Bedford, Quebec (town)

Coordinates: 45°07′N 72°59′W / 45.117°N 72.983°W / 45.117; -72.983
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Bedford
Location within Brome-Missisquoi RCM.
Location within Brome-Missisquoi RCM.
Bedford is located in Southern Quebec
Bedford
Bedford
Location in southern Quebec.
Coordinates: 45°07′N 72°59′W / 45.117°N 72.983°W / 45.117; -72.983[1]
CountryCanada
ProvinceQuebec
RegionEstrie
RCMBrome-Missisquoi
ConstitutedNovember 21, 1866
Government
 • MayorClaude Dubois
 • 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
Increase 2.8%
 • Dwellings
1,276
Time zoneUTC−5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Postal code(s)
Area code(s)450 and 579
Highways R-202
R-235
Exchange#248
GNBC CodeEFMFP
NTS Map31H2 Cowansville
Geocode2446035
PeopleBedfordite

Bedford (French pronunciation: [bɛdfœʁd]) is a city located in the Estrie 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.

History[edit]

The first settlers arrived in 1812.

Origin of the name[edit]

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[edit]

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

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[edit]

Historical Census Data - Bedford (city), Quebec[5]
YearPop.±%
1991 2,665—    
1996 2,748+3.1%
2001 2,667−2.9%
2006 2,612−2.1%
2011 2,684+2.8%

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Bedford had a population of 2,558 living in 1,233 of its 1,324 total private dwellings, a change of -0.1% from its 2016 population of 2,560. With a land area of 4.23 km2 (1.63 sq mi), it had a population density of 604.7/km2 (1,566.2/sq mi) in 2021.[6]

Canada census – Bedford (city), Quebec community profile
20212011
Population2,558 (-0.1% from 2016)2,684 (+2.8% from 2006)
Land area4.23 km2 (1.63 sq mi)4.20 km2 (1.62 sq mi)
Population density604.3/km2 (1,565/sq mi)639.4/km2 (1,656/sq mi)
Median age50.4 (M: 48.8, F: 52.4)46.8 (M: 44.6, F: 48.2)
Private dwellings1,324 (total)  1,233 (occupied)1,276 (total) 
Median household income$$55,600$36,266
References: 2021[7] 2011[8] earlier[9][10]
Canada Census Mother Tongue - Bedford (city), Quebec[5]
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 Increase 2.4% 74.76% 540 Increase 9.1% 21.14% 70 Increase 55.5% 2.74% 35 Decrease 36.4% 1.37%
2006
2,460
1,865 Decrease 2.1% 75.81% 495 Decrease 5.7% 20.12% 45 Decrease 10.0% 1.83% 55 Decrease 35.3% 2.24%
2001
2,565
1,905 Decrease 8.2% 74.27% 525 Steady 0.0% 20.47% 50 Increase 233.3% 1.95% 85 Increase 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%

Parishes[edit]

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

Activities[edit]

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[edit]

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

Notable people[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Banque de noms de lieux du Québec: Reference number 4594". toponymie.gouv.qc.ca (in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec.
  2. ^ a b "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. ^ a b 2011 Statistics Canada Census Profile: Bedford, Quebec
  5. ^ a b Statistics Canada: 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011 census
  6. ^ "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), Quebec". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  7. ^ "2021 Community Profiles". 2021 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. February 4, 2022. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  8. ^ "2011 Community Profiles". 2011 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. March 21, 2019. Retrieved 2014-03-11.
  9. ^ "2006 Community Profiles". 2006 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. August 20, 2019.
  10. ^ "2001 Community Profiles". 2001 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. July 18, 2021.

External links[edit]