Mascouche, Quebec, is a charming off-island suburb of Montreal, nestled in southern Quebec, Canada. This city, situated on the Mascouche River within the Les Moulins Regional County Municipality, boasts a population of 51,183, making it the 20th largest municipality in Quebec. The name 'Mascouche' is derived from the Algonquin word 'maskutchew,' which translates to 'bear plain.' This name is in singular form, contrasting with the plural 'maskutew' used for the nearby Les Maskoutains Regional County Municipality.
Mascouche, initially known as Saint-Henri-de-Mascouche, was officially recognized as a city on December 9, 1970, under the leadership of Mayor Gilles Forest. However, the city's history is not without its share of challenges. On June 21, 2021, Mascouche was hit by an EF2 tornado, tragically resulting in one fatality.
Mascouche is home to the Montréal/Mascouche Airport, the largest regional airport in Quebec, located just three kilometres southeast of the city. The city is also strategically positioned at the junction of Autoroutes 640 and 25, both significant national transportation routes.
For those preferring rail travel, Mascouche is conveniently connected to Montreal's Central Station via the Mascouche station of the Réseau de transport métropolitain's Mascouche line.
In the heart of the city, on Mascouche Boulevard, lies L'Étang-du-Grand-Coteau. This urban park, equivalent in size to Mount Royal Park in Montreal, offers a green oasis amidst the city's hustle and bustle.
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Mascouche had a population of 51,183 residing in 19,981 of its 20,290 total private dwellings. This figure represents a 9.6% increase from its 2016 population of 46,692. With a land area of 106.89 km2 (41.27 sq mi), Mascouche had a population density of 478.8/km2 (1,240.2/sq mi) in 2021.
