Amqui

Amqui
City
Aerial view of Amqui
Aerial view of Amqui
Coat of arms of Amqui
Coat of arms
Location within La Matapédia RCM.
Location within La Matapédia RCM.
Amqui is located in Eastern Quebec
Amqui
Amqui
Location in eastern Quebec.
Coordinates: 48°28′N 67°26′W / 48.467°N 67.433°W / 48.467; -67.433[1]
Country Canada
Province Quebec
RegionBas-Saint-Laurent
RCMLa Matapédia
Settled1870s
ConstitutedJanuary 16, 1991
Government
[2]
 • MayorSylvie Blanchette
 • Federal ridingAvignon—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia
 • Prov. ridingMatane-Matapédia
Area
[2][3]
 • Total
126.80 km2 (48.96 sq mi)
 • Land120.02 km2 (46.34 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[3]
 • Total
5,999
 • Density49.6/km2 (128/sq mi)
 • Pop 2016-2021
Decrease 2.9%
 • Dwellings
3,015
Time zoneUTC−5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Postal code(s)
G5J
Area codes418 and 581
Highways R-132
R-195
Websitewww.ville.amqui.qc.ca

Amqui (/ɒmkwiː/) is a town in eastern Quebec, Canada, at the base of the Gaspé peninsula in Bas-Saint-Laurent. Located at the confluence of the Humqui and Matapédia Rivers, it is the seat of La Matapédia Regional County Municipality. The main access road is Quebec Route 132.

The Mi'kmaq word amgoig, also written humqui, unkoui and ankwi, means "the place to have fun", "half wall" or "place of amusement and pleasure."[4] Another Mi'kmaq name for the area is Amkooĭk or Mkooögwĭk which aptly describes the area as "boggy."[5][6][7] One source postulates that its name comes from the swirling water at the junction of the Humqui and Matapédia rivers. However, the most plausible explanation appears to be more pragmatic: Amqui was formerly a place where Amerindians gathered for pow wows.[1][8]

  1. ^ a b "Amqui (ville)" (in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec. Retrieved 2012-01-30.
  2. ^ a b "Amqui". Répertoire des municipalités (in French). Ministère des Affaires municipales, des Régions et de l'Occupation du territoire. Archived from the original on 2012-01-15. Retrieved 2012-01-30.
  3. ^ a b "Amqui census profile". 2021 Census data. Statistics Canada. 9 February 2022. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
  4. ^ Collectif; Auzias, Dominique; Labourdette, Jean-Paul (2012-02-10). Québec 2012-2013 (in French). Petit Futé. ISBN 978-2746951709.
  5. ^ Rand, Silas Tertius (1875-01-01). A First Reading Book in the Micmac Language: Comprising the Micmac Numerals, and the Names of the Different Kinds of Beasts, Birds, Fishes, Trees, &c. of the Maritime Provinces of Canada. Also, Some of the Indian Names of Places, and Many Familiar Words and Phrases, Translated Literally Into English. Nova Scotia Printing Company.
  6. ^ Marshall, Ian (2012-02-01). Border Crossings: Walking the Haiku Path on the International Appalachian Trail. Hiraeth Press. pp. 118–119. ISBN 9780983585251.
  7. ^ Brochu, Renaud (1990-01-01). Les Fournier: François et Théophile, deux lignées matapédiennes (in French). Éditions Le Brochu. ISBN 9782980199707.
  8. ^ Dompierre, Michel; Leblanc, Bertrand (2004). La Matapédia : Matapediac (in French). Amqui, Québec: MRC de La Matapédia. ISBN 2-9808660-0-8.