Beauharnois, Quebec, is a city nestled in the Beauharnois-Salaberry Regional County Municipality of southwestern Quebec, Canada. As part of the Greater Montreal Area, it boasts a population of 13,638 as per the Canada 2021 Census. Beauharnois is renowned for the Beauharnois Hydroelectric Power Station and the Beauharnois Lock of the Saint Lawrence Seaway.
The history of Beauharnois, Quebec, is marked by significant events. During the Lower Canada Rebellion, the Battle of Beauharnois was fought in 1838 between Lower Canada loyalists and Patriote rebels. The British successfully quashed the rebellion, capturing over a hundred Patriote rebels.
The Beauharnois Canal, connecting the lakes Saint-Louis and Saint-Francois, was dug between 1842 and 1845. This was part of a larger project that included the expansion of the Lachine canal. However, a series of labor conflicts emerged during the canal's construction, culminating in a strike on June 3, 1843. The ensuing battle between the striking workers and employers resulted in the death of five workers and 50 additional injured, marking the bloodiest repression against workers in Canadian history.
In the 2000–2006 municipal reorganization in Quebec, the neighbouring towns of Maple Grove and Melocheville were amalgamated into Beauharnois on January 1, 2002.
Beauharnois, Quebec, encompasses several locations within its municipal boundaries. These include the residential area of Domaine-de-la-Pointe-des-Érables, the former municipality of Maple Grove, Melocheville on the west shore of the Beauharnois Canal, the southern residential area of Parc-Tisseur, the hamlet of Rivière-Nord, and Saint-Paul located on Route 205.
Beauharnois, Quebec, is blessed with several waterways that pass through or are situated within the municipality's boundaries. The Rivière Saint-Louis runs south to north through the city centre, down Chute de la Rivière Saint Louis, emptying into the Saint Lawrence River.
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Beauharnois had a population of 13,638 living in 6,293 of its 6,451 total private dwellings. This marked a change of 5.9% from its 2016 population of 12,884. With a land area of 68.22 km2 (26.34 sq mi), Beauharnois had a population density of 199.9/km2 (517.8/sq mi) in 2021.
