Saint-Adelphe is a charming parish municipality nestled in the Mékinac Regional County Municipality (RCM) in the province of Quebec, Canada. Often referred to as Saint-Adelphe in the Batiscanie, this name is a common reference to the region.
One of the first residents of Saint-Adelphe, known as Jeanot, registered himself as an Indian in the 1861 census. His residence was situated near the Manitou Falls on the banks of the Batiscan River, marking the boundary between Saint-Stanislas and Saint-Adelphe. This area also represents the old limit of two lordships: Sainte-Anne and Batiscan. By the 1860s, a dozen pioneer families had established themselves in the area, including the Veillette, Asselin, Carpentier, Thivierge, Lambert, Baillargeon, Charest, Gervais, Perron, Lafontaine, Baribeau, and Lavigueur dit Brouillet families. By the time of its civil foundation in 1891, the parish of Saint-Adelphe was home to 56 established families.
In 1885, settlers from Saint-Stanislas of the two Batiscan riversides requested the bishop to establish a Catholic Parish. The parish of Saint-Adelphe was canonically erected in the same year. Bishop Louis-François Richer Laflèche of Trois-Rivières chose the name Saint-Adelphe to honor Edward Louis-Adolphe Dupuis, a priest who had marked the location of the church. The name Saint-Adelphe was chosen over Saint-Adolphe as the Roman martyrology does not count Saint-Adolphe. The legendary Batiscan River, which crosses the municipality from north to south, is recognized as a key passage in Native history. The name Batiscan is believed to originate from an "important Indian captain."
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Saint-Adelphe had a population of 922 living in 453 of its 557 total private dwellings. The population density was 6.7/km2 (17.4/sq mi) in 2021. The mother tongue of the residents is predominantly French (95%), with English as the first language for 4% of the population.
The civic erection of the parish of Saint-Adelphe was formalized on July 2, 1891. The first Council meeting was held on September 21, 1891, and the first mayor was Narcisse Roberge. Over the years, the municipality saw the construction of the first aqueduct, the arrival of electricity, and the construction of several bridges. The covered bridge on the Batiscan River, built in 1924, was a significant landmark until its demolition in November 1968.
The municipality of Saint-Adelphe proudly carries the slogan "Faithful with his duty," reflecting the community's commitment to its history, culture, and residents.
