United Counties of Prescott and Russell

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For the former Ontario electoral district, see Prescott and Russell (provincial electoral district).
Prescott and Russell
Comtés unis de Prescott et Russell
United counties (upper-tier)
United Counties of Prescott and Russell
Motto: Sic Dat Diligentia Terra
("He who works hard reaps a good harvest")
Location of Prescott & Russell counties
Location of Prescott & Russell counties
Coordinates: 45°28′N 74°50′W / 45.467°N 74.833°W / 45.467; -74.833Coordinates: 45°28′N 74°50′W / 45.467°N 74.833°W / 45.467; -74.833
Country  Canada
Province  Ontario
Region Eastern Ontario
Established 1820
County seat L'Orignal
Municipalities
Government
 • Warden Robert Kirby
 • Governing body Prescott and Russell County Council
 • MPs Francis Drouin
 • MPPs Grant Crack
Area[1]
 • Land 2,004.44 km2 (773.92 sq mi)
Population (2011)[1]
 • Total 85,381
 • Density 42.6/km2 (110/sq mi)
Time zone EST (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
Website www.prescott-russell.on.ca/

The United Counties of Prescott and Russell (French: Comtés unis de Prescott et Russell) are consolidated counties located in the Canadian province of Ontario. Its county seat is L'Orignal.[2] It was created as a result of a merger between Russell County and Prescott County in 1820. It is located in Eastern Ontario.

Geography and nature[edit]

According to Statistics Canada, the county has a total area of 2,004.44 square kilometres (773.92 sq mi).[3]

It is crossed by the South Nation River that connects the Larose Forest and Alfred Bog. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources has designated the Alfred Bog "a provincially significant wetland and an Area of Natural and Scientific Interest." Species of interest include the palm warbler, northern pitcher-plant, pink lady's-slipper, cottongrass, bog elfin and bog copper butterflies, and ebony boghaunter dragonfly. It also hosts one of the most southerly herds of moose. The bog is open to the public with a 272 metre boardwalk for nature walks.[4]

Subdivisions[edit]

Municipalities and townships with major unincorporated communities:

Demographics[edit]

Historic populations:[7]

  • Population in 1996: 74,013

The median income for a household in the county is $52,664 and the median income for a family is $59,817. Males have an average income of $35,984 versus $25,917 for females.

Languages[edit]

Prescott and Russell has a large Franco-Ontarian population, and is (by percentage) the most francophone census division in Canada west of Quebec. In 2011 French was the sole mother tongue of 64.2% of its residents, and an additional 1.7% reported being natively bilingual in French and English.[8]

Mother tongue Population Percentage
French 54 105 64.2%
English 26 655 31.0%
English and French 1 425 1.7%

Services[edit]

County Court in L'Orignal

Responsibilities of the county government include social services (social assistance, child care, housing), county roads, paramedic / ambulance services and land-use planning. The County also operates the Prescott-Russell Residence, a home for the aged in Hawkesbury.

Libraries[edit]

There are many public libraries located in the county. The largest is the Hawkesbury Public Library, which is located in Hawkesbury.

Health[edit]

There are two hospitals in Prescott-Russell: Hawkesbury and District General Hospital, in Hawkesbury, and the Glengarry Memorial Hospital, a rural hospital in Alexandria, Ontario. Also, there is a medevac helicopter, in Ottawa, Ontario. The two hospitals have seen an increase in wait times due to an influx of patient from Quebec.[9] The Government of Quebec has stalled efforts to build a second hospital in Western Quebec and it is not known when funding will be made available.

Transit[edit]

The North Glengarry Prescott Russell (NGPR) Transport Board, composed of representatives of the member municipalities, is the incorporated public body responsible for the transit service which is operated by private contractors. Casselman, and The Nation Municipality, the communities being served.[10]

Rockland is also served by a commuter bus line operated by Leduc Bus Lines which offers 10-12 trips from the village to downtown Ottawa and Gatineau during rush-hour.

Police[edit]

The county is policed by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP). There are two main police stations in Prescott and Russell; one in Embrun and one in Hawkesbury. In addition, there is a police station in Rockland that acts as a satellite to the one in Embrun.[11] OPP is charged of patrolling Highway 417.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

External links[edit]