Maria

• Name — Maria • Type — Municipality • Shield Size — 100x80px • Motto — Fidem et caritatem ("Faith and charity") • Subdivision Type — Country • Subdivision Name — Canada • Subdivision Type1 — Province • Subdivision Name1 — Quebec • Subdivision Type2 — Region • Subdivision Name2 — Gaspésie– Îles-de-la-Madeleine • Subdivision Type3 — RCM • Subdivision Name3 — Avignon • Established Title — Settled • Established Date — 1774 • Established Title1 — Constituted • Established Date1 — July 1, 1855 • Leader Title — Mayor • Leader Name — Jean-Claude Landry • Leader Title1 — Federal riding • Leader Name1 — Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj • Leader Title2 — Prov. riding • Leader Name2 — Bonaventure • Area Total Km2 — 95.75 • Area Land Km2 — 94.88 • Population Total — 2760 • Population As Of — 2021 • Population Density Km2 — 29.1 • Population Blank1 Title — Pop (2016-21) • Population Blank1 — 5.5% • Population Blank2 Title — Dwellings • Population Blank2 — 1229 • Time Zone — EST • Utc Offset — −5 • Time Zone Dst — EDT • Utc Offset Dst — −4 • Postal Code Type — Postal code(s) • Postal Code — G0C 1Y0 • Area Codes — 418 and 581 • Custom Label Sec1 — Highways Maria is a municipality in Quebec, Canada.

Maria had been the location of a Mi'kmaq summer coastal community prior to European settlement. In 1774, the area began to be settled by American Loyalists, and Scottish and Irish settlers. In 1842, the geographic township was formed, named in honour of Lady Maria Howard, wife of Guy Carleton and third daughter of Thomas Howard, 2nd Earl of Effingham. In 1845, the Township Municipality of Maria was established, dissolved, and re-established in 1855. In 1860, the place experienced rapid development when a group of Acadians arrived and founded the Parish of Sainte-Brigitte-de-Maria. In 1977, Maria changed status from township municipality to just municipality.

Mother tongue: • English as first language: 2.5% • French as first language: 95.1% • English and French as first language: 0.9% • Other as first language: 0.9%

The main economy of the municipality is the hospital which serves the entire region. The hospital of Maria was built between New Richmond and Carleton-sur-Mer.

Marie-Christine Lévesque, author