Trois-Rivières

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Coordinates: 46°21′N, 72°33′W

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Trois-Rivières, Quebec
Ville de Trois-Rivières
Boulevard des Forges, the main street of Trois-Rivières.
Boulevard des Forges, the main street of Trois-Rivières.
Coat of arms of Trois-Rivières, Quebec
Coat of arms		 Official logo of Trois-Rivières, Quebec
Logo
Coordinates: 46°21′N 72°33′W / 46.35, -72.55
Country Flag of Canada Canada
Province Flag of Quebec Quebec
Region Mauricie
Founded 1634
Amalgamated January 1, 2002
Government
 - Mayor Yves Lévesque
(2005-2009)
 - Governing Body Trois-Rivières City Council
 - MPs Paule Brunelle
 - MNAs Sébastien Proulx
Area
 - City 288.92 km² (111.6 sq mi)
 - Urban 176.92 km² (68.3 sq mi)
 - Metro 880.36 km² (339.9 sq mi)
Elevation 61 m (200 ft)
Population (2006)[1]
 - City 129,100
 - Density 437.2/km² (1,132.3/sq mi)
 - Urban 121,666
 - Urban Density 684.8/km² (1,773.6/sq mi)
 - Metro 141,529
 - Metro Density 160.8/km² (416.5/sq mi)
Time zone EST (UTC-5)
 - Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
Postal code span G8(T,V-W,Y-Z), G9(A-C)
Area code(s) 819
Website: Ville de Trois-Rivières

Trois-Rivières is a city in the Mauricie region of Quebec, Canada, located along the densely populated Quebec City-Windsor Corridor at the confluence of the Saint-Maurice and Saint Lawrence rivers. It was founded in 1634, the second permanent settlement in New France. The current city was created in 2002 from the merging of six towns : Cap-de-la-Madeleine, Pointe-du-Lac, Sainte-Marthe-du-Cap, Saint-Louis-de-France, Trois-Rivières and Trois-Rivières-Ouest.

The city is named for the fact that the Saint-Maurice River, which is divided by two small islands at the river's opening, has three mouths at the St. Lawrence. The city's logo also illustrates this.

Trois-Rivières is also the name of a territory equivalent to a regional county municipality (TE) of Quebec, coextensive with the city of Trois-Rivières. Its geographical code is 371.

Together with the regional county municipality of Les Chenaux, it forms the census division (CD) of Francheville (37). The municipalities within Les Chenaux and the former municipalities that were amalgamated into Trois-Rivières formerly constituted the regional county municipality of Francheville.

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[edit] Description

Trois-Rivières is the economic and cultural hub of the Mauricie region. It lies at the halfway point between Montreal and Quebec City, on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River across from the city of Bécancour. It was founded on July 4, 1634, the second permanent settlement in New France, after Quebec city in 1608. Its location at the three-pronged mouth of the Saint-Maurice River is the source of its name, which is French for three rivers. Historically, Trois-Rivières was sometimes referred to in English as Three Rivers, although in modern times it is always referred to as Trois-Rivières in both English and French. The anglicized name still appears in many areas of the town (e.g., the city's Three Rivers Academy), bearing witness to the influence of English settlers in the town. The city's inhabitants are known as "Trifluviens" (Trifluvians).

Trois-Rivières has been a world capital of the pulp and paper industry since the 1930s; the city's other prominent industries include metal transformation, electronics, thermoplastics, as well as the production of food crops and cabinetmaking. An industrial park adjoining Trois-Rivières Airport also serves as a major centre for the aeronautical industry.

The city's main street is Boulevard des Forges, an area several blocks long in the heart of the Old City composed of century-old buildings housing a great variety of cafés, restaurants, clubs, bars, and shops. In the warmer months, the area is regularly closed to vehicular traffic to accommodate various festivals and events, turning the downtown core into a pedestrian mall. Trois-Rivières is officially the "National Poetry Capital of Quebec"; numerous plaques displaying poetic verses are installed across the centre of the city, and its International Festival of Poetry (held each year in the first week of October) honours this title.

Trois-Rivières has an internationally known racetrack named Circuit Trois-Rivières. The track hosts American Le Mans series, NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, and the Formula Atlantic events.[2] Notable landmarks include the Forges du Saint-Maurice, a foundry dating back to the 1730s, the Ursulines Monastery, and Notre-Dame-du-Cap Basilica.

On January 1, 2002, the former city of Trois-Rivières along with the neighbouring towns of Cap-de-la-Madeleine, Sainte-Marthe-du-Cap, Saint-Louis-de-France, Trois-Rivières-Ouest, and the municipality of Pointe-du-Lac, were amalgamated to form the new city of Trois-Rivières. The Trois-Rivières metropolitan area also includes the city of Bécancour.

[edit] History

The Sieur of Laviolette, founder of Trois-Rivières. The Laviolette Bridge is his namesake.
The Sieur of Laviolette, founder of Trois-Rivières. The Laviolette Bridge is his namesake.

For a long time, the area that would later become known as Trois-Rivières was frequented by Algonquins who used it as a summer stopping place. The French explorer Jacques Cartier described the site while on his second journey to the New World in 1535. The name "Trois-Rivières", however, was only given in 1599, by a certain Captain Dupont-Gravé.

In 1603, while surveying the Saint-Lawrence River, Samuel de Champlain recommended establishing a permanent settlement in the area, which was finally done on July 4, 1634 by the Sieur of Laviolette. The city was second to be founded in New France (after Quebec City, before Montreal) and played an important role in the colony and in the fur trade, thanks to its strategic location. The settlement became the seat of a regional government in 1665. Ursuline nuns first arrived at the settlement in 1697, establishing the first school and helping local missionnaries to Christianize the local Aboriginals and Métis.

French sovereignty in Trois-Rivières continued until 1760, when the city was captured as part of the British conquest of Québec. Sixteen years later, on June 8, 1776, it was the theatre of the Battle of Trois-Rivières (part of the ill-fated Invasion of the province of Québec by Americans from the Boston area—les Bostonnais) during the American Revolutionary War.

The front of the Ursulines Monastery, on rue des Ursulines.
The front of the Ursulines Monastery, on rue des Ursulines.

Trois-Rivières continued to grow in stature throughout the period and beyond; in 1792 it became the seat of a judicial district, and that of a Roman Catholic diocese in 1852.

The greater part of the city of Trois-Rivières was destroyed by a fire in 1908. The majority of the city's original buildings, many of which dated back to French colonial years, were destroyed. Only a few were spared, including the Ursuline Monastery and the De Tonnancour Manor. As a result of the destruction, a major redesign and renovation of the city was undertaken, including the widening and renewal of many of the city's roads. As well, many new businesses and industries became established in the town, which attracted many new residents.

In the 1960s, Trois-Rivières undertook a large-scale project of economic diversification, including the establishment of several cultural institutions and attractions. The Old City of Trois-Rivières was declared an "historic sector" in 1964. The Laviolette Bridge, linking Trois-Rivières to Bécancour and the south shore of the Saint-Lawrence River, was inaugurated on December 20, 1967. Finally, in 1969, the city appeared on Canada's academic map with the inception of the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, known for its chiropractic school and its excellent programs for primary and secondary school education.

Although historically an important center of commerce, trade and population, Trois-Rivières has relinquished much of its earlier importance to the two major cities of Quebec, the metropolis of Montreal and capital of Quebec City. It does, however, remain one of the principal medium-sized cities of Quebec, along with Saguenay, Sherbrooke and Gatineau.

[edit] Demographics

Trois-Rivières Metro Area (2001)

Ethnic origin

Ethnic Origin Population Percent
Canadian 112,300 83.40%
French 44,075 32.73%
Irish 3,030 2.25%
North American Indian 1,645 1.22%
Québécois 1,620 1.20%
English 1,380 1.02%

Age Structure

  • 0-14 years: 16.1%
  • 15-64 years: 68.6%
  • 65 years and over: 15.3%

Religious Groups

The information regarding ethnicities above is from the 2001 Canadian Census. The percentages add to more than 100% because of dual responses (e.g. "French-Canadian" generates an entry in both the category "French" and the category "Canadian".) Groups with greater than 1,250 responses are included.

[edit] Media

[edit] Radio

[edit] Television

[edit] Print

[edit] Notables

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Statistics Canada (January 12, 2008). Trois-Rivières- 2006 Community Profiles. Retrieved on 2008-01-13.
  2. ^ Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

[edit] References

  1. ^ Statistics Canada (January 12, 2008). Trois-Rivières- 2006 Community Profiles. Retrieved on 2008-01-13.
  2. ^ Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières
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