Rivière-au-Tonnerre, Quebec

Rivière-au-Tonnerre is a municipality in the Côte-Nord region of the province of Quebec in Canada.

Rivière-au-Tonnerre
Municipality
Rivière-au-Tonnerre
Location in Côte-Nord region of Quebec
Coordinates: 50°16′N 64°47′W[1]
Country Canada
Province Quebec
RegionCôte-Nord
RCMMinganie
Settled1853
ConstitutedDecember 14, 1925
Government
 • MayorJeannot Boudreau
 • Federal ridingManicouagan
 • Prov. ridingDuplessis
Area
 • Total632.50 km2 (244.21 sq mi)
 • Land619.20 km2 (239.07 sq mi)
Elevation15.20 m (49.87 ft)
Population
 (2011)[3]
 • Total307
 • Density0.5/km2 (1/sq mi)
 • Pop 2006-2011
 21.3%
 • Dwellings
335
Time zoneUTC−5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Postal code(s)
G0G 2L0
Area code(s)418 and 581
Highways Route 138
Websitewww.riviere-au-tonnerre.ca

In addition to Riviere-au-Tonnerre itself, the communities within the municipality include Rivière-Pigou, Rivière-aux-Graines, and Sheldrake, all located along the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and accessible via Quebec Route 138.

The main and almost exclusive local economic activity is crab fishing. A factory which processes the crab meat sustains the bulk of the population.[1]

The eponymous Thunder River (French: Riviere au Tonnerre), which flows through the municipality, has a large series of waterfalls at 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) from its mouth in the Saint Lawrence. These falls with a total drop of about 50 metres (160 ft) have a roar that reminds one of the noise caused by thunder.[1] The Manitou River, not far west, also has dramatic falls near its mouth.[5]

History
Saint-Hippolyte church

The first permanent settlers arrived circa 1853 or 1854, and founded Sheldrake and Riviere-au-Tonnerre as fishing settlements. In 1875, more pioneers followed, originating notably from Paspébiac in the Gaspésie region. At the same time, the first chapel was built and the Parish of Saint-Hippolyte was formed. However it was commonly called Rivière-au-Tonnerre, like the settlement. In 1890, the post office opened under the English equivalent name of "Thunder River" (Frenchized in 1933). By 1908, there were 70 families engaged in agriculture. In 1925, the Municipality of Riviere-au-Tonnerre was formed.[1]

Demographics

Population
Canada census – Rivière-au-Tonnerre, Quebec community profile
2011 2006
Population: 307 (-21.3% from 2006) 390 (-6.0% from 2001)
Land area: 619.20 km2 (239.07 sq mi) 619.21 km2 (239.08 sq mi)
Population density: 0.5/km2 (1.3/sq mi) 0.6/km2 (1.6/sq mi)
Median age: 55.2 (M: 56.2, F: 53.5) 51.8 (M: 52.2, F: 51.1)
Total private dwellings: 335 294
Median household income: $.N/A $50,950
Notes: 2011 income data for this area has been suppressed for data quality or confidentiality reasons. – References: 2011[3] 2006[6] earlier[7]
Historical Census Data - Rivière-au-Tonnerre, Quebec[8]
YearPop.±%
1991 526—    
1996 476−9.5%
YearPop.±%
2001 415−12.8%
2006 390−6.0%
YearPop.±%
2011 307−21.3%

Language
Canada Census Mother Tongue - Rivière-au-Tonnerre, Quebec[8]
Census Total
French
English
French & English
Other
Year Responses Count Trend Pop % Count Trend Pop % Count Trend Pop % Count Trend Pop %
2011
305
 305 21.8% 100.00% 0 0.0% 0.00% 0 0.0% 0.00% 0 0.0% 0.00%
2006
390
 390 6.0% 100.00% 0 0.0% 0.00% 0 0.0% 0.00% 0 0.0% 0.00%
2001
415
 415 11.7% 100.00% 0 0.0% 0.00% 0 0.0% 0.00% 0 0.0% 0.00%
1996
470
 470 n/a 100.00% 0 n/a 0.00% 0 n/a 0.00% 0 n/a 0.00%

Climate

Rivière-au-Tonnerre has a subarctic climate (Dfc) with mild summers, rainy autumns and long, cold and snowy winters with annual snowfall averaging 99 inches (251 cm). Winter typically starts in late October or early November and lasts through most of, if not all of April.

Climate data for Rivière-au-Tonnerre
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 8.9
(48.0)		 7
(45)		 10.6
(51.1)		 18
(64)		 27
(81)		 27
(81)		 29
(84)		 29
(84)		 27.5
(81.5)		 19.4
(66.9)		 14
(57)		 9
(48)		 29
(84)
Average high °C (°F) −8.6
(16.5)		 −6.5
(20.3)		 −1.1
(30.0)		 4.2
(39.6)		 10.6
(51.1)		 16.1
(61.0)		 19.1
(66.4)		 18.5
(65.3)		 13.9
(57.0)		 8
(46)		 1.8
(35.2)		 −5.1
(22.8)		 5.9
(42.6)
Daily mean °C (°F) −14.2
(6.4)		 −12
(10)		 −6.3
(20.7)		 0.2
(32.4)		 5.8
(42.4)		 11.1
(52.0)		 14.4
(57.9)		 13.7
(56.7)		 9.4
(48.9)		 3.9
(39.0)		 −2.2
(28.0)		 −10.2
(13.6)		 1.1
(34.0)
Average low °C (°F) −19.8
(−3.6)		 −17.5
(0.5)		 −11.4
(11.5)		 −3.8
(25.2)		 1
(34)		 6.2
(43.2)		 9.7
(49.5)		 8.9
(48.0)		 4.8
(40.6)		 −0.3
(31.5)		 −6.3
(20.7)		 −15.4
(4.3)		 −3.7
(25.3)
Record low °C (°F) −40
(−40)		 −33.9
(−29.0)		 −32
(−26)		 −27
(−17)		 −12
(10)		 −3.3
(26.1)		 −1
(30)		 −1.1
(30.0)		 −5.6
(21.9)		 −15
(5)		 −25
(−13)		 −42
(−44)		 −42
(−44)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 68.6
(2.70)		 51.5
(2.03)		 72.2
(2.84)		 86.6
(3.41)		 92.8
(3.65)		 101.3
(3.99)		 99
(3.9)		 97.8
(3.85)		 120.9
(4.76)		 118
(4.6)		 91.4
(3.60)		 80.4
(3.17)		 1,080.3
(42.53)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 11.3
(0.44)		 10.1
(0.40)		 29
(1.1)		 71
(2.8)		 90.4
(3.56)		 101.3
(3.99)		 99
(3.9)		 97.8
(3.85)		 120.9
(4.76)		 116
(4.6)		 67
(2.6)		 15.1
(0.59)		 828.9
(32.63)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 57.3
(22.6)		 41.4
(16.3)		 43.2
(17.0)		 15.5
(6.1)		 2.3
(0.9)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 1.9
(0.7)		 24.4
(9.6)		 65.4
(25.7)		 251.4
(99.0)
Source: Environment Canada[4]

See also

References
  1. "Rivière-au-Tonnerre (Municipalité)" (in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec. Retrieved 2010-08-09.
  2. "Rivière-au-Tonnerre". Répertoire des municipalités (in French). Ministère des Affaires municipales, des Régions et de l'Occupation du territoire. Retrieved 2012-05-07.
  3. "2011 Community Profiles". 2011 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. July 5, 2013. Retrieved 2012-05-07.
  4. Environment Canada – Canadian Climate Normals 1971–2000, accessed 7 May 2012
  6. "2006 Community Profiles". 2006 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. March 30, 2011. Retrieved 2012-05-07.
  7. "2001 Community Profiles". 2001 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. February 17, 2012.
  8. Statistics Canada: 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011 census



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