Baie-Comeau

Baie-Comeau, town, regional county municipality (RCM) of Côte-Nord region, east-central Quebec province, Canada. It lies on the north bank of the St. Lawrence River near the mouth of the Manicouagan River. Named after Napoléon-Alexandre Comeau, a local naturalist, it was founded in 1936 at the instigation of Robert R. McCormick, publisher of the Chicago Tribune, as a pulp and newsprint milling centre. The town is now a busy deepwater port and industrial centre, with an aluminum plant and grain-export facilities contributing to its economy. As an RCM, Baie-Comeau has much influence and impact on the development and maintenance of itself and smaller neighbouring towns. Baie-Comeau was unified with nearby and slightly larger Hauterive in 1983. The town is served by a highway to Quebec city (255 miles [410 km] southwest), an airport, and ferry service across the St. Lawrence River. Inc. 1937. Pop. (2006) 22,554; (2011) 22,113.