| Marsoui | |
| Flag Size: | 120x80px |
| Pushpin Map: | Canada Eastern Quebec |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in eastern Quebec |
| Coordinates: | 49.2167°N -70°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Canada |
| Established Title: | Settled |
| Established Date: | 1830s |
| Established Title1: | Constituted |
| Established Date1: | January 1, 1950 |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Renée Gasse |
| Area Total Km2: | 178.64 |
| Area Land Km2: | 181.40 |
| Area Note: | There is an apparent contradiction between two authoritative sources |
| Population Total: | 289 |
| Population Density Km2: | 1.6 |
| Population Blank1 Title: | Pop (2016-21) |
| Population Blank1: | 5.1% |
| Population Blank2 Title: | Dwellings |
| Population Blank2: | 179 |
| Utc Offset: | −5 |
| Utc Offset Dst: | −4 |
| Blank Name: | Highways |
Marsoui is a village municipality in the Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine region of Quebec, Canada.
The name Marsoui is thought to originate from the Mi'kmaq word malseoui, meaning "flint" which is abundant in the area. However, another theory explains that it comes from the French word marsouin, the vernacular term for porpoise or beluga whale that used to be present in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence in large numbers. Alternate spellings used over time were Marsouis, Marsoin, and Marsouins.[1]
While the beluga hunt and cod fishing was popular in this area during the late 17th century, it was not until 1836 that the first permanent settlers, the Henley family of Mont-Louis, arrived. They were followed by people from Jersey.[1]
In 1890, the Mission of Sainte-Émélie-de-Marsoui was founded there, and 3 years later, the local post office opened.[1] Subsistence fishing was the main economic activity until 1911. Then a small saw mill was built that started the transformation to a forestry-based economy. Over the following decades, several saw mills burnt down and were rebuilt.[2]
During the Prohibition era in the United States, Marsoui was a favorite hideout for smugglers fleeing the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.[1]
In 1923, the villages of Marsoui and Rivière-à-la-Marthe separated from the municipality of Sainte-Anne-des-Monts to form the Township Municipality of Christie. In turn, Marsoui separated from this township in 1950 to be incorporated as a village municipality. Its first mayor was Alphonse Couturier, whose company had built a large saw mill in Marsoui in 1940.[3]
From 1945 to 1954, a lead and zinc mine operated about southwest of Marsoui.[2]
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Marsoui had a population of living in of its total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of . With a land area of 181.4km2, it had a population density of in 2021.
Mother tongue language (2021):
The primary industry of Marsoui is forestry. The Bois Marsoui GDS mill supports 60% of its population. There is also a small tourism industry, including 2 commercial sugar houses. Other businesses provide local commercial and public services.[4] [5]
List of former mayors:[6]