Lavaltrie, Quebec
Encyclopedia
Lavaltrie is a city located within the D'Autray Regional County Municipality
in the southern part of the region of Lanaudière
, Quebec
, Canada, northeast of Montreal
outside of the suburban sprawl of the northern crown (i.e., the suburbs located north of Laval
). The population according to the town's website is 12,148 within a land surface of about 70 square kilometers with the majority of the territory being used for agricultural activities. http://www.ville.lavaltrie.qc.ca/cgi-bin/index.cgi?page=c1.
, the intendant
of New France
, gave parcels of land (known as manors) to various lords. The land where Lavaltrie is now situated was given to a lieutenant, Sieur la Valtrie
, by Talon in 1672. In the 18th century, land occupants built a new roadway along the Saint Lawrence River
linking Montreal and Quebec City, named the Chemin Du Roy
and now known as Quebec Route 138
. For many decades, Lavaltrie was located in the center of a large series of manors owned by lords intended to develop the agricultural sector. http://www.ville.lavaltrie.qc.ca/cgi-bin/index.cgi?page=c1_2_1
Mostly a rural area until the second half of the 20th century, Lavaltrie has developed steadily due to the growing suburbs of Montreal. The population of Repentigny
, located just a few kilometers to the west of Lavaltrie, has grown to over 75,000 inhabitants in 2006.
and Route 138
gives easy access to Montreal, Laval
and the northern crown area of the Greater Montreal area. A-40 also gives Lavaltrie direct links to Trois-Rivières
and Quebec City
to the east and Ottawa
to the west. Autoroute 31
and Route 131
which ends at the junction of the A-40 in Lavaltrie gives the area easy access to more remote and rural regions of the Lanaudière region. However, even though located beside the Saint Lawrence River on its north, the city does not have a direct access to the south with the closest links being Autoroute 25
via the Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine Tunnel in Montreal to the west or the Berthierville
-Sorel ferry to the east (Autoroute 55
in Trois-Rivières via the Laviolette Bridge
being the closest roadway link to its east).
D'Autray Regional County Municipality, Quebec
300px|rightD'Autray is a regional county municipality in central Quebec, Canada. The regional county municipality seat is Berthierville. The municipality has a land area of 1,246.68 km² and a 2006 census population of 40,321 inhabitants. Its largest community is the city of Lavaltrie.-Cities...
in the southern part of the region of Lanaudière
Lanaudière
Lanaudière is one of the seventeen administrative regions of Quebec, Canada, situated immediately to the northeast of Montreal. It has a total population of 429,053 inhabitants.-Geography:...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, Canada, northeast of Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
outside of the suburban sprawl of the northern crown (i.e., the suburbs located north of Laval
Laval, Quebec
Laval is a Canadian city and a region in southwestern Quebec. It is the largest suburb of Montreal, the third largest municipality in the province of Quebec, and the 14th largest city in Canada with a population of 368,709 in 2006...
). The population according to the town's website is 12,148 within a land surface of about 70 square kilometers with the majority of the territory being used for agricultural activities. http://www.ville.lavaltrie.qc.ca/cgi-bin/index.cgi?page=c1.
History
The origins of Lavaltrie go back to the 17th century. Jean TalonJean Talon
Jean Talon, Comte d'Orsainville was a French colonial administrator who was the first and most highly regarded Intendant of New France under King Louis XIV...
, the intendant
Intendant
The title of intendant has been used in several countries through history. Traditionally, it refers to the holder of a public administrative office...
of New France
New France
New France was the area colonized by France in North America during a period beginning with the exploration of the Saint Lawrence River by Jacques Cartier in 1534 and ending with the cession of New France to Spain and Great Britain in 1763...
, gave parcels of land (known as manors) to various lords. The land where Lavaltrie is now situated was given to a lieutenant, Sieur la Valtrie
Pierre-Paul Margane de Lavaltrie
Pierre-Paul Margane de Lavaltrie was a seigneur and political figure in Lower Canada.He was born in Montreal in 1743, the only son of Pierre-Paul Margane de Lavaltrie, a seigneur and captain in the French army based in New France.He joined the colonial army at the age of 13, becoming lieutenant...
, by Talon in 1672. In the 18th century, land occupants built a new roadway along the Saint Lawrence River
Saint Lawrence River
The Saint Lawrence is a large river flowing approximately from southwest to northeast in the middle latitudes of North America, connecting the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. It is the primary drainage conveyor of the Great Lakes Basin...
linking Montreal and Quebec City, named the Chemin Du Roy
Chemin du Roy
The Chemin du Roy is a historic road along the north shore of the St. Lawrence River in Quebec. The road begins in Repentigny and extends almost eastward towards Quebec City, its eastern terminus...
and now known as Quebec Route 138
Quebec route 138
Route 138 is a major highway in the Canadian province of Quebec, following the entire north shore of the Saint Lawrence River past Montreal to the eastern terminus in Natashquan on the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. The western terminus is in Elgin, at the border with New York State south-west of Montreal...
. For many decades, Lavaltrie was located in the center of a large series of manors owned by lords intended to develop the agricultural sector. http://www.ville.lavaltrie.qc.ca/cgi-bin/index.cgi?page=c1_2_1
Mostly a rural area until the second half of the 20th century, Lavaltrie has developed steadily due to the growing suburbs of Montreal. The population of Repentigny
Repentigny, Quebec
Repentigny is an off-island suburb of Montreal, in the province of Quebec, located north of Montreal, on the lower end of the L'Assomption River and on the Saint Lawrence River. Repentigny and Charlemagne are the first towns off the island of Montreal.-History:...
, located just a few kilometers to the west of Lavaltrie, has grown to over 75,000 inhabitants in 2006.
Transportation
Lavaltrie's location near Autoroute 40Quebec Autoroute 40
Autoroute 40 is a major highway on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River in Quebec, Canada. It is one of the two main connections between Montreal and Quebec City...
and Route 138
Quebec route 138
Route 138 is a major highway in the Canadian province of Quebec, following the entire north shore of the Saint Lawrence River past Montreal to the eastern terminus in Natashquan on the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. The western terminus is in Elgin, at the border with New York State south-west of Montreal...
gives easy access to Montreal, Laval
Laval, Quebec
Laval is a Canadian city and a region in southwestern Quebec. It is the largest suburb of Montreal, the third largest municipality in the province of Quebec, and the 14th largest city in Canada with a population of 368,709 in 2006...
and the northern crown area of the Greater Montreal area. A-40 also gives Lavaltrie direct links to Trois-Rivières
Trois-Rivières
Trois-Rivières means three rivers in French and may refer to:in Canada*Trois-Rivières, the largest city in the Mauricie region of Quebec, Canada*Circuit Trois-Rivières, a racetrack in Trois-Rivières, Quebec...
and Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
to the east and Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
to the west. Autoroute 31
Quebec Autoroute 31
Autoroute 31 is a short north-south Autoroute serving the city of Joliette, Quebec. It is only , serving as a means to connect Joliette with Autoroute 40, and in turn to Montreal, and other points on the Autoroute network....
and Route 131
Quebec route 131
Route 131 is a Quebec highway running from Lavaltrie to Saint-Michel-des-Saints in Lanaudière. This route, combined with Autoroute 31, provides the key route to Joliette, and then continues northward through Saint-Félix-de-Valois, Saint-Jean-de-Matha and Saint-Zénon for a distance of almost 140...
which ends at the junction of the A-40 in Lavaltrie gives the area easy access to more remote and rural regions of the Lanaudière region. However, even though located beside the Saint Lawrence River on its north, the city does not have a direct access to the south with the closest links being Autoroute 25
Quebec Autoroute 25
Autoroute 25 is an Autoroute in the Lanaudière region of Quebec. It is currently long....
via the Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine Tunnel in Montreal to the west or the Berthierville
Berthierville, Quebec
Berthierville is a Canadian town located between Montreal and Trois-Rivières on the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River in the province of Quebec. Berthierville is the seat of D'Autray Regional County Municipality, and is served by Autoroute 40, and is the junction of Routes 138 and 158...
-Sorel ferry to the east (Autoroute 55
Quebec Autoroute 55
Autoroute 55 Autoroute 55 Autoroute 55 (also called Autoroute de l'Énergie (North of the Autoroute 20) and Autoroute Joseph-Armand Bombardier (South part) is an important north-south Autoroute and the only one running in that direction in central Quebec. It is the longest north-south Autoroute,...
in Trois-Rivières via the Laviolette Bridge
Laviolette Bridge
The Laviolette Bridge is an arch bridge connecting the city of Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada to Bécancour on the south shore of the Saint Lawrence River via Autoroute 55.-Overview:...
being the closest roadway link to its east).
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