New France to Britain, and the region was renamed the Province of Quebec.[12] In 1791, the Constitutional Act divided Quebec into Upper and Lower Canada, with Lower Canada corresponding to present-day Quebec.[12] The Act of Union in 1840 merged Upper and Lower Canada into the Province of Canada.[13] In 1867, Quebec became one of the four founding provinces of the Canadian Confederation through the British North America Act.[14]
During the colonial period, Quebec’s economy was primarily based on the fur trade, agriculture, and timber.[15] The timber industry, particularly in regions like Mauricie and Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, played a significant role in the economy.[16] The 19th century saw the expansion of agriculture, with wheat becoming a staple export.[17] The development of railways further spurred economic growth and facilitated the movement of goods and people.[18]
The early 20th century marked significant industrial growth in Quebec. Hydroelectricity became a key driver of industrial development, replacing steam as the main energy source in factories.[19] New industries related to the exploitation of natural resources, such as mining and aluminum production, emerged.[19] The province also saw growth in the dairy industry and urbanization, which transformed the agricultural landscape.[15]
Demographics of Quebec
The demographic distribution of the Quebec population is as follows:[20]
In 2011, the racial composition of Quebec was: 87.2% white, 11% visible minority groups and 1.4% Aboriginal (1.1% First Nations, 0.5% Metis, 0.2% Inuit). There are also a large number of Indian bands who refuse to participate in the census for political reasons about the question of aboriginal sovereignty. The larger groups are the Mohawk Indian reserves.The visible minority groups include:
- Black: 3.2%
- Arab: 2.2%
- Latin American: 1.5%
- South Asian: 1.1%
- Chinese: 1.1%
- Southeast Asian: 0.9%
- Filipino: 0.4%
- West Asian: 0.3%
- Korean: 0.1%
- Japanese: 0.1%
Quebec is the only province in Canada with a French-speaking majority and where English-speakers are an officially recognized minority group. Francophones account for 81% of the total population, although their birth rate is very low.
Most common surnames in Quebec
Researching family history in Quebec
The Archives Montreal or Archives de Montréal has a substantial collection of records from Quebec. The Hudson Bay Company Archives is part of the Archives of Manitoba and has digitized 1052 reels of microfilm, encompassing over 10,000 volumes of the pre-1870 records kept at almost five hundred Hudson's Bay Company posts. The Eastern Townships Resource Centre is one of the top accredited archives in Quebec. Province of Québec original records before 1900 are at the nine branches of the Archives Nationales du Québec The Société Généalogique Canadienne-Française has an extensive genealogical library. The Société de généalogie de Québec supports genealogical research. There are additional local genealogical societies throughout the province.
Quebec Administrative Divisions
Quebec was divided into counties until the early 1980s when they were dissolved and the province was divided into regional county municipalities.[21] The province is further divided into MRC or RCM (French: municipalité régionale de comté, MRC) that refer to 87 county-like political entities. In some older English translations they were called county regional municipality. Quebec also has. 17 administrative regions. They have no government, but serve to organize the provision of provincial services. They are numbered one through 17.[21]
| 01 Bas-Saint-Laurent | 02 Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean | 03 Capitale-Nationale | 04 Mauricie |
| 05 Estrie | 06 Montréal | 07 Outaouais | 08 Abitibi-Témiscamingue |
| 09 Côte-Nord | 10 Nord-du-Québec | 11 Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine | 12 Chaudière-Appalaches |
| 13 Laval | 14 Lanaudière | 15 Laurentides | 16 Montérégie |
| 17 Centre-du-Québec |
There are 14 Regional County Municipalities in Montérégie.
See also
Explore more about Quebec
MyHeritage.com has 33 valuable genealogical collections for Quebec including Quebec Marriage Returns, 1926-1997, Canada, Montréal Jewish Synagogue Vital Records, Canada, French Newspapers 1807-2007, and Canada, Quebec, Catholic Parish Burials. There are additional important records in the Quebec Collection Catalog.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Quebec
- ↑ Quebec summary | Britannica
- ↑ Quebec's population surpasses 9 million, non-permanent residents and immigrants fueling growth
- ↑ Quebec: The Economy Is Stronger than Expected, with Real GDP Gaining 0.6% in April
- ↑ The Québec Aerospace Strategy Horizon 2026
- ↑ What are the largest hydropower companies in the world?
- ↑ Quebec's Top Exports 2023
- ↑ Pharmaceuticals in Quebec
- ↑ Invest in forest products industry
- ↑ Top 10 Most Iconic Foods of Quebec: Canadian Food Series
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 History of Québec City | Visit Québec City
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Province of Quebec 1763-91
- ↑ Act of Union | The Canadian Encyclopedia
- ↑ British North America Act | Impact on Canada & UK | Britannica
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 HQC - Changes in Timber, Farm and Dairy Industries
- ↑ Mauricie and Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean,
- ↑ History of Agriculture to the Second World War
- ↑ National Bureau of Economic Research
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 The industrialization of Quebec
- ↑ Quebec Population 2024
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 Subdivisions of Quebec