Marsoui, Quebec
Introduction '''Marsoui''' is a village municipality in the Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine region of Quebec, Canada.The name Marsoui is thought to originate from the Mi'kmaq word ''malseoui'', meaning "flint" which is abundant in the area. However, another theory explains that it comes from the French word ''marsouin'', the vernacular term for porpoise or beluga whale that used to be present in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence in large numbers. Alternate spellings used over time were ''Marsouis, Marsoin'', and ''Marsouins''.
History Two snowcats in front of Marsoui Hotel ca. 1949While the beluga hunt and cod fishing was popular in this area during the late 17th century, it was not until 1836 that the first permanent settlers, the Henley family of Mont-Louis, arrived. They were followed by people from Jersey.In 1890, the Mission of Sainte-Émélie-de-Marsoui was founded there, and 3 years later, the local post office opened. Subsistence fishing was the main economic activity until 1911.Then a small saw mill was built that started the transformation to a forestry-based economy. Over the following decades, several saw mills burnt down and were rebuilt.During the Prohibition era in the United States, Marsoui was a favorite hideout for smugglers fleeing the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.In 1923, the villages of Marsoui and Rivière-à-la-Marthe separated from the municipality of Sainte-Anne-des-Monts to form the Township Municipality of Christie. In turn, Marsoui separated from this township in 1950 to be incorporated as a village municipality. Its first mayor was Alphonse Couturier, whose company had built a large saw mill in Marsoui in 1940.From 1945 to 1954, a lead and zinc mine operated about  southwest of Marsoui.
Demographics In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Marsoui had a population of  living in  of its  total private dwellings, a change of  from its 2016 population of . With a land area of , it had a population density of  in 2021. '''Mother tongue language (2016)''' Language Population Pct (%) French only 270 98.2% English only 0 0.0% Both English and French 0 0.0% Other languages 5 1.8%
Economy The primary industry of Marsoui is forestry. The Bois Marsoui GDS mill supports 60% of its population. There is also a small tourism industry, including 2 commercial sugar houses. Other businesses provide local commercial and public services.
See also * List of village municipalities in Quebec
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