Crabtree, a city nestled in the Lanaudière region of Quebec, Canada, is a part of the Joliette Regional County Municipality. This charming city is situated along the Ouareau River, a right tributary of the L'Assomption River.
The city's most captivating local attraction is the Trou de Fée, a cave on the west bank of the Ouareau River. This "Fairy Hole" is a must-visit for anyone exploring Crabtree, Quebec.
The area began to be populated at the end of the 18th century. In 1845, the first saw mills were built along the Ouareau River. However, these mills were short-lived, as they were washed away by spring floods.
The real development of the town began in 1905 when Edwin Crabtree purchased land in what would become the city's center to build a paper mill. He founded Edwin Crabtree and Sons Ltd. and built the mill along the Ouareau River to harness its hydraulic power. A year later, the post office opened under the name "Crabtree Mills".
In 1912, a fire destroyed the mill, but it was rebuilt within a year. Gradually, a small village grew near the mill, including the so-called "English Street" with its residences for the managers, boarding house, the entertainment hall "Beaver S Club", tennis court, and park. A dam on the Ouareau River was built in 1917-18.
Edwin Crabtree and Sons Ltd. later joined the Howard Smith Paper Mills group (subsequently bought by Domtar), and the plant was modernized. Today, Kruger Products operates the mill.
In 1921, the Parish of Sacré-Cœur-de-Jésus was formed, and on December 27 of that year, it was also civilly incorporated as the Parish Municipality of Sacré-Cœur-de-Jésus. Kay Crabtree was the first mayor.
On July 1, 1922, the School Commission of the Parish of Sacré-Cœur-de-Jésus-de-Crabtree was established. On March 9, 1930, the mill workers formed the Syndicat National des Travailleurs de la Pulpe et du Papier ("National Union of Pulp and Paper Workers"), one of the oldest unions affiliated with the paper and forestry sector of the Confederation of National Labour Unions.
For a long time, the place was also identified with the extended name Sacré-Cœur-de-Jésus-de-Crabtree-Mills. In 1945, the village itself separated from the parish municipality and was incorporated as the Municipality of Crabtree. In 1991, Sacré-Cœur-de-Jésus was renamed to Sacré-Cœur-de-Crabtree to avoid confusion with a municipality in the Beauce by the same name. On October 23, 1996, both places were merged into the new Municipality of Crabtree and, on November 18, 2023, the status of the municipality changed to become the City of Crabtree.
The population of Crabtree has been steadily growing over the years. In 2021, the population was 4,155, marking a 5% increase from 2016. The city has seen consistent growth since 1981, when the population was 1,950.
The city is predominantly French-speaking, with 96.9% of the population listing French as their first language. English is the first language for 1% of the population, while 0.4% are bilingual in English and French. Other languages make up 1.3% of the first languages spoken in Crabtree.
Crabtree, Quebec, is a city with a rich history and a vibrant community. Whether you're drawn to its historical roots or its natural beauty, Crabtree offers a unique experience for all who visit.
