First railway station in the township of Thetford was constructed in 1878. Housing today the local Mine Museum, it is the oldest surviving building of Thetford Mines.King's Mill, Amalgamated Asbestos Corp. Ltd, Thetford Mines, QC, in 1909.
Before European colonization, the Abenaki inhabited the Thetford Mines region.[5]
A village was founded in 1876 after the discovery of large asbestos deposits in the area. The village incorporated as Kingsville (named after William King, an important mine owner) in 1892.[5] A few years later, in 1905, Kingsville was renamed after the Township of Thetford in which it was founded, which was named after the town of Thetford in Norfolk, England.
During the 20th century, Thetford Mines became a hub for one of the world's largest asbestos-producing regions.
back then being called "Asbestos Capital of the World" and the "City of White Gold". In the boom times, there were seven mines operating in the area, employing 4,000 workers.[7]
In 1949, asbestos miners in Asbestos and Thetford Mines began a strike lasting for almost five months which was one of the most violent labor conflicts in the history of Quebec.[5]
In 2001 the city expanded to its current boundaries, incorporating the nearby towns of Black Lake, Robertsonville, Pontbriand and Thetford-Sud.
When Canada banned the use of asbestos in schools and homes, after using it for years as insulation, the mines of Thetford Mines largely exported their asbestos to areas such as southeast Asia, the Middle East, and South and Central America.[8] However, in 2012, the city's last mine closed and Thetford Mines has developed other sectors, namely manufacturing.[7]
The city of Thetford Mines is the seat of the judicial district of Frontenac.[9]
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Thetford Mines had a population of 26,072 living in 12,216 of its 13,059 total private dwellings, a change of 2.6% from its 2016 population of 25,403. With a land area of 225.97 km2 (87.25 sq mi), it had a population density of 115.4/km2 (298.8/sq mi) in 2021.[12]
Given the abundance of snow for several months in winter, it is a popular area for snowmobiling and four-wheel drive vehicles as well as for downhill and cross-country skiing.
The city is home to the minor-pro ice hockey team the Thetford Mines Assurancia, who are members of the Ligue Nord-Américaine de Hockey (LNAH). They play home games at Centre Mario Gosselin. Thetford Mines is the only city to have hosted an LNAH team in every season since the league's 1996 inception. The city has ringette and hockey organisations for the youth, and there are yearly tournaments for ringette and minor Hockey players, as well as old-timers hockey tournaments.
Spring is maple syrup producing time in the area. The numerous stands of maple trees in the region makes it one of the top maple syrup producing regions in the world. In March and early April, local citizens often make a ritual outing to one of the area's sugar camps (or cabanes à sucre) for sugaring off parties where maple syrup, reduced and thickened by slow boiling, is poured over fresh snow to create a delightful taffy.
Summer
Summer brings a host of other outdoor activities. An abundance of lakes and rivers provide plenty of opportunities for outdoor gatherings and cool refreshment. A series of summer festivals add to the enjoyment of the season, with sporting events, concerts and fireworks.
Autumn
The same maples that produce syrup in spring, provide brilliant displays of colour in autumn.
Media
Two radio stations, CFJO ("O97,3") and CKLD ("Passion-Rock 105,5") serve Thetford Mines. Both stations air programming produced partially in Thetford Mines and partially in Victoriaville.
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