Waterloo, Quebec, is a charming city nestled in the heart of Canada's La Haute-Yamaska Regional County Municipality. With a population of 4,920 as of 2021, this residential city is completely encircled by the township of Shefford. Located within the Eastern Townships, Waterloo is approximately ninety kilometers east of Montreal, making it a perfect getaway from the bustling city life.
The history of Waterloo, Quebec, dates back to 1793 when it was first settled by Ezekiel Lewis, an English Loyalist supporter from Marlborough, New Hampshire. Originally named Lewis Falls, the town underwent several ownership changes before being renamed Waterloo in 1822 by Hezekiah Robinson, who was inspired by the famous battle in which Napoleon Bonaparte was defeated.
Waterloo, Quebec, experienced significant growth in 1861 when Asa Belnap Foster, a prominent Canadian railway builder and politician, brought the railroad to the town. This development led to a population increase from 200 in 1857 to 1,500 in 1867. Foster's contributions to the town's development, including the construction of Foster Street and the donation of land for local churches and the high school, are still evident today.
Waterloo, Quebec, has been home to several noteworthy individuals, including A.B. Foster, a former member of Parliament, Canadian Senator, and railway baron known as "Canada's Railway King". John R. Booth, born in Waterloo in 1827, became one of the wealthiest men in Canada, known as "The Lumber King Of Canada". Lucius Huntington, a local member of Parliament, revealed the details of the "Pacific Scandal" that led to the election defeat of Sir John A. Macdonald.
In the 1880s, Waterloo became the summer residence of Montreal industrialist James Davidson, who established "Ayrmont Farm" on the western side of the town. The main house, "Orford View," still stands on Mountain Street.
From the late 1990s to the early 2000s, Waterloo, Quebec, was home to the headquarters of Canadian furniture company Roxton Inc. Although the company was shuttered in the early 2000s due to increased foreign competition, its legacy as a producer of handcrafted furniture products remains.
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Waterloo, Quebec, had a population of 4,920 living in 2,242 of its 2,404 total private dwellings. This represented a change of 11.6% from its 2016 population of 4,410. With a land area of 12.23 km2 (4.72 sq mi), it had a population density of 402.3/km2 (1,041.9/sq mi) in 2021.
In 1957, Waterloo, Quebec, was twinned with the town of Waterloo in Belgium. To commemorate this union, each of the two Waterloos has a statue representing a little boy and a small girl sheltering under a mushroom.
Today, Waterloo, Quebec, stands out as the only Waterloo in the world outside Europe that is predominantly French-speaking. This unique characteristic adds to the city's rich cultural tapestry and makes it a must-visit destination for history and culture enthusiasts.
