Thetford Mines
Thetford Mines is a town in the south of the Canadian province of Quebec. It is located in the Chaudière - Appalaches administrative region, around 100 per km southwest of the provincial capital of Quebec and northeast of Sherbrooke. Thetford Mines is the administrative headquarters of the regional county municipality ( municipalité régional du comté ) Les Appalaches, has an area of 226.82 km ² and has 25 709 inhabitants ( 2011).
Geography
Thetford Mines located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, at the headwaters of Rivière Bécancour. The landscape is marked by numerous wooded hills, between which there are several small lakes. Neighboring communities are Saint- Pierre -de- Broughton in the northeast, Adstock in the east, Saint -Joseph -de- Coleraine in the south, Irlande in the southwest, Saint- Adrien- d'Irlande and Saint -Jean -de- Brébeuf in the west and Kinnear 's Mills in the northwest.
History
1876 saw Joseph Fecteau in the previously largely unpopulated area large deposits of asbestos ( chrysotile accurate ). A year later, the first mine started operations and there was a rapidly growing settlement that first bore the name of Kingsville. 1881 a major fire destroyed almost the entire village. The foundation of the church took place in 1892. This 1905 changed its name to Thetford Mines, after the former Canton Thetford and the English town of Thetford. 1912 City status was awarded. For decades, Thetford Mines was the world leader in asbestos promotion until the discovery of the harmful effect could collapse in demand and an economic realignment necessitated. The city grew several times by municipal mergers: 1924 Amiante was incorporated in 1994 Rivière Blanche; finally succeeded in 2001, the municipalities Black Lake, Robertsonville, Pontbriand and Thetford -Sud.
Population
According to the 2011 census counted 25,709 inhabitants Thetford Mines, which corresponds to a population density of 113.3 inh. / Km ². 97.3 % of the population reported French as the main language, the proportion of English was 1.2 %. As a bilingual ( French and English) is designated 0.4 %, to other languages and multiple responses accounted for 1.1%. Only 79.3 % spoke French. In 2001, 97.0 % of the population were Roman Catholic, 0.8 % Protestant, and 1.5 % non-denominational.
Transport and the economy
By Thetford Mines into southwest-northeast direction, the main road Route 112, which connects with the Sherbrooke autouroute 73 at Vallée- Jonction. North Westwards, the route 165 to Autoroute 20, the railroad of the Quebec Central Railway between Sherbrooke and Vallée- Jonction is used only sporadically for freight. About six kilometers southeast of the town there is an airfield. It has a 1370 meter long paved runway and serves general aviation.
The previously dominant mining industry today plays only a minor role. Thetford Mines is now a center for the plastics industry and metal processing, is of growing importance are the oleochemicals and nanotechnology. Thetford is the center of a tourist area that is geared towards sports activities. The town is the starting point for excursions in the Parc national de Frontenac and is close to the ski area of Mont Adstock.
Culture and Sport
The Musée mineralogique et minier ( Mineral and Mining Museum ) was founded in 1976. It has an extensive geological collection of minerals and fossils; it also deals with the mining history of the region.
Most famous sports team in the city is the Hockey team Isothermic de Thetford Mines in the Ligue Nord - Americaine de Hockey. The home games are played ( 2500 seats ) at the Centre mario Gosselin.
Personalities
- Jean -Marie Beaudet (1908-1971), conductor
- Simon Gamache ( born 1981 ), ice hockey player
- Michel Louvain ( born 1937 ), singer
- Joseph Paul Pierre Morissette ( born 1944 ), Bishop