La Minerve is a charming village and municipality nestled in the Laurentides region of Quebec, Canada. It is part of the Les Laurentides Regional County Municipality. This picturesque location, set in the Laurentian Mountains, is a haven of lush forests and serene lakes, including Chapleau, Désert, and La Minerve Lakes. The southern part of La Minerve is part of the Papineau-Labelle Wildlife Reserve, making it a popular destination for cottage vacationing. During the summer, the local population of this tranquil village swells with nearly 15,000 tourists.
The history of La Minerve, Quebec, dates back to the period between 1880 and 1885, before the arrival of missionary colonizer Antoine Labelle. Journalists from the Montreal newspaper "La Minerve" explored this region, which was then known as "Governor Island" and belonged to Sir Joseph-Adolphe Chapleau, the controller of the newspaper. Employees of La Minerve began to encourage the settlement of the area, which was eventually named after the newspaper.
The 30 January 1886 edition of La Minerve reported the beauty and potential of the area, describing the wonderful site of the village, the beautiful lakes, and the fertile, well-wooded land. The first land concessions were granted by the government between 1880 and 1890. The first settler, Isaac Grégoire, arrived in 1885, and notary Joseph Lefebvre opened a flour mill and a sawmill on the shores of Lake Desert.
In 1892, the Township of La Minerve and its township municipality were formed. The post office opened in 1896, initially named Minerve, but was renamed to La Minerve in 1949. By 1917, the area was home to 125 families with a total of 677 inhabitants. On January 1, 1995, La Minerve absorbed the unorganized territories of Lac-Marie-Le Franc and Lac-aux-Castors located in the Labelle and Gagnon townships. In 1998, the Township Municipality of La Minerve obtained a new legal status and became the Municipality of La Minerve.
The population of La Minerve, Quebec, has seen a steady increase over the years. The population in 2021 was 1,421, marking a 17.9% increase from 2016. The population in 2016 was 1,205, slightly less than the 1,234 residents in 2011. In 2006, the population was 1,295, which was a significant increase from the 1,080 residents in 2001 and the 927 (or 912 when adjusted for 2001 boundaries) residents in 1996. In 1991, the population was 880.
The number of private dwellings occupied by usual residents is 767, out of a total of 1,638 dwellings. The mother tongue of the residents varies, with 5.3% having English as their first language, 91.2% having French as their first language, 1.4% being bilingual in English and French, and 1.4% having another language as their first language.
