ST
JOHN'S - CANADA |
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Saint Jean-Sur-Richelieu
(St Johns or St John's) is a city in Quebec, Canada about 50 km southeast of
Montreal. It is situated on the west bank of the Richelieu River at the
early northernmost navigable point from Lake Champlain. As of 2001, the
city's population was 37,386, of which 90% were Catholic. Its per capita
income was $13,311 CDN or $25,309 CDN per wage earner. The city
historically was an important transportation hub. The first rail line in
Canada connected it with La Prairie in 1836. The Chambly Canal extends 20 km
north along the west bank of the river and provides modern freight passage
to Chambly and the St. Lawrence River. |
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Known to the early English settlers as St. Johns, the site was fortified in
the 17th century. Later, the French built Fort St. Jean on the site. It
provided an important communication link during the French and Indian Wars.
During the American Revolutionary War control of the town changed hands
several times as the British and American forces moved through the area.
Today's St-Jean is a manufacturing centre of textiles, food and wood
products. It hosts an Area Support Unit of the Canadian Forces which acts as
the primary recruitment and officer training establishment. Until 1995 ASU
St-Jean housed Le Collège militaire royal de Saint-Jean, a bilingual
military academy. The only remaining military university in Canada is the
Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario.
In 2001, a new city organization was created as a regional county
municipality including several adjoining communities, and the city's
population was adjusted to 39,720. |
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