Farnham, a city nestled in the Brome-Missisquoi Regional County Municipality in the Estrie region of Quebec, Canada, is steeped in history. The city takes its name from the historic Township of Farnham, one of the few townships established before 1800, named in remembrance of Farnham, UK. The first settlers, known as "Farnhamiens," were mostly Loyalists from the United States who arrived in 1800.
Farnham was granted the status of a "town" on December 28, 1876. Later, on March 8, 2000, the town of Farnham and the municipality of Rainville merged to form the new "City of Farnham." Today, the city is home to an important military training camp, used primarily by the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School and local militia.
Farnham is beautifully situated on the shores of the Yamaska River, at the border of the Saint-Lawrence lowlands. The city is centrally located among important cities such as Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu to the west and Granby to the north-east.
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Farnham had a population of 10,149 living in 4,446 of its 4,697 total private dwellings. This marked a change of 13.9% from its 2016 population of 8,909. With a land area of 92.12 km2 (35.57 sq mi), Farnham had a population density of 110.2/km2 (285.3/sq mi) in 2021.
Farnham is home to the Petite Église, a former church turned fully functional recording studio. Owned and operated by Montreal-based indie rock band Arcade Fire, the studio has hosted other notable bands like Wolf Parade and Hot Springs. The church is now owned by Emery Street Records and continues to be used as a recording studio.
Farnham offers a variety of activities for residents and visitors alike. The city houses a skydiving school, Nouvel Air, and an arena named in honour of Madeleine Auclair. Since the 1990s, Farnham has had a skateboard park, which hosts an annual festival every August named "Skatefest de Farnham." Golf enthusiasts can enjoy the "Club de Golf de Farnham" located southeast of the city. Farnham is also on the route of both the Montérégiade Farnham/Granby and Route verte bicycle paths.
Farnham is home to the Farnham railway station, a disused station belonging to the Canadian Pacific Railway. Despite its current disuse, the station stands as a testament to the city's rich history and its connection to the broader Canadian landscape.
