Richmond, Quebec, a town with a population of 3,232 (as of 2016), is a picturesque community nestled amidst rolling farmlands on the Saint-François River. Located between Sherbrooke and Drummondville, in the heart of Estrie, Richmond is a gem waiting to be discovered.
Richmond, Quebec, is one of the oldest settlements in the former region of the Eastern Townships, originally settled by colonists from New England, Montreal, and the Richelieu River valley around 1798. The town grew in importance during the 1800s when it became a key railway junction. The St. Lawrence and Atlantic Railroad, which opened between Montreal and Portland, Maine, on April 4, 1853, was absorbed into the Grand Trunk Railway (GTR)'s system just four months later.
The town was first named Richmond in 1820, with the inauguration of a post office. By the 1860s, Richmond had become an important centre, boasting a college, literary institute, and a public library. However, the town's importance has waned since the 1930s, as the railways have also come to play a lesser role in the economy.
The Richmond we know today was created on December 29, 1999, following the merger of the "old" town of Richmond on the right bank of the Saint-François and the village of Melbourne, located on the other side.
The name Richmond is a tribute to Charles Lennox, 4th Duke of Richmond and Lennox (1764–1819), who served as the Governor General of Upper Canada from 1818 to 1819.
The origin of the name Melbourne is uncertain, but it is believed to have been named for Melbourne, Derbyshire or Melbourne, Hampshire.
Richmond, Quebec, experiences a humid continental climate typical of southern Quebec. The town sees high precipitation year-round, resulting in warm to hot, humid summers and cold, snowy winters. The temperature difference between seasons is significant, with July highs reaching 25.8 °C (78.4 °F) and January highs averaging −4.9 °C (23.2 °F).
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Richmond had a population of 3,259 living in 1,609 of its 1,720 total private dwellings, a change of 0.8% from its 2016 population of 3,232. With a land area of 6.98 km2 (2.69 sq mi), it had a population density of 466.9/km2 (1,209.3/sq mi) in 2021.
Richmond, Quebec, has some unique features that set it apart. The reverse side of the 1954-series Canadian $2 bill featured a view of the village of Melbourne. Additionally, Richmond plays host to the second largest St. Patrick's Day Parade in the province of Quebec, behind only Montreal.
