View source for Lachute

{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
 | name                 = Lachute
 | official_name        = 
 | settlement_type      = [[City (Quebec)|City]]
 | image_skyline        = Lachute (Québec)-Vue vers l'ouest de la route 148 (rue Principale)-2023-11-10.jpg
 | image_alt            = Lachute from Route 148
 | image_flag           = 
 | flag_size            = 120x100px
 | image_shield         = 
 | shield_size          = 100x80px
 | nickname             = 
 | motto                = 
 | image_map            = Lachute Quebec location diagram.png
 | map_caption          = Location within Argenteuil RCM
 | pushpin_map          = Canada Central Quebec
 | pushpin_label_position = top
 | pushpin_label        = 
 | pushpin_map_caption  = Location in central Quebec
 | coordinates          = {{coord|45|39|N|74|20|W|region:CA-QC|display=inline,title}}
 | coor_pinpoint        = 
 | coordinates_footnotes= <ref name="toponymie"/>
 | subdivision_type     = Country
 | subdivision_name     = [[Canada]]
 | subdivision_type1    = [[Provinces and territories of Canada|Province]]
 | subdivision_name1    = [[Quebec]]
 | subdivision_type2    = [[Region (Quebec)|Region]]
 | subdivision_name2    = [[Laurentides]]
 | subdivision_type3    = [[Regional county municipality|RCM]]
 | subdivision_name3    = [[Argenteuil Regional County Municipality|Argenteuil]]
 | established_title    = Settled
 | established_date     = 1753
 | established_title1   = Constituted
 | established_date1    = April 30, 1966
 | established_title2   = 
 | established_date2    = 
 | established_title3   = 
 | established_date3    = 
 | government_footnotes = <ref name="mamrot"/>
 | government_type      = 
 | leader_title         = Mayor
 | leader_name          = Bernard Bigras-Denis
 | leader_title1        = [[List of Canadian federal electoral districts|Federal riding]]
 | leader_name1         = [[Argenteuil—La Petite-Nation]]
 | leader_title2        = [[List of Quebec provincial electoral districts|Prov. riding]]
 | leader_name2         = [[Argenteuil (provincial electoral district)|Argenteuil]]
 | area_footnotes       = <ref name="mamrot"/><ref name=cp21>{{cite web |title=Lachute, Ville (V) Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=lachute&DGUIDlist=2021A00052476020&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1,4&HEADERlist=0 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca | date=9 February 2022 |publisher=Government of Canada - Statistics Canada |accessdate=12 May 2022}}</ref>
 | area_total_km2       = 112.84
 | area_land_km2        = 108.66
 | area_water_km2       =
 | area_urban_footnotes = <ref name=SC21-PC>{{cite web |title=Lachute, Quebec [Population centre] Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=lachute&DGUIDlist=2021S05100444&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1,4&HEADERlist=0 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca | date=9 February 2022 |publisher=Government of Canada - Statistics Canada |access-date=2025-07-14}}</ref>
 | area_urban_km2       = 9.59
 | area_metro_footnotes = 
 | area_metro_km2       = 
 | elevation_footnotes  =
 | elevation_m          = 
 | population_footnotes = <ref name=cp21/>
 | population_total     = 14100
 | population_as_of     = 2021
 | population_density_km2 = 129.8
 | population_urban_footnotes = <ref name=SC21-PC/>
 | population_urban     = 11221
 | population_density_urban_km2= 1169.8
 | population_metro_footnotes = 
 | population_metro     = 
 | population_density_metro_km2= 
 | population_blank1_title= Pop&nbsp;<small>2016–2021</small>
 | population_blank1    = {{increase}} 9.6%
 | population_blank2_title= Dwellings
 | population_blank2    = 6862
 | timezone             = [[Eastern Time Zone|EST]]
 | utc_offset           = −5
 | timezone_DST         = [[Eastern Daylight Time|EDT]]
 | utc_offset_DST       = −4
 | postal_code_type     = [[Canadian postal code|Postal code(s)]]
 | postal_code          = [[List of J postal codes of Canada|J8H]]
 | area_codes            = [[Area codes 450 and 579|450 and 579]]
 | blank_name           = Highways <br/>{{jct|state=QC|A|50}}
 | blank_info           = <br/> {{jct|state=QC|QC|148}}  {{jct|state=QC|QC|158}}<br/>{{jct|state=QC|QC|327}}  {{jct|state=QC|QC|329}}
 | website              = {{Official URL}}
 | footnotes            =
}}

'''Lachute''' ({{IPA|fr|laʃyt}}) is a town in southwest [[Quebec]], Canada, {{convert|82.2|km|abbr=on}} northwest of [[Montreal]], on the [[Rivière du Nord (Laurentides)|Rivière du Nord]], a tributary of the [[Ottawa River]], and west of [[Mirabel International Airport|the Mirabel International Airport]]. It is located on [[Quebec Autoroute 50|Autoroute 50]], at the junctions of Quebec Provincial Highways [[Quebec Route 148|Route 148]], [[Quebec Route 158|Route 158]], and [[Quebec Route 327|Secondary Highways 327]] and [[Quebec Route 329|329]].

Lachute is the seat of [[Argenteuil Regional County Municipality]]. It also has a local airport: [[Lachute Airport]]. Its major industries include [[paper mill]]s, [[lumber|lumber and various manufacturing plants]]. The population is just over 14,000 people.

==History==
Originally in the 17th century, "La Chute" identified a cataract or falls on the North River (''Rivière du Nord'') located about {{convert|24|km|mi|abbr=on}} upstream from its confluence with the Ottawa River.<ref name="CTQ-L">{{cite web |url=http://www.toponymie.gouv.qc.ca/ct/topos/carto.asp?Speci=114406&Latitude=45,65&Longitude=-74,33334&Zoom=1700 |title=Lachute (Ville) |access-date=2009-02-17 |publisher=Commission de toponymie du Québec |language=fr |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304071140/http://www.toponymie.gouv.qc.ca/ct/topos/carto.asp?Speci=114406&Latitude=45,65&Longitude=-74,33334&Zoom=1700 |archive-date=2016-03-04 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 1753, Antoine Brunet became the first [[francophone]] to settle in Lachute, temporarily. In 1796, Jedediah Lane, from [[Jericho (town), Vermont|Jericho, Vermont]], bought several thousand acres of land on both sides of the North River, where Lachute is today. That same year, Hezekiah Clark and his family, also of Jericho, settled near the falls on the North River, followed by [[Loyalist (American Revolution)|Loyalists]] fleeing the American Revolution. Two years later, the population of '''The Chute settlement''' (as it was then known by its English name) consisted of five families.<ref name="Lachute-h">{{cite web |url=http://www.ville.lachute.qc.ca/freepage.php?page=4.14 |title=Lachute, d'hier à aujourd'hui |access-date=2009-02-17 |publisher=La ville de Lachute |language=fr |archive-date=2009-01-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090108235617/http://www.ville.lachute.qc.ca/freepage.php?page=4.14 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The village grew quickly; by 1803, 30 families were scattered on both banks of the North River, and by 1810, Lachute counted 83 families, including 211 children of school age. In 1804, a mill was built at the falls and the first general store opened in 1813. One year later, [[Sir John Johnson, 2nd Baronet|Sir John Johnson]] bought a large part of the [[Argenteuil Regional County Municipality|Argenteuil Seigneury]]. Johnson built a sawmill and gave land for the construction of churches, helping to attract new settlers to Argenteuil. In 1825, Thomas Barron became the first judge, then the first mayor of Lachute.<ref name="Lachute-h"/> The Lachute post office was established in 1835.<ref name="CTQ-L"/>

From 1870 to 1880, Lachute went through another period of expansion, both in economic and social development; the [[Canadian Pacific Railway|railway]] linking Montreal and Ottawa was built through the centre of the small town. Industries were established: Félix Hamelin and Thomas Henry Ayers established a wool mill and Irishman James Crocket Wilson opened a paper mill.<ref name="Lachute-h"/>

In 1885, the Town of Lachute was incorporated with a population  around 1300 persons, and in the same year, Lachute high school was founded. In 1901, electricity was brought to the town.<ref name="Lachute-h"/>

In 1966, Lachute and the Village of Ayersville merged, forming the ''Cité de Lachute''. In 1971, during the construction of [[Montréal-Mirabel International Airport]], a part of the Saint-Jérusalem Parish was added to Lachute. In 1981, ''Cité de Lachute'' became ''Ville de Lachute''. In 2000, about {{convert|10|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} of [[Mirabel, Quebec|Mirabel]]'s territory were annexed by Lachute. In 2002, the ''Service de police municipale de Lachute'' was transferred to the [[Sûreté du Québec]].<ref name="Lachute-h"/>

The Expo Lachute Fair is the oldest fair in Quebec and the second-oldest in all of Canada, running from 1825 to the present. In 1917, the Argenteuil Agricultural Society purchased land to hold the Expo Lachute Fair permanently in Lachute.  In 1917, the construction of the grandstand and the track was completed, with new cattle and horse barns being constructed as time and money allowed. The Fall Fair was changed to a Spring Fair in 1925 so that it could be deemed strictly a livestock show. Lachute was not always host to the exhibition; from 1825 to 1826, inhabitants of the county of York met in the then-bustling business centre of St. Andrews, to form a society called the County of York Agricultural Society, later changed to the Two Mountains Agricultural Society, and finally the Argenteuil Agricultural Society. Today, the Expo Lachute Fair is still popular. An annual agriculture fair is held in July and the Fall Derby is in September. The fairgrounds are also used for several other local events throughout the year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://expolachutefair.com |title = Expo Lachute Fair – Depuis 1825}}</ref>

==Geography==
===Climate===
{{Weather box
|location = Lachute (1981–2010)
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan record high C = 10.5
|Feb record high C = 12.5
|Mar record high C = 20.5
|Apr record high C = 31
|May record high C = 32.2
|Jun record high C = 35
|Jul record high C = 34.4
|Aug record high C = 35.5
|Sep record high C = 32.5
|Oct record high C = 27.2
|Nov record high C = 20
|Dec record high C = 13.5
|year record high C = 35.5
|Jan high C = -6.1
|Feb high C = -3.5
|Mar high C = 2.3
|Apr high C = 11.3
|May high C = 18.8
|Jun high C = 23.8
|Jul high C = 26
|Aug high C = 24.9
|Sep high C = 20.0
|Oct high C = 12.4
|Nov high C = 4.9
|Dec high C = -2.5
|year high C = 11.0
|Jan mean C = -10.7
|Feb mean C = -8.6
|Mar mean C = -2.6
|Apr mean C = 6.0
|May mean C = 12.9
|Jun mean C = 18.0
|Jul mean C = 20.4
|Aug mean C = 19.3
|Sep mean C = 14.7
|Oct mean C = 7.7
|Nov mean C = 1.3
|Dec mean C = -6.5
|year mean C = 6.0
|Jan low C = -15.4
|Feb low C = -13.6
|Mar low C = -7.5
|Apr low C = 0.7
|May low C = 6.9
|Jun low C = 12.2
|Jul low C = 14.7
|Aug low C = 13.7
|Sep low C = 9.2
|Oct low C = 3.1
|Nov low C = -2.4
|Dec low C = -10.4
|year low C = 0.9
|Jan record low C = -37
|Feb record low C = -35
|Mar record low C = -30.5
|Apr record low C = -15
|May record low C = -6.7
|Jun record low C = -1.5
|Jul record low C = 3.5
|Aug record low C = 0
|Sep record low C = -5
|Oct record low C = -8.9
|Nov record low C = -20.6
|Dec record low C = -34.5
|year record low C = -37
|Jan precipitation mm = 91.2
|Feb precipitation mm = 69.7
|Mar precipitation mm = 72.9
|Apr precipitation mm = 87.5
|May precipitation mm = 96.4
|Jun precipitation mm = 115.0
|Jul precipitation mm = 100.2
|Aug precipitation mm = 103.6
|Sep precipitation mm = 107.6
|Oct precipitation mm = 110.1
|Nov precipitation mm = 106.3
|Dec precipitation mm = 90.1
|year precipitation mm = 1150.5
|source 1 = [[Environment Canada]]<ref name="climate">[[Environment Canada]]—[http://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_1981_2010_e.html?searchType=stnName&txtStationName=lachut&searchMethod=contains&txtCentralLatMin=0&txtCentralLatSec=0&txtCentralLongMin=0&txtCentralLongSec=0&stnID=5594&dispBack=1]. Retrieved 31 December 2010.</ref>
|date=July 2017
}}

== Demographics ==
[[File:Lachute QC.JPG|thumb|right|Town centre of Lachute]]
In the [[2021 Canadian census|2021 Census of Population]] conducted by [[Statistics Canada]], Lachute had a population of {{val|14100|fmt=commas}} living in {{val|6531|fmt=commas}} of its {{val|6862|fmt=commas}} total private dwellings, a change of {{percentage|{{#expr:14100-12862}}|12862|1}} from its 2016 population of {{val|12862|fmt=commas}}. With a land area of {{convert|108.66|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, it had a population density of {{Pop density|14100|108.66|km2|sqmi|prec=1}} in 2021.<ref name=cp21/>
{{Canada census
 |location = Lachute
 |2021_population=14,100 | 2021_pop_delta=+9.6  | 2021_land_area=108.66 | 2021_pop_density=129.8
 |2021_median_age=50.4 | 2021_median_age_m=48.0 | 2021_median_age_f=52.8
 |2021_total_pvt_dwell=6,862 |2021_occ_pvt_dwell=6,531 |2021_mean_hh_income=56,400 
 |2021_geocode=2021A00052476020 | 2021_access_date=2023-10-19
 |2016_population=12,862 | 2016_pop_delta=+2.5 | 2016_land_area=109.96 | 2016_pop_density=117.0
 |2016_median_age=49.3 | 2016_median_age_m=47.0 | 2016_median_age_f=51.1
 |2016_total_pvt_dwell=6,403 | 2016_mean_hh_income=44,681 | 2016_access_date=2022-01-26
 |2011_population=12,551 |2011_pop_delta=+6.1 |2011_land_area=109.20 |2011_pop_density=114.9
 |2011_median_age=47.1 |2011_median_age_m=45.6 |2011_median_age_f=48.4
 |2011_total_pvt_dwell=5,991 |2011_mean_hh_income=40,516 |2011_access_date=2014-03-03
 |2006_population=11,832 | 2006_pop_delta=+1.8 | 2006_land_area=108.67 | 2006_pop_density=108.9
 |2006_median_age=44.8 | 2006_median_age_m=43.7 | 2006_median_age_f=45.9
 |2006_total_pvt_dwell=5,449 | 2006_mean_hh_income=36,444 | 2006_access_date=2014-03-03
 |2001_population=11,628 | 2001_pop_delta=+0.6 | 2001_land_area=108.65 | 2001_pop_density=107.0
 |2001_median_age=42.1 | 2001_median_age_m=40.7 | 2001_median_age_f=43.7
 |2001_total_pvt_dwell=5,245 |2001_mean_hh_income=31,979 | 2001_access_date=2014-03-03
 |notes=
}}

{{Historical populations
| title= Historical Census Data – Lachute, Quebec
| percentages = 
| shading = off
| align = none
| cols = 3
| 1891 |1751
| 1901 |2022
| 1911 |2407
| 1921 |2592
| 1931 |3906
| 1941 |5310
| 1951 |6179
| 1956 |6911
| 1961 |7560
| 1966 |10215
| 1971 |12004
| 1976 |11928
| 1981 |11729
| 1986 |11586
| 1991 |11730
| 1996 |11493
| 2001 |11628
| 2006 |11832
| 2011 |12551
| 2016 |12862
| 2021 |14100
| footnote=Population counts are not adjusted for boundary changes or mergers.
| source = Statistics Canada<ref name=cp21/><ref name="scpast">[[Canada 1996 Census|1996]], [[Canada 2001 Census|2001]], [[Canada 2006 Census|2006]], [[Canada 2011 Census|2011]] census</ref>
}}

{| class="wikitable"
!colspan="19"|Canada Census Mother Tongue – Lachute, Quebec<ref name=cp21/><ref name="scpast"/>
|-
! Census
|
! Total
|colspan="1"| 
!colspan="3"|{{center|French}}
|colspan="1"|
!colspan="3"|{{center|English}}
|colspan="1"|
!colspan="3"|{{center|French & English}}
|colspan="1"|
!colspan="3"|{{center|Other}}
|-
! Year
|
! Responses
| 
! Count
! Trend
! Pop % 
|
! Count
! Trend
! Pop %
|
! Count
! Trend
! Pop %
|
! Count
! Trend
! Pop %
|-
| {{center|2021}}
|
| {{center|13,820}}
|
| 11,855
| {{increase}} 9.5%
| 85.8%
|
| 1,275
| {{decrease}} 2.7%
| 9.2%
|
| 410
| {{increase}} 148.5%
| 3.0%
|
| 230
| {{increase}} 53.3%
| 1.7%
|-
| {{center|2016}}
|
| {{center|12,475}}
|
| 10,830
| {{increase}} 1.2%
| 86.8%
|
| 1,310
| {{steady}} 0.0%
| 10.5%
|
| 165
| {{increase}} 23.1%
| 1.3%
|
| 150
| {{decrease}} 6.3%
| 1.2%
|-
| {{center|2011}}
|
| {{center|12,305}}
|
| 10,705
| {{increase}} 6.2%
| 87.0%
|
| 1,310
| {{increase}} 7.3%
| 10.7%
|
| 130
| {{increase}} 23.1%
| 1.1%
|
| 160
| {{decrease}} 5.9%
| 1.3%
|-
| {{center|2006}}
|
| {{center|11,525}}
|
| 10,040
| {{increase}} 4.3%
| 87.1%
|
| 1,215
| {{decrease}} 10.0%
| 10.5%
|
| 100
| {{decrease}} 13.0%
| 0.9%
|
| 170
| {{increase}} 29.4%
| 1.5%
|-
| {{center|2001}}
|
| {{center|11,195}}
|
| 9,610
| {{increase}} 3.1%
| 85.8%
|
| 1,350
| {{decrease}} 23.1%
| 12.1%
|
| 115
| {{increase}} 21.7%
| 1.0%
|
| 120
| {{decrease}} 17.2%
| 1.1%
|-
| {{center|1996}}
|
| {{center|11,300}}
|
| 9,310
| n/a
| 82.4%
|
| 1,755
| n/a
| 15.5%
|
| 90
| n/a
| 0.8%
|
| 145
| n/a
| 1.3%
|}

==Local government==
[[File:Lachute (Québec)-Hôtel de ville-2023-11-10.jpg|thumb|View of Lachute City Hall on Main Street]]
List of former mayors:
{{Incomplete list|date=July 2025}}
* Daniel Mayer (...–2013)
* Carl Péloquin (2013–2021)
* Bernard Bigras-Denis (2021–present)

==Education==
The [[Commission scolaire de la Rivière-du-Nord]] operates French-language public schools.
* École l'Oasis
* École Saint-Alexandre 
* École Saint-Julien
* [[École polyvalente Lavigne|École Polyvalente Lavigne]]

[[Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board]] operates English-language public schools:
* Laurentian Elementary School<ref>"[http://www.swlauriersb.qc.ca/docs/Transportation%20maps%20zone/159%20-%20WEB%20LAURENTIAN.pdf LAURENTIAN ELEMENTARY ZONE] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170916122407/http://www.swlauriersb.qc.ca/docs/Transportation%20maps%20zone/159%20-%20WEB%20LAURENTIAN.pdf |date=2017-09-16 }}." [[Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board]]. Retrieved on September 16, 2017.</ref>
* [[Laurentian Regional High School]]<ref>"[https://www.swlauriersb.qc.ca/docs/Transportation%20maps%20zone/184%20-%20LAURENTIAN%20REGIONAL%20HS.pdf LAURENTIAN REGIONAL HS ZONE] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101214174947/http://www.swlauriersb.qc.ca/docs/Transportation%20maps%20zone/184%20-%20LAURENTIAN%20REGIONAL%20HS.pdf |date=2010-12-14 }}." [[Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board]]. Retrieved on September 4, 2017.</ref>

==Media==
*[[CJLA-FM]] (Planète Lov 104,9) – an [[adult contemporary]] formatted station.

==Notable people==
* [[John Lavis]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.researchgate.net/profile/John_Lavis |title=Profile: John N. Lavis |website=[[ResearchGate]]}}</ref>
* [[Salem Bland]],  [[Methodist]] theologian and [[Social Gospel]] leader.
* [[Kevin Lowe]], former [[National Hockey League|NHL]] [[defenceman (ice hockey)|defenceman]] and current [[vice-chairman]] of the [[Edmonton Oilers]].
* [[Jim Watson (Canadian politician)|Jim Watson]], former [[Member of Provincial Parliament (Ontario)|Member of Provincial Parliament]] (MPP) for the riding of [[Ottawa West—Nepean]] and [[minister (government)|Minister]] of Municipal Affairs and Housing; former [[List of mayors of Ottawa|Mayor of Ottawa, Ontario]].  The Hon. Mayor Watson is a member of the [[Ontario Liberal Party]].
* [[Pierre Pagé]], former [[coach (sport)|coach]] of several [[National Hockey League|NHL]] [[ice hockey|hockey]] teams (Calgary, Minnesota, Quebec and Anaheim), and currently head coach of [[Eisbären Berlin]] (Berlin Polar Bears) of the [[Deutsche Eishockey Liga]].
* [[Thain Wendell MacDowell]], Victoria Cross Recipient 1917, Vimy Ridge, France.
* [[Bob Paulson (police commissioner)|Bob Paulson]], 23rd Commissioner of the RCMP; Commander of the National Security Criminal Investigations Unit.

== See also ==
*[[List of anglophone communities in Quebec]]
*[[List of cities in Quebec]]
* Rev. [[Henry Flesher Bland]]

==References==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="mamrot">{{mamrot |type=municipalite |76020}}</ref>
<ref name="toponymie">{{toponymie |114406}}</ref>
}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
*[http://www.ville.lachute.qc.ca/ Official web site of the city]

{{Geographic location
 | title     = Adjacent municipal subdivisions
 | Centre    = Lachute
 | North     = [[Gore, Quebec|Gore]]
 | Northeast = [[Saint-Colomban, Quebec|Saint-Colomban]]
 | East      = [[Mirabel, Quebec|Mirabel]]
 | South     = [[Saint-André-d'Argenteuil]]
 | West      = [[Brownsburg-Chatham]]
 | Northwest = [[Wentworth, Quebec|Wentworth]]
}}
{{Argenteuil RCM}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Lachute| ]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Quebec]]