Bedford, Quebec (town)

Bedford is a city located in the Montérégie region of southern Quebec, Canada. The population as of the Canada 2011 Census was 2,684. This small community is just an hour's drive from larger cities such as Burlington and Montreal, and is the home to southern Quebec's largest Boy Scout troop.

For the neighboring township of the same name, see Bedford, Quebec (township).
Bedford
City
Location within Brome-Missisquoi RCM.
Bedford
Location in southern Quebec.
Coordinates: 45°07′N 72°59′W[1]
CountryCanada
ProvinceQuebec
RegionMontérégie
RCMBrome-Missisquoi
ConstitutedNovember 21, 1866
Government
 • MayorYves Lévesque
 • Federal ridingBrome—Missisquoi
 • Prov. ridingBrome-Missisquoi
Area
 • Total4.40 km2 (1.70 sq mi)
 • Land4.20 km2 (1.62 sq mi)
Elevation
53 m (174 ft)
Population
 (2011)[4]
 • Total2,684
 • Density639.4/km2 (1,656/sq mi)
 • Pop 2006-2011
 2.8%
 • Dwellings
1,276
Time zoneUTC−5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Postal code(s)
J0J 1A0
Area code(s)450 and 579
Highways Route 202
Route 235
Exchange#248
GNBC CodeEFMFP
NTS Map031H02
Geocode2446035
PeopleBedfordite

History

The first settlers arrived in 1812.

Origin of the name

The name "Bedford" could have been given by Loyalists who knew of several Bedfords back in the former American colonies. The name could also have been a tribute to Lord John Russell, who was the fourth Duke of Bedford (1710–1771), an English politician and Secretary of State (1748–1751), and governor general of Ireland from 1756 to 1761.

Geography

Bedford is part of Brome-Missisquoi Regional County Municipality, in the administrative region of Montérégie.

The town, located 86 kilometres (53 mi) southeast of Montreal, is completely enclaved within the township of Bedford. Seated in the Saint-Lawrence lowlands, at the beginning of the steppe leading to the Appalachian Mountains, the town is separated into north and south parts by the Pike River (Rivière aux Brochets).

Demographics

Population
Canada census – Bedford (city), Quebec community profile
2011 2006
Population: 2,684 (+2.8% from 2006) 2,612 (-2.1% from 2001)
Land area: 4.20 km2 (1.62 sq mi) 4.20 km2 (1.62 sq mi)
Population density: 639.4/km2 (1,656/sq mi) 622.2/km2 (1,611/sq mi)
Median age: 46.8 (M: 44.6, F: 48.2) 45.0 (M: 43.3, F: 46.5)
Total private dwellings: 1,276 1,261
Median household income: $36,266 $39,329
References: 2011[5] 2006[6] earlier[7]
Historical Census Data - Bedford (city), Quebec[8]
YearPop.±%
1991 2,665—    
1996 2,748+3.1%
YearPop.±%
2001 2,667−2.9%
2006 2,612−2.1%
YearPop.±%
2011 2,684+2.8%

Language
Canada Census Mother Tongue - Bedford (city), Quebec[8]
Census Total
French
English
French & English
Other
Year Responses Count Trend Pop % Count Trend Pop % Count Trend Pop % Count Trend Pop %
2011
2,555
 1,910 2.4% 74.76% 540 9.1% 21.14% 70 55.5% 2.74% 35 36.4% 1.37%
2006
2,460
 1,865 2.1% 75.81% 495 5.7% 20.12% 45 10.0% 1.83% 55 35.3% 2.24%
2001
2,565
 1,905 8.2% 74.27% 525 0.0% 20.47% 50 233.3% 1.95% 85 466.7% 3.31%
1996
2,630
 2,075 n/a 78.90% 525 n/a 19.96% 15 n/a 0.57% 15 n/a 0.57%

About 20% of the population is Anglophone, many families having settled there after the arrival of the Loyalists in 1776.

Parishes
  • Roman Catholic Church
  • Saint Mitchels Parish
  • Le frontere Perish
  • The Anglican Parish of Bedford, Philipsburg and Farnham
  • United Church

Activities

Every year since 1828, at the beginning of August, the town holds its annual fair, the oldest of its kind in Quebec and the second oldest in Canada. One can figure skate, or play hockey or curling, at the Centre sportif. Every year since 1969, Bedford has held a PeeWee hockey exchange with Kensington, PEI.

Schools
  • École primaire et secondaire Monseigneur-Desranleau (French)
  • École primaire du Premier Envol (French)
  • Butler Elementary (English 1-7)

Notable people

See also

References
  1. Reference number 4594 of the Commission de toponymie du Québec (in French)
  2. "Ministère des Affaires municipales, des Régions et de l'Occupation du territoire: Frelighsburg". Archived from the original on 2012-05-06. Retrieved 2012-03-11.
  3. "Parliament of Canada Federal Riding History: BROME--MISSISQUOI (Quebec)". Archived from the original on 2009-06-09. Retrieved 2009-04-20.
  4. 2011 Statistics Canada Census Profile: Bedford, Quebec
  5. "2011 Community Profiles". 2011 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. July 5, 2013. Retrieved 2014-03-11.
  6. "2006 Community Profiles". 2006 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. March 30, 2011. Retrieved 2014-03-11.
  7. "2001 Community Profiles". 2001 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. February 17, 2012.
  8. Statistics Canada: 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011 census



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