Sutton, Quebec
Sutton | |
|---|---|
 Main Street (Quebec Route 139) | |
 Location within Brome-Missisquoi RCM. | |
  Sutton Location in southern Quebec. | |
| Coordinates: 45°06′N 72°37′W / 45.100°N 72.617°W[1] | |
| Country |  Canada |
| Province |  Quebec |
| Region | Estrie |
| RCM | Brome-Missisquoi |
| Settled | 1802 |
| Constituted | July 4, 2002 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Robert Benoît |
| • Federal riding | Brome—Missisquoi |
| • Prov. riding | Brome-Missisquoi |
| Area | |
• Total | 248.50 km2 (95.95 sq mi) |
| • Land | 245.69 km2 (94.86 sq mi) |
| Population (2021)[4] | |
• Total | 4,548 |
| • Density | 18.5/km2 (48/sq mi) |
| • Pop 2016-2021 |  13.4% |
| • Dwellings | 3,767 |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Postal code(s) | |
| Area codes | 450 and 579 |
| Highways |  R-139  R-215 |
| Website | www |
Sutton is a town in the Brome-Missisquoi Regional County Municipality in the Estrie region of southern Quebec, Canada. Located along the Canada–United States border, it forms part of the Eastern Townships. The population as of the Canada 2021 Census was 4,548. Known for its scenic landscapes and outdoor recreational activities, Sutton is part of the Eastern Townships and a popular destination for tourists.
The Municipality incudes the village of Sutton, Sutton Junction and Glen Sutton. Its eastern portion extends into the Sutton Range, the northern continuation of Vermont's Green Mountains, while its western portion is predominantly agricultural.
History
[edit]The area that became Sutton was used by the Abenaki for hunting, fishing and gathering. Archaeological sites have been identified near Glen Sutton and Missisquoi Bay, and surveyor John Collins recorded an Abenaki presence in the region between 1771 and 1774. [5]
The boundaries of Sutton Township were surveyed in 1792 by Jesse Pennoyer, who laid out a square township divided into 308 lots. Settlers from New England were already establishing themselves in the area during the 1790s. Some had left the United States following the American Revolution, while others moved north in search of available land. In 1802, most of the township's lots were formally granted to approximately 168 concession holders.[5]
The first municipal council of the Township of Sutton met on July 21, 1845, with Moses Westover serving as mayor. The township became an incorporated municipality on July 1, 1855. As the village developed separately from the surrounding rural area, its more densely populated portion was constituted as a separate town in 1896. The village was granted town status in 1962.[5][6]
In 1871, the railway had reached Sutton. The South Eastern Counties Junction Railroad had planned a line between Montreal, and Newport, Vermont. Local officials sought to have the route pass through Sutton rather than Dunham. The line through Sutton opened on October 31, 1871, and brought both rail and telegraph services, and provided new transportation for agricultural and forestry products.[7][5]
A fire on April 25, 1898 destroyed much of the village centre. Firefighters and residents from Sutton were joined by crews arriving by rail from surrounding communities. Following the fire, the municipal council established a volunteer fire service and approved the installation of a municipal water system.[5]
The development of the Mont Sutton Ski area in 1960 was followed by increased tourism and new housing and hotel development near the mountain. Agricultural activity continued to decline during the second half of the 20th century as tourism became a larger part of the local economy.[5][8]
On July 4, 2002, the former Town of Sutton and Township of Sutton were merged to form the present town of Sutton, bringing the two municipalities under a single municipal administration.[6] The merger ended the separate municipal structure that had existed since the Village of Sutton was incorporated independently from the township in 1896.[6] At the time of the merger, Kenneth Hill was the mayor of the former Town, while Winston Bresee was mayor of the Township. Bresee became the first mayor of the newly merged Town of Sutton and served until 2005.[9]
Etymology
[edit]The name Sutton appears on a map by Gale and Duberger dating from 1795. the Commission de Toponymie du Québec traces the name to the common English place name Sutton, citing Sutton-in-Ashfield in Nottinghamshire as an example. The name derives from Old English forms, generally interpreted as meaning "south fort" or "south town". The commission notes that the name may also have reached the region through its use in American place names.[10]
Geography
[edit]Sutton covers approximately 246 km² and lies on Quebec's border with Vermont. It is bordered by Brome Lake, Quebec and Brome to the north, Dunham to the west, The Township of Potton to the east, and the United States border and the village of Abercorn to the south.[11]
The Municipality has three broad geographic areas. The western portion is predominantly agricultural, the southeast includes the Missisquoi River Valley, and the eastern portion rises into the Sutton Range, the northern extension of Vermont's Green Mountains. Round Top, at 962 m (3,156 ft) is the highest point in the municipality.
The village of Sutton is near the centre of the municipal territory. Sutton Junction lies to the north, while Glen Sutton is located to the south in the Missisquoi River Valley.
Part of the Green Mountains natural area is protected by the Green Mountains Nature Reserve, which extends across portions of Sutton, Potton, Bolton-Ouest and Bolton-Est. The reserve covers more than 78 km² and includes Round Top, Mont Gagnon, Mont Écho and Mont Singer.
Mount Sutton, located in Sutton with an altitude of 3,176 feet, is known for its popular ski resort. The resort has 60 ski trails and 9 ski lifts, making it a destination for many skiers across Quebec, as well as from neighboring American states. Sommet Rond (Round Top), the mountain where the resort is located, is 960 meters high, but the ski network itself reaches a height of 870 meters.[12][13]
Climate
[edit]| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record high °C (°F) | 17.5 (63.5) |
19.0 (66.2) |
26.5 (79.7) |
30.5 (86.9) |
33.0 (91.4) |
33.0 (91.4) |
33.5 (92.3) |
33.5 (92.3) |
32.5 (90.5) |
27.2 (81.0) |
23 (73) |
19 (66) |
33.5 (92.3) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −3.9 (25.0) |
−2.3 (27.9) |
2.8 (37.0) |
10.8 (51.4) |
18.6 (65.5) |
22.9 (73.2) |
25.3 (77.5) |
24.3 (75.7) |
20.3 (68.5) |
13.1 (55.6) |
5.9 (42.6) |
−0.7 (30.7) |
11.4 (52.5) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −8.9 (16.0) |
−7.4 (18.7) |
−2.0 (28.4) |
5.8 (42.4) |
12.8 (55.0) |
17.4 (63.3) |
19.7 (67.5) |
19.0 (66.2) |
14.9 (58.8) |
8.5 (47.3) |
2.0 (35.6) |
−4.8 (23.4) |
6.4 (43.5) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −13.5 (7.7) |
−12.3 (9.9) |
−6.7 (19.9) |
0.4 (32.7) |
7.1 (44.8) |
11.9 (53.4) |
14.5 (58.1) |
13.7 (56.7) |
9.6 (49.3) |
3.9 (39.0) |
−2.1 (28.2) |
−8.7 (16.3) |
1.5 (34.7) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −36.5 (−33.7) |
−36.5 (−33.7) |
−29.5 (−21.1) |
−16.5 (2.3) |
−5.5 (22.1) |
−2.5 (27.5) |
2.5 (36.5) |
1.0 (33.8) |
−5.0 (23.0) |
−8.5 (16.7) |
−21.5 (−6.7) |
−34.0 (−29.2) |
−36.5 (−33.7) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 97.2 (3.83) |
83.5 (3.29) |
100.4 (3.95) |
111.4 (4.39) |
114.7 (4.52) |
113.8 (4.48) |
127.7 (5.03) |
123.2 (4.85) |
118.6 (4.67) |
127.1 (5.00) |
111.6 (4.39) |
110.8 (4.36) |
1,340.1 (52.76) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 34.8 (1.37) |
20.9 (0.82) |
41.6 (1.64) |
85.5 (3.37) |
112.1 (4.41) |
113.8 (4.48) |
127.7 (5.03) |
123.3 (4.85) |
118.6 (4.67) |
117.9 (4.64) |
77.6 (3.06) |
45.1 (1.78) |
1,018.9 (40.11) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 63.0 (24.8) |
61.7 (24.3) |
57.5 (22.6) |
25.8 (10.2) |
2.3 (0.9) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
9.4 (3.7) |
33.6 (13.2) |
57.7 (22.7) |
320.9 (126.3) |
| Average extreme snow depth cm (inches) | 22 (8.7) |
28 (11) |
22 (8.7) |
3 (1.2) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
4 (1.6) |
14 (5.5) |
8 (3.1) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 21.1 | 17.4 | 17.0 | 14.7 | 15.5 | 15.3 | 15.4 | 13.8 | 13.7 | 15.7 | 17.5 | 20.6 | 197.7 |
| Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 5.6 | 4.1 | 7.4 | 12.0 | 15.3 | 15.3 | 15.4 | 13.8 | 13.6 | 14.9 | 11.6 | 7.1 | 136.1 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) | 18.4 | 15.7 | 12.8 | 5.5 | 0.72 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.03 | 2.3 | 9.0 | 16.8 | 81.3 |
| Source: [14] | |||||||||||||
Mayors of Sutton
[edit]Mayors since 2002
[edit]- Robert Benoît (2021–Present)
- Michel Lafrance (2017-2021)
- Louis Dandenault (2013-2017)
- Pierre Pelland (2009-2013)
- Kenneth Hill (2005-2009)
- Winston Bresee (2002-2005)
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 1,587 | — |
| 1996 | 1,617 | +1.9% |
| 2001 | 1,631 | +0.9% |
| 2002M | 3,524 | +116.1% |
| 2006 | 3,805 | +8.0% |
| 2011 | 3,906 | +2.7% |
| 2016 | 4,012 | +2.7% |
| 2021 | 4,548 | +13.4% |
(M) merger with township of Sutton in 2002. | ||
Demographics
[edit]In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Sutton had a population of 4,548 living in 2,388 of its 3,767 total private dwellings, a change of 13.4% from its 2016 population of 4,012. With a land area of 245.69 km2 (94.86 sq mi), it had a population density of 18.5/km2 (47.9/sq mi) in 2021.[16]
According to 2021 Census data, Sutton has one of the highest median ages in Canada, at 60.4 years. A sizable percentage of the town's population is composed of artists, the highest proportion in Canada.[17]
| 2021 | 2016 | 2011 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,548 (+13.4% from 2016) | 4,012 (+2.7% from 2011) | 3,906 (+2.7% from 2006) |
| Land area | 245.69 km2 (94.86 sq mi) | 245.95 km2 (94.96 sq mi) | 246.54 km2 (95.19 sq mi) |
| Population density | 18.5/km2 (48/sq mi) | 16.3/km2 (42/sq mi) | 15.8/km2 (41/sq mi) |
| Median age | 60.4 (M: 60.4, F: 60.0) | 58.3 (M: 57.7, F: 58.8) | 54.8 (M: 54.9, F: 54.7) |
| Private dwellings | 3,767 (total) | 3,670 (total) | 3,507 (total) |
| Median household income | $66,500 | $55,680 | $48,453 |
| Canada Census Mother Tongue - Sutton, Quebec[15] | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Total | French |
English |
French & English |
Other | |||||||||||||
| Year | Responses | Count | Trend | Pop % | Count | Trend | Pop % | Count | Trend | Pop % | Count | Trend | Pop % | |||||
2021 |
4,485 |
3,075 | 22.0% |
68.6% | 1,060 |  4.9% |
23.6% | 130 | 73.3% |
2.9% | 200 |  0.0% |
4.5% | |||||
2016 |
3,925 |
2,520 | 9.8% |
64.2% | 1,115 | 11.2% |
28.4% | 75 | 0.0% |
1.9% | 200 | 5.3% |
5.1% | |||||
2011 |
3,815 |
2,295 | 1.9% |
60.2% | 1,255 | 8.2% |
32.9% | 75 | 7.1% |
2.0% | 190 | 15.2% |
5.0% | |||||
2006 |
3,735 |
2,340 | 205.9% |
62.7% | 1,160 | 60.0% |
31.1% | 70 | 133.3% |
1.9% | 165 | 312.5% |
4.4% | |||||
2001 |
1,560 |
765 | 4.1% |
49.0% | 725 | 6.6% |
46.5% | 30 | 60.0% |
1.9% | 40 | 20.0% |
2.6% | |||||
1996 |
1,540 |
735 | n/a | 47.7% | 680 | n/a | 44.2% | 75 | n/a | 4.9% | 50 | n/a | 3.3% | |||||
In the 2021 census, 3,075 residents, or 68.6% of respondents, reported French as their sole mother tongue, while 1,060, or 23.6% reported English. A total of 3,225 residents, or 71.9% respondents, reported being able to conduct a conversation in both English and French [21]
Sutton is listed by the Office Québecois de La Langue Française as a Municipality recognized under section 29.1 of the Charter of the French Language, a status it has held since the creation of the present municipality in 2002.[22]
Sutton has a longstanding association with Quebec's Swiss community. Since 1977, the Féderation des Sociétés Suisses L'Est du Canada has organized a Swiss National Day celebration at Mont Sutton annually.[23] The event includes Swiss music, food, traditional dress and other cultural activities. The town of Sutton and the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs have described the Sutton celebration as the largest Swiss National Day celebration held outside of Switzerland.[24]
Transportation
[edit]Quebec Route 139 passes north-south through Sutton and forms part of Principale Street through the village. Quebec Route 215 begins in the village and runs north toward Brome Lake. Maple Street links Route 139 with the Mont Sutton Ski Area.[25]
See also
[edit]- List of anglophone communities in Quebec
- List of cities in Quebec
- 21st-century municipal history of Quebec
- Sutton River, a river of Quebec and Vermont
References
[edit]- ↑ "Reference number 61208". Banque de noms de lieux du Québec [Bank of place names of Quebec] (in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec.
- 1 2 "Ministère des Affaires municipales, des Régions et de l'Occupation du territoire: Sutton". Archived from the original on 2012-01-14. Retrieved 2012-03-11.
- ↑ "Parliament of Canada Federal Riding History: BROME--MISSISQUOI (Quebec)". Archived from the original on 2009-06-09. Retrieved 2009-04-20.
- ↑ "Profile table, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Sutton, Ville (V) [Census subdivision], Quebec". 9 February 2022.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "History". Town of Sutton. Retrieved 2026-09-15.
- 1 2 3 Capmas, Isabelle (2025-09-17). "Municipal Week - Did You Know that... (2)". Town of Sutton. Retrieved 2026-09-15.
- ↑ "The Impact of the Railway on the Sutton Region". www.communitystories.ca. Retrieved 2026-09-15.
- ↑ "Our Archives". Société d'histoire Héritage Sutton. Retrieved 2026-09-15.
- ↑ "List of Mayors". Town of Sutton. Retrieved 2026-09-15.
- ↑ "Sutton - Sutton (Ville)". toponymie.gouv.qc.ca. Retrieved 2026-09-15.
- ↑ "Town Profile". Town of Sutton. Retrieved 2026-09-15.
- ↑ "All about us - Presentation". Mount Sutton. Archived from the original on 2008-05-23. Retrieved 2008-06-02.
- ↑ "Ski conditions". Mont SUTTON. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
- ↑ "Sutton Climate data 1991-2020". Environment Canada. Retrieved 2026-02-02.
- 1 2 Statistics Canada: 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016, 2021 census
- ↑ "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), Quebec". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
- ↑ Foulds, Diane E. (September 2, 2007). "Quebec town makes the arts a tie that binds". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on October 21, 2012. Retrieved 2008-06-02.
- ↑ "2021 Community Profiles". 2021 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. February 4, 2022. Retrieved 2022-08-22.
- ↑ "2016 Community Profiles". 2016 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. August 12, 2021. Retrieved 2022-06-22.
- ↑ "2011 Community Profiles". 2011 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. March 21, 2019. Retrieved 2014-03-13.
- ↑ "File not found | Fichier non trouvé". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2026-09-15.
- ↑ "Organismes reconnus offrant des services dans une langue autre que le français". www.oqlf.gouv.qc.ca. Retrieved 2026-09-15.
- ↑ "Directory of Recognized Organizations". Town of Sutton. Retrieved 2026-09-16.
- ↑ "Listening to Swiss Citizens in Canada". www.schweiz-kanada.eda.admin.ch. Retrieved 2026-09-16.
- ↑ "The Impact of the Railway on the Sutton Region". www.communitystories.ca. Retrieved 2026-02-15.
External links
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