During the Lower Canada Rebellion, the Battle of Beauharnois was fought in 1838, between Lower Canada loyalists and Patriote rebels.[6] After Edward Ellice and his family were taken prisoner by rebels, the townspeople rebelled. The British were able to quash the rebellion and captured over a hundred Patriote rebels.[7]
The Beauharnois Canal was dug between 1842 and 1845 to connect the lakes Saint-Louis and Saint-Francois[8] as part of a larger project that included the expansion of the Lachine canal. During these years, however, a series of labor conflicts emerged during the canal's construction. On June 3, 1843, a strike began at the canal's construction site. A battle ensued between the striking workers and employers, resulting in the death of five workers and 50 additional injured. The violence unleashed during the strike represented the bloodiest repression against workers in Canadian history.[9]
In addition to the main population centre of Beauharnois, the following locations are within the municipality's boundaries:[1]
Domaine-de-la-Pointe-des-Érables (45°19′29″N 73°51′11″W / 45.32472°N 73.85306°W / 45.32472; -73.85306 (Domaine-de-la-Pointe-des-Érables, Beauharnois, QC)) – a residential area north of Maple Grove
Maple Grove (45°19′15″N 73°50′20″W / 45.32083°N 73.83889°W / 45.32083; -73.83889 (Maple Grove, Beauharnois, QC)) – a former municipality that makes up the northeast boundary of Beauharnois
Melocheville (45°19′02″N 73°56′15″W / 45.31722°N 73.93750°W / 45.31722; -73.93750 (Melocheville, Beauharnois, QC)) – a former municipality that makes up the western boundary of Beauharnois, located on the west shore of the Beauharnois Canal
Parc-Tisseur (45°17′42″N 73°53′02″W / 45.29500°N 73.88389°W / 45.29500; -73.88389 (Parc-Tisseur, Beauharnois, QC)) – a residential area in southern Beauharnois
Rivière-Nord (45°00′34″N 74°24′04″W / 45.00944°N 74.40111°W / 45.00944; -74.40111 (Rivière-Nord, Beauharnois, QC)) – a hamlet in southern Beauharnois
Saint-Paul (45°18′33″N 73°53′51″W / 45.30917°N 73.89750°W / 45.30917; -73.89750 (Saint-Paul, Beauharnois, QC)) – a residential area located on Route 205
The following waterways pass through or are situated within the municipality's boundaries:[1]
Rivière Saint-Louis (45°18′55″N 73°52′49″W / 45.31528°N 73.88028°W / 45.31528; -73.88028 (Rivière Saint-Louis, Beauharnois, QC)) – runs south to north through the city centre, down Chute de la Rivière Saint Louis emptying into the Saint Lawrence River.[citation needed]
Demographics
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Beauharnois had a population of 13,638 living in 6,293 of its 6,451 total private dwellings, a change of 5.9% from its 2016 population of 12,884. With a land area of 68.22 km2 (26.34 sq mi), it had a population density of 199.9/km2 (517.8/sq mi) in 2021.[4]
Canada census – Beauharnois community profile
Notes: Amalgamated with Maple Grove and Melocheville on January 1, 2002. References: 2021[11] 2016[12] 2011[13] earlier[14][15]
Economy
In 2012, OVH started construction of its first Canadian data centre in Beauharnois, one of the largest in the world.
^ a b c"Banque de noms de lieux du Québec: Reference number 133648". toponymie.gouv.qc.ca (in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec.
^ a b"Répertoire des municipalités: Beauharnois". www.mamh.gouv.qc.ca (in French). Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l'Habitation. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
^ a b c"Beauharnois, Ville (V) Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Government of Canada - Statistics Canada. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
^The Canadian Press Stylebook (18th ed.), Toronto: The Canadian Press, 2017
^"Insurrection des patriotes à Beauharnois en 1838 (L') de Marcel Labelle". Septentrion. Retrieved 2023-09-08.
^"Robert Nelson: 2. Leads Patriotes to Defeat". www.raidersandrebels.com. Retrieved 2023-09-08.
^"Site patrimonial de l'Entrée-Inférieure-de-l'Ancien-Canal-de-Beauharnois - Beauharnois (Ville)". toponymie.gouv.qc.ca. Retrieved 2023-09-08.