Thetford Mines | |
|---|---|
 City centre | |
.svg) Coat of arms | |
| Motto(s): | |
 Location within Les Appalaches RCM | |
  Thetford Mines Location in province of Quebec | |
| Coordinates:46°06′N71°18′W / 46.1°N 71.3°W /46.1; -71.3[1] | |
| Country |  Canada |
| Province |  Quebec |
| Region | Chaudière-Appalaches |
| RCM | Les Appalaches |
| Founded | 1876 |
| Constituted | October 17, 2001 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Marc-Alexandre Brousseau |
| • Federal riding | Mégantic—L'Érable |
| • Prov. riding | Lotbinière-Frontenac |
| Area | |
• City | 227.70 km2 (87.92 sq mi) |
| • Land | 225.97 km2 (87.25 sq mi) |
| • Urban | 17.43 km2 (6.73 sq mi) |
| • Metro | 405.92 km2 (156.73 sq mi) |
| Population | |
• City | 26,072 |
| • Density | 115.4/km2 (299/sq mi) |
| • Urban | 20,312 |
| • Urban density | 1,165.3/km2 (3,018/sq mi) |
| • Metro | 28,287 |
| • Metro density | 69.7/km2 (181/sq mi) |
| • Pop 2016–2021 |  2.6% |
| • Dwellings | 13,059 |
| Demonym(s) | Thetfordois, Thetfordoises (Fr); Thetforder (EN) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Postal code(s) | G6G & G6H |
| Area code(s) | 418 and 581 |
| Highways |  R-112 R-267 R-269 R-271 |
| Geocode | 24 31084 |
| Website | www |
Thetford Mines (French pronunciation:[tɛtfɚdmajnz,-fœʁd-];Canada 2021 Census population 26,072) is a city in south-centralQuebec, Canada. It is the seat ofLes Appalaches Regional County Municipality.The city is located in theAppalachian Mountains, 187 km east-northeast ofMontreal and 79 km south ofQuebec City.[5]It is known mostly as theasbestos capital of Canada.[6]
BeforeEuropean colonization, theAbenaki inhabited the Thetford Mines region.[5]A village was founded in 1876 after the discovery of largeasbestos deposits in the area. The village incorporated as Kingsville (named after William King, an important mine owner) in 1892.[5] A few years later, in 1905, Kingsville was renamed after the Township of Thetford in which it was founded, which was named after the town ofThetford inNorfolk, England.
During the 20th century, Thetford Mines became a hub for one of the world's largest asbestos-producing regions. back then being called "Asbestos Capital of the World" and the "City of White Gold". In the boom times, there were seven mines operating in the area, employing 4,000 workers.[7]In 1949 and in 1975, asbestos miners in Asbestos and Thetford Mines began strikes each lasting for almost five months which were the most violent labor conflicts in the history of Quebec.[5][8]
In 2001 the city expanded to its current boundaries, incorporating the nearby towns of Black Lake, Robertsonville, Pontbriand and Thetford-Sud.
When Canada banned the use of asbestos in schools and homes, after using it for years as insulation, the mines of Thetford Mines largely exported their asbestos to areas such as southeast Asia, the Middle East, and South and Central America.[9] However, in 2012, the city's last mine closed and Thetford Mines has developed other sectors, namely manufacturing.[7]
The city of Thetford Mines is the seat of thejudicial district of Frontenac.[10]
TheKöppen–Geiger climate classification system classifies its climate ashumid continental (Dfb).[11] Winters are very cold and snowy, while summers are warm and rainy when it receives moreprecipitation.
| Climate data for Thetford Mines, Quebec, 1981–2010 normals | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 14.0 (57.2) | 15.0 (59.0) | 19.0 (66.2) | 29.0 (84.2) | 31.1 (88.0) | 32.0 (89.6) | 33.0 (91.4) | 32.8 (91.0) | 32.0 (89.6) | 26.1 (79.0) | 20.5 (68.9) | 15.0 (59.0) | 33.0 (91.4) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −7.3 (18.9) | −5.1 (22.8) | 0.4 (32.7) | 8.4 (47.1) | 16.3 (61.3) | 21.3 (70.3) | 23.5 (74.3) | 22.5 (72.5) | 17.8 (64.0) | 10.5 (50.9) | 3.4 (38.1) | −3.8 (25.2) | 9.0 (48.2) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −11.6 (11.1) | −9.5 (14.9) | 4.0 (39.2) | 3.9 (39.0) | 11.1 (52.0) | 16.1 (61.0) | 18.6 (65.5) | 17.6 (63.7) | 13.2 (55.8) | 6.5 (43.7) | 0.1 (32.2) | −7.4 (18.7) | 4.6 (40.3) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −15.9 (3.4) | −13.8 (7.2) | −8.4 (16.9) | −0.6 (30.9) | 5.8 (42.4) | 10.9 (51.6) | 13.7 (56.7) | 12.8 (55.0) | 8.5 (47.3) | 2.6 (36.7) | −3.2 (26.2) | −11 (12) | 0.1 (32.2) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −36 (−33) | −35 (−31) | −34 (−29) | −19 (−2) | −8.3 (17.1) | −1.5 (29.3) | 3.0 (37.4) | 1.0 (33.8) | −6 (21) | −11 (12) | −22.2 (−8.0) | −34 (−29) | −36 (−33) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 107.9 (4.25) | 86.5 (3.41) | 89.1 (3.51) | 88.3 (3.48) | 105.0 (4.13) | 130.0 (5.12) | 133.3 (5.25) | 135.3 (5.33) | 100.2 (3.94) | 112.2 (4.42) | 104.6 (4.12) | 117.2 (4.61) | 1,309.6 (51.56) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 25.9 (1.02) | 15.5 (0.61) | 27.0 (1.06) | 65.7 (2.59) | 102.9 (4.05) | 130.0 (5.12) | 133.3 (5.25) | 135.3 (5.33) | 100.1 (3.94) | 105.6 (4.16) | 70.6 (2.78) | 33.6 (1.32) | 945.5 (37.22) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 82.1 (32.3) | 71.0 (28.0) | 62.0 (24.4) | 23.1 (9.1) | 2.0 (0.8) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 6.6 (2.6) | 34.0 (13.4) | 83.6 (32.9) | 364.5 (143.5) |
| Average extreme snow depth cm (inches) | 52 (20) | 70 (28) | 76 (30) | 32 (13) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 4 (1.6) | 26 (10) | 76 (30) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.2mm) | 17.9 | 14.7 | 14.3 | 13.6 | 15.2 | 15.6 | 16.3 | 14.1 | 13.4 | 16.2 | 17.2 | 18.6 | 186.9 |
| Average rainy days(≥ 0.2mm) | 3.0 | 2.5 | 2.0 | 11.0 | 15.1 | 15.6 | 16.3 | 14.1 | 13.4 | 15.4 | 11.0 | 4.6 | 126.9 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.2 cm) | 16.0 | 13.4 | 11.1 | 5.0 | 0.47 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.04 | 1.8 | 8.1 | 15.6 | 71.4 |
| Source: ECCC[12] | |||||||||||||
In the2021 Census of Population conducted byStatistics Canada, Thetford Mines had a population of26,072 living in12,216 of its13,059 total private dwellings, a change of2.6% from its 2016 population of25,403. With a land area of 225.97 km2 (87.25 sq mi), it had a population density of115.4/km2 (298.8/sq mi) in 2021.[13]
 | This section has multiple issues. Please helpimprove it or discuss these issues on thetalk page.(Learn how and when to remove these messages) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
|
Given the abundance of snow for several months in winter, it is a popular area for snowmobiling and four-wheel drive vehicles as well as for downhill and cross-country skiing.
The city is home to the minor-proice hockey team theThetford Mines Assurancia, who are members of theLigue Nord-Américaine de Hockey (LNAH). They play home games atCentre Mario Gosselin. Thetford Mines is the only city to have hosted an LNAH team in every season since the league's 1996 inception. The city hasringette and hockey organisations for the youth, and there are yearly tournaments for ringette and minor Hockey players, as well as old-timers hockey tournaments.
Thetford Mines was chosen as a top-five finalist forKraft Hockeyville for 2009 on the February 21, 2009Hockey Night In Canada "Hockey Day In Canada" special.
Spring is maple syrup producing time in the area. The numerous stands of maple trees in the region makes it one of the top maple syrup producing regions in the world. In March and early April, local citizens often make a ritual outing to one of the area's sugar camps (orcabanes à sucre) for sugaring off parties where maple syrup, reduced and thickened by slow boiling, is poured over fresh snow to create a delightful taffy.
Summer brings a host of other outdoor activities. An abundance of lakes and rivers provide plenty of opportunities for outdoor gatherings and cool refreshment. A series of summer festivals add to the enjoyment of the season, with sporting events, concerts and fireworks.
The same maples that produce syrup in spring, provide brilliant displays of colour in autumn.
Two radio stations,CFJO ("O97,3") andCKLD ("Passion-Rock 105,5") serve Thetford Mines. Both stations air programming produced partially in Thetford Mines and partially inVictoriaville.
Places adjacent to Thetford Mines | |
|---|---|
 Subdivisions ofLes Appalaches Regional County Municipality | |
|---|---|
| Cities & towns | |
| Municipalities | |
| Parishes | |
| |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Geographic | |
