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Carleton-sur-Mer, located in the Gaspesie–Iles-de-la-Madeleine Region (Avignon County), was founded in 1756 and incorporated in 1787. Less than 3000 people live there.

The town is located on Gaspesie’s south shore, on route 132, along Baie des Chaleurs.

As to its cultural events, the International Maximum Blues Festival attracts dozens of thousands of guests who come to see local and international artists. The first edition of this festival took place in 1992

Carleton-sur-Mer was founded by seven families of exiled Acadians who arrived on the site from Bonaventure and Restigouche following their deportation from Acadie (Nova-Scotia) in 1755.

Father Mathurin Bourg, first accredited Acadian priest, conducted the very first census among the local population in 1777. There were 177 persons living in the village at that time.

Ten years later, in 1787 American loyalists settle here. At that time the village was called Tracadieche. Eventually, the village was called by the Loyalists Saint-Joseph de Carleton in honour of General Guy Carleton, Lieutenant-Governor Guy Carleton, First Baron Dorchester.

During more than two centuries, there were two communities here: Carleton and St. Omer. On October 4, 2000 the communities decided to form a new town named Carleton-sur-Mer.

In the 19th and 20th centuries local economy was centred mostly on agriculture, fishing and forest products. Besides, the deep water wharf allowed for large international vessels to load lumber.