United Counties of Prescott and Russell

The United Counties of Prescott and Russell (French: Comtés unis de Prescott et Russell) is a county located in the Canadian province of Ontario. Its county seat is L'Orignal.[2] The county was created as a result of a merger between Russell County and Prescott County in 1820. It is located in Eastern Ontario, in the wedge-shaped area between the Ottawa River and St. Lawrence River, approximately 55 kilometres (34 mi) east of the City of Ottawa. Under Ontario law, the county is an Upper-tier Municipality.

Prescott and Russell
United Counties of Prescott and Russell
Comtés unis de Prescott et Russell (French)
Motto(s): 
Sic Dat Diligentia Terra
("He who works hard reaps a good harvest")
Location of Prescott & Russell counties
Location of Prescott & Russell counties
Coordinates: 45°28′N 74°50′W / 45.467°N 74.833°W / 45.467; -74.833
Country Canada
Province Ontario
RegionEastern Ontario
Established1820
County seatL'Orignal
Municipalities
List
Government
 • WardenNormand Riopel
 • Governing bodyPrescott and Russell County Council
 • MPsFrancis Drouin
 • MPPsStéphane Sarrazin
Area
 • Land2,004.47 km2 (773.93 sq mi)
Population
 (2016)[1]
 • Total
89,333
 • Density44.6/km2 (116/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
Websitewww.prescott-russell.on.ca/

Geography and nature

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According to Statistics Canada, the county has a total area of 2,004.44 square kilometres (773.92 sq mi).[3]

The county is bordered by the Ontario/Québec border to the east, and the Ottawa River to the north. It is crossed by the South Nation River that connects the Larose Forest and Alfred Bog. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources has designated the Alfred Bog "a provincially significant wetland and an Area of Natural and Scientific Interest." Species of interest include the palm warbler, northern pitcher-plant, pink lady's-slipper, cottongrass, bog elfin and bog copper butterflies, and ebony boghaunter dragonfly. It also hosts one of the most southerly herds of moose. The bog is open to the public with a 273 metres (896 ft) boardwalk for nature walks.[4]

Municipality 2021 Population [5] Sub-region Former municipalities
Alfred and Plantagenet, Township of 9949 Prescott Alfred Township, Alfred Village, North Plantagenet Township, Plantagenet Village.
Casselman, Village of 3960 Russell
Champlain, Township of 8665 Prescott Longueuil Township, L'Orignal, Vankleek Hill, West Hawkesbury Township
Clarence-Rockland, City of 26505 Russell Rockland, Bourget
East Hawkesbury, Township of 3418 Prescott Chute-à-Blondeau, Sainte-Anne-de-Prescott, Saint-Eugène
Hawkesbury, Town of 10194 Prescott
Russell, Township of 19598 Russel Embrun, Russell
The Nation, Municipality of 13350 Prescott, Russell Limoges, St. Isidore

Historical townships

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Demographics

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United Counties of Prescott and Russell historical populations
YearPop.±%
198657,620—    
199167,183+16.6%
199674,013+10.2%
200176,446+3.3%
200680,184+4.9%
201185,381+6.5%
201689,333+4.6%
[6][7][1]

As a census division in the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the United Counties of Prescott and Russell had a population of 95,639 living in 38,338 of its 39,616 total private dwellings, a change of 7.1% from its 2016 population of 89,333. With a land area of 2,004.27 km2 (773.85 sq mi), it had a population density of 47.7/km2 (123.6/sq mi) in 2021.[8]

Canada census – United Counties of Prescott and Russell community profile
20162011
Population89,333 (4.6% from 2011)85,381 (6.5% from 2006)
Land area2,004.47 km2 (773.93 sq mi)2,004.44 km2 (773.92 sq mi)
Population density44.6/km2 (116/sq mi)42.6/km2 (110/sq mi)
Median age44.3 (M: 43.7, F: 44.9)
Private dwellings36,783 (total)  34,400 (total) 
Median household income$78,748
References: 2016[9] 2011[10] earlier[11][12]

The median income for a household in the county was $78,748 and the median income for a family is $94,067. Males had an average income of $44,781 versus $33,240 for females.[1]

Languages

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In 2016 French was the sole mother tongue of 63.0% of its residents, and an additional 1.8% reported being natively bilingual in French and English.[13]

Mother tongue Population Percentage
French 55,615 63.0%
English 27,975 31.7%
English and French 1,630 1.8%

Services

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County Court in L'Orignal

Responsibilities of the county government include social services (social assistance, child care, housing), county roads, paramedic / ambulance services and land-use planning. The county also operates the Prescott-Russell Residence, a home for the aged in Hawkesbury.

Libraries

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There are many public libraries located in the county. The largest is the Hawkesbury Public Library, which is located in Hawkesbury.

Health

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Hawkesbury and District General Hospital, in Hawkesbury, Ontario is the only hospital in the county.

Transit

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The counties are served by numerous commuter bus lines running to Ottawa, which are mainly operated by private contractors. The route numbers are part of the Rural Partners Transit Service of OC Transpo. Communities served include Rockland (with 10-12 trips in rush hour), Hawkesbury, Bourget, Casselman, Russell, and Embrun.

Police

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The county is policed by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP). There are two main police stations in Prescott and Russell; one in Embrun and one in Hawkesbury. In addition, there is a police station in Rockland that acts as a satellite to the one in Embrun.[14] The OPP is also in charge of patrolling Highway 417.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Census Profile, 2016 Census: Prescott and Russell". Statistics Canada. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ^ "Community highlights for Prescott and Russell". 2006. Retrieved 2007-12-28.
  4. ^ https://www.nation.on.ca/recreation/birding/alfred-bog-walk-alfred-ontario Alfred Bog Walk, Alfred, Ontario - The Nation
  5. ^ "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions (municipalities)". 2021. Retrieved 2024-01-29.
  6. ^ Statistics Canada: 2001, 2006, 2011 census
  7. ^ "Prescott and Russell United counties census profile". 2011 Census of Population. Statistics Canada. Retrieved 2012-03-21.
  8. ^ "Population and dwelling counts: Canada and census divisions". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
  9. ^ "2016 Community Profiles". 2016 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. August 12, 2021. Retrieved 2019-07-01.
  10. ^ "2011 Community Profiles". 2011 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. March 21, 2019. Retrieved 2012-03-21.
  11. ^ "2006 Community Profiles". 2006 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. August 20, 2019.
  12. ^ "2001 Community Profiles". 2001 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. July 18, 2021.
  13. ^ "Statistics Canada: Census Profile, 2016 Census".
  14. ^ Ontario Provincial Police Website Archived July 18, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
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