| Saint-Marcel | |
| Settlement Type: | Municipality |
| Pushpin Map: | Canada Southern Quebec |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in southern Quebec |
| Coordinates: | 46.9°N -74°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Type2: | Region |
| Subdivision Name2: | Chaudière-Appalaches |
| Subdivision Type3: | RCM |
| Subdivision Name3: | L'Islet |
| Established Title1: | Constituted |
| Established Date1: | July 30, 1904 |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Clément Bernier |
| Leader Title1: | Federal riding |
| Leader Name1: | Montmagny—L'Islet— Kamouraska—Rivière- du-Loup |
| Leader Title2: | Prov. riding |
| Leader Name2: | Côte-du-Sud |
| Area Total Km2: | 180.10 |
| Area Land Km2: | 179.04 |
| Population Total: | 428 |
| Population As Of: | 2011 |
| Population Density Km2: | 2.4 |
| Population Blank1 Title: | Pop 2011-2016 |
| Population Blank1: | 2.5% |
| Population Blank2 Title: | Private Dwellings |
| Population Blank2: | 319 |
| Population Blank3 Title: | Private Dwellings of Permanent Residence |
| Population Blank3: | 196 |
| Timezone: | EST |
| Utc Offset: | −5 |
| Timezone Dst: | EDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | −4 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code(s) |
| Postal Code: | G0R 3R0 |
| Area Code: | 418 and 581 |
| Blank Name: | Highways |
| Blank Info: | |
Saint-Marcel is a municipality in Quebec located in the MRC de L'Islet in the Chaudière-Appalaches.[1] [2]
As of the 2016 census, the population of Saint-Marcel is 428.[3]
https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/prof/index.cfm?Lang=E (accessed February 23, 2021).
Saint-Marcel is located 130 miles from Quebec southeast of the Chaudière-Appalaches region, in the Côte-du-Sud area, on the Appalachian Plateau. Near the Canada–US border, it is halfway between Sainte-Felicite and Sainte-Apolline-de-Patton. The landscape consists of rolling hills and valleys of between 250 and 450 meters (800–1500 feet). There are several rivers and lakes in the municipality, and Saint-Marcel is on the boundary of two watersheds to St. Lawrence River north and south to the border: the Grande rivière Noire, the rivière Rocheuse, and lakes Cayen, aux Canards, d'Apic and Roches et Fontaine Claire. In addition, the motocross circuit Saint-Marcel took the title of the most beautiful track in 2008 SXQC Performance GP series.
In 1865, Township of Arago was established, which was named in honour of the French astronomer and politician François Arago (1786-1853). The Pelletier brothers, from the nearby village of St. Cyril, were the first residents. Among the first establishments in the sector was a mission established in 1882, which was recognized civilly in 1904 and canonically in 1924 as the parish of "Saint-Marcel-de-Islet." The municipality of St. Marcel was formed in 1956 under the same name. Although the exact reasons for the name of the first mission are not known, sources say it is ultimately a reference to Saint Marcel 1st, pope from 308 to 309, under the Roman Emperor Maxence. Marcellois (residents of St-Marcel) received the nickname Chapeaux de Paille (Straw Hats) as villagers of the municipality were accustomed to wearing large hats woven with straw.[3] Between 1981 and 2001, the population of the municipality decreased by 18%, due to a declining birth rate and an aging population.
Agriculture (especially dairy) and maple farming are the main activities of the area and surpassed logging, in addition to the presence of quarries and sand pits. To take advantage of d'Apic Lake, a resort includes an interpretive nature trail. In addition, the former parsonage has been transformed into an inn which serves gourmet meals and local produce.