Lavaltrie, Quebec, is a charming city nestled in the southern part of the Lanaudière region, northeast of Montreal. This city, located within the D'Autray Regional County Municipality, is a delightful escape from the suburban sprawl of the North Shore. With a population of 13,267 as per the Canada 2011 Census, Lavaltrie spans a land surface area of about 70 square kilometres, primarily used for agricultural activities.
The origins of Lavaltrie, Quebec, trace back to the 17th century when Jean Talon, the intendant of New France, distributed parcels of land, known as manors, to various lords. The land where Lavaltrie now stands was gifted to a lieutenant, Sieur la Valtrie, by Talon in 1672.
In the 18th century, the occupants of the land constructed a new roadway along the Saint Lawrence River, linking Montreal and Quebec City. This road, initially named the Chemin Du Roy, is now known as Quebec Route 138. For many years, Lavaltrie was at the heart of a vast series of manors owned by lords who aimed to develop the agricultural sector.
Lavaltrie remained a predominantly rural area until the second half of the 20th century. However, the city has seen steady development due to the expanding suburbs of Montreal.
As per the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Lavaltrie, Quebec, had a population of 14,425. The city housed 5,838 of its 5,973 total private dwellings, marking a 5.6% increase from its 2016 population of 13,657. With a land area of 68.22 km2 (26.34 sq mi), Lavaltrie had a population density of 211.4/km2 (547.6/sq mi) in 2021.
Lavaltrie, Quebec, boasts a strategic location near Autoroute 40 and Route 138, providing easy access to Montreal, Laval, and the northern crown area of the Greater Montreal area. Autoroute 40 also links Lavaltrie directly to Trois-Rivières and Quebec City to the east and Ottawa to the west.
Autoroute 31 and Route 131, which end at the junction of the A-40 in Lavaltrie, offer easy access to the more remote and rural regions of the Lanaudière region. Despite being located beside the Saint Lawrence River on its north, the city does not have direct access to the south. The closest links are Autoroute 25 via the Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine Tunnel in Montreal to the west or the Berthierville-Sorel ferry to the east. The closest roadway link to its east is Autoroute 55 in Trois-Rivières via the Laviolette Bridge.
