Country Canada Settled Early 1800s Time zone EST (UTC−5) Area 255.2 km² Local time Saturday 4:16 PM RCM Laurentides | Region Laurentides Constituted October 6, 1999 Postal code(s) J8G Population 7,209 (2011) Province Québec | |
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Weather -13°C, Wind NW at 16 km/h, 42% Humidity | ||
Brownsburg-Chatham is a municipality in the Laurentides region of Quebec, Canada, part of the Argenteuil Regional County Municipality. It is located along the Ottawa River, just west of Lachute, and includes the communities of Brownsburg, Cushing, Dalesville, Greece's Point, Pine Hill, and Saint-Philippe. Economic activities include agriculture, tourism and the manufacture of explosives.
Contents
Map of Brownsburg, QC, Canada
It is the hometown of Gilles Lupien, retired defenceman of the Montreal Canadiens.
History
Chatham Township was established in 1799, and named after English Statesman William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham (1708–1778). Mostly populated by rich American Loyalists, its post office opened in 1829 and the township municipality was formed in 1845. By the mid-19th century, there were a few hamlets including Dalesville, Brownsbury, and Starneville.
In 1818, Major George Brown, born in England, was granted by the government land on the West River (Rivière de l'Ouest). Together with pioneers Daniel Smith and Captain A. L. Howard, he was able to breathe life into the local industry during the 1820s. George Brown built, among other achievements, a sawmill and gristmill which contributed to the economic growth of the region and led to the formation of Brownsburg village which was named after him. In 1854, the Brownsburg Post Office opened. Later in the third quarter of the 19th century, a major arms factory run by the Dominion Cartridge Company was the major local industry.
In 1935, the Village Municipality of Brownsburg was officially established by separating from the Township Municipality of Chatham.
On October 6, 1999, Brownsburg was rejoined with Chatham and the new Municipality of Brownsburg-Chatham was formed. On July 6, 2002, the municipality changed its statutes and became the Town of Brownsburg-Chatham.
Education
The Commission scolaire de la Rivière-du-Nord operates French-language public schools.
Politics
The city council meetings are available online since February 2, 2016.