Chibougamau

Chibougamau
Chibougamau main street
Motto: 
Terra nostra dat fructum suum
Chibougamau
Location in Quebec
Coordinates (650, 3e Rue): 49°54′48″N 74°22′07″W / 49.91333°N 74.36861°W / 49.91333; -74.36861
CountryCanada
ProvinceQuebec
RegionNord-du-Québec
RCMNone
Settled1952
ConstitutedNovember 8, 1952
Government
 • MayorNichèle Compartino
 • Fed. ridingAbitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou
 • Prov. ridingUngava
Area
 (2021)
 • Total
1,039.9 km2 (401.5 sq mi)
 • Land694.87 km2 (268.29 sq mi)
 • Urban
6.00 km2 (2.32 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)
 • Total
7,233
 • Density10.4/km2 (27/sq mi)
 • Urban
6,491
 • Urban density1,081.2/km2 (2,800/sq mi)
 • Pop (2016-21)
3.6%
 • Dwellings
3,557
Time zoneUTC−05:00 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−04:00 (EDT)
Postal code(s)
Area codes418, 581
ClimateDfc
Highways

R-113
R-167
Websitewww.ville.chibougamau.qc.ca

Chibougamau (French pronunciation: [ʃibuɡamo]) is the largest town in Nord-du-Québec, central Quebec, Canada. Located on Lake Gilman, it has a population of 7,233 people (2021 Canadian census). Chibougamau is surrounded by, but not part of, the local municipality of Eeyou Istchee James Bay. Chibougamau means "gathering place" in the Cree language.

Its remoteness from Lac Saint-Jean (over 200 km (120 mi) south-east) and Abitibi-Témiscamingue (over 250 km (160 mi) south-west) areas causes Chibougamau to provide services for a few smaller communities surrounding it (Mistissini, Oujé-Bougoumou, and Chapais) and for the regional resource-based industries. Despite Chibougamau's remoteness, it is only about as far north as Winnipeg and is south of any part of the mainland of England.

Access to the town is by Route 167 from Lac Saint-Jean and by Route 113 from Lebel-sur-Quévillon. Chibougamau/Chapais Airport is along Route 113, about halfway to Chapais.