Louiseville, Quebec, a charming town nestled in the Mauricie region of Canada, is a place rich in history and culture. Located near the mouth of the Rivière-du-Loup and on the north shore of Lac Saint-Pierre, Louiseville is a gem waiting to be discovered. The town also shares a special bond with Soissons in France and Cerfontaine in Belgium, as it is twinned with these two European towns.
The history of Louiseville, Quebec, dates back to 1665 when the area was part of the la Seignorie Rivière-du-Loup. This seignory was formed by Intendant Jean Talon and granted in 1672 to Charles Dugey Rozoy-de-Mannereuil, an officer in the Carignan Regiment. The seignory was also known as Rivière-Mannereuil for some time.
In 1714, the Récollets formed a mission and dedicated it to the patronage of Anthony of Padua. The Ursulines owned the seignory in 1722 and attempted to change the name to Saint-Antoine-de-la-Rivière-Saint-Jean. However, the settlement became known as Rivière-du-Loup or Rivière-du-Loup-en-Haut after the seignory or local river.
The post office opened in 1816, and the Parish Municipality of Rivière-du-Loup-en-Haut was formed in 1845. It was abolished two years later but reestablished in 1855 as Saint-Antoine-de-la-Rivière-du-Loup, named after the parish patron and the seignory.
In 1878, the main settlement separated from the parish municipality and formed the Village Municipality of Rivière-du-Loup. To avoid confusion with another town called Rivière-du-Loup in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region, it was renamed Louiseville in 1879. This new name was a tribute to Princess Louise, the third daughter of Queen Victoria, who had planned to visit the Mauricie that same year. On January 1, 1989, the parish and village municipalities merged again to form the Town of Louiseville.
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Louiseville had a population of 7,340 living in 3,659 of its 3,857 total private dwellings. This was a 2.6% increase from its 2016 population of 7,152. With a land area of 62.59 km2 (24.17 sq mi), it had a population density of 117.3/km2 (303.7/sq mi) in 2021.
The population trend over the years has been as follows:
As for the mother tongue of the residents:
Louiseville, Quebec, with its rich history and vibrant culture, is a town that offers a unique blend of the past and the present. Whether you're a history enthusiast or a curious traveler, Louiseville is a destination that promises an enriching and memorable experience.
