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Amqui, Quebec, incorporated as a town in 1991, population 5,999 (2021 census), 6,178 (2016 census). It is located west of the Gaspé Peninsula, at the southern tip of Lake Matapédia. The Matapédia River winds southward through the town, converging with the Humqui River near the town centre.
Municipal History
In 1907, the village centre split away from the parish municipality of Saint-Benoît-Joseph-Labre. It formally adopted the name Amqui in 1948. Amqui (from ankwi or amgoig) is of Mi’kmaq origin. It means "the place to play and have fun," referring to its use for festive gatherings by the Mi’kmaq. The town of Amqui was given town status in 1961. Thirty years later, it reunited with the parish municipality it had broken away from.
The county seat of the regional county municipality of Matapédia, Amqui is an important service centre and an industrial town built up around forest products and farming. It is also a tourist destination, and the area is internationally known for its salmon and trout fishing (see Sportfishing). At Anse Saint-Jean, a covered bridge that crosses the Matapédia River is one of several local historic sites.
