History of Gaspé, Québec, Canada

Gaspé is where Jacques Cartier took possession of New France (now part of Canada) in the name of François I of France on July 24, 1534.
In 1534, the year of the discovery of Canada, Jacques Cartier entered Gaspé Bay and planted a cross there, declaring the territory a French possession. Since then, Gaspé has always been called the Cradle of Canada.
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Read more about Jacques CARTIER

1738 - Seigniory Gaspé, granted, Mar. 25, 1738, to Dame Angelique Legardeur, widow of Auberr de Gaspé

1765 - Colonization
The Micmac Indians have lived here for centuries, but colonization began around 1765, when the British government granted land to dismissed British officers and soldiers. Twenty years later, in 1784, more than 300 Loyalists, who escaped from the United States after the defeat of Great Britain, settled there.
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1832 - GASPE,
seigniory, in the co. of Lotbiniere, in the rear of the S. of Tilly, is bounded N.E. by Lauzon; N.W. by Desplaines and St. Giles. - 1 1/ 2 l. in breadth and depth. Granted, Mar. 25, 1738, to Dame Angelique Legardeur, widow of Auberr de Gaspe. - There is not an acre of tillage in this S., and it is scantily supplied with water, although it gives rise to 5 or 6 streams besides the Riviere Noire and Ruisseau Gosselin in the S.E. angle.
A Topographical Dictionary of The Province of Lower Canada by Joseph Bouchette, Esq., London, 1832

In 1862, Italy established its consulate in Gaspé, followed by the United States, Brazil, Portugal and Norway.

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1873
GASPÉ, a district of Quebec, comprising the counties of Gaspe and Bonaventure, is surrounded from Cap Chat to Cap des Rosiers by the waters of the River St. Lawrence ; thence to Pointe aux Macquerau by the waters of the Gulf, this point being the boundary between the two counties; thence to Point Magouacha by the Baie des Chaleurs, and thence westward to the uppermost end of the District by River Restigouche : the whole extent being about 375 miles of coast, intersected by numerous smaller rivers, bays, and harbors, and being throughout a most valuable and inexhaustible fishing coast, more particularly so the County of Gaspé, and the Magdalen Islands, situate in the centre of the Gulf. The chief resources of the District, with respect to exportation, are the cod, salmon, mackerel, herring, and whale fisheries, and lumber ; the former principally in the county of Gaspé, and the latter principally in the county of Bonaventure. The imports, consisting of the necessaries of life in the... Read MORE...

1875 - Cathédrale du Christ-Roi established at Gaspé

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1895 - Gaspe
GASPE, a maritime county of Quebec, occupying the east portion of the Gaspé Peninsula, has an area of 2,909,940 acres. Chief town, Percé. Pop. 26,875.

GASPE, a district of Quebec, comprising the counties of Gaspé and Bonaventure, is surrounded from Cap Chat to Cap des Rosiers by the waters of the River St. Lawrence; thence to Pointe aux Macqueran by the waters of the Gulf, this point being the boundary between the two counties; thence to Point Magouacha by the Baie des Chaleurs, and thence westward to the uppermost end of the district by River Restigouche; the whole extent being about 375 miles of coast, intersected by numerous smaller rivers, bays, and harbors, and being throughout a most valuable and inexhaustible fishing coast,-more particularly so the county of Gaspé, and the Magdalen Islands, situate in the centre of the Gulf. The chief resources of the district, with respect to exportations, are the cod, salmon, mackerel, herring, and whale fisheries, and lumber; the former... Read MORE...

1895 - Gaspe / Gaspe Basin
Gaspé, or Gaspé Basin, a post-town and port of entry in Gaspé co., Quebec, on the S. side of the entrance to Gaspé Bay, 450 miles (by sea) from Quebec. It is the seat of extensive fisheries, &c., and is distinguished in history as being the place where Jacques Cartier landed on July 24, 1554. It contains a branch bank, several churches, and 6 stores. Petroleum has been obtained here. On the high ground near the town is Fort Ramsey. Pop. 726.
Lippincott's Gazetteer of the World: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World Containing Notices of Over One Hundred and Twenty-five Thousand Places ... Joseph Thomas January 1, 1895 J.B. Lippincott

Gaspé took on a new lease of life in 1911, when the railway connected the city with the rest of the country and its port became an important merchandise crossroads in Quebec.
It is one of the pulpwood shipping centers in Europe (paper pulp has been in great demand all over the world) and the Gaspé Copper Mines ships to the United States and Europe anodes of copper.
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1916
Gaspe, or Gaspe Basin, a post-village and port of entry of Gaspe co., Quebec, on the 8. side of the entrance to Gaspe Bay, 450 miles (by sea) from Quebec. It is the seat of extensive fisheries, etc., and is distinguished in history as being the place where Jacques Cartier landed on July 24, 1534. Petroleum has been obtained here. On the high ground near the town is Fort Ramsey. Pop. in 1901, 454.
Lippincotts New Gazetteer: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World, Containing the Most Recent and Authentic Information Respecting the Countries, Cities, Towns, Resorts, Islands, Rivers, Mountains, Seas, Lakes, Etc., in Every Portion of the Globe, Part 1 Angelo Heilprin Louis Heilprin - January 1, 1916 J.B. Lippincott - Publisher

Gaspe
Gaspé, Qué, City, pop 14 819 (2006c), 14 932 (2001c), inc 1971. Gaspé is located on the bay bearing the same name. The name extends to an entire region, the Gaspé Peninsula. The origin and meaning of the name is unclear but may have derived from the Micmac word meaning "land's end." Following the amalgamation of 12 neighbouring localities between Anse-à-Valleau and Pointe-St-Pierre in 1971, Gaspé is now one of Québec's largest municipalities in area.

It is one of the oldest settlements in North America: on 24 July 1534, Jacques Cartier took possession of Canada on behalf of the king of France and placed a cross at this location, which very soon became a fishing port and supply centre for New France. Between 1628 and 1760, Gaspé was the scene of several incidents between the French and English. Sir William Phips's troops burned the village in 1690 and the English built a fort there just before the Conquest. After the American Revolution, many Loyalists settled in the area. Since... Read MORE...

Here's a list of places to go and things to do in Gaspé:
Forillon National Park:

Start your Gaspé adventure with a visit to Forillon National Park. It's a haven for hikers, offering numerous trails with breathtaking coastal views and opportunities to spot wildlife such as seals and whales.

Don't miss Cap-Bon-Ami, where you can hike up to the lighthouse for panoramic views of the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

Percé Rock:

No trip to Gaspé is complete without seeing the iconic Percé Rock. Take a boat tour to get up close to this colossal limestone formation with a natural arch. It's also home to a variety of seabirds.

Île Bonaventure:

Adjacent to Percé, Île Bonaventure is a protected bird sanctuary. It's a fantastic place for birdwatching, particularly for the Northern Gannet colony, one of the largest in the world.

Hiking and Outdoor Activities:

Gaspé offers a wide range of outdoor activities, including hiking, biking, kayaking, and fishing. Explore the Chic-Choc Mountains or take a guided sea kayaking tour along the... Read MORE...