Saint-Basile-le-Grand is a charming city nestled in the La Vallée-du-Richelieu Regional County Municipality in southwestern Quebec, Canada. As of the 2021 Canadian Census, it is home to 17,053 residents.
The city of Saint-Basile-le-Grand was established on June 15, 1871, carved out from territories of Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville and Saint-Joseph-de-Chambly. It was officially recognized as a city on June 7, 1969. The city, predominantly agricultural, spans an area of 35.84 km2, nestled between the Richelieu River and Mont Saint-Bruno.
On August 23, 1988, the city witnessed a significant event when an arson attack was carried out on a PCBs warehouse. Despite this, the city has continued to thrive and develop. Today, residents enjoy the convenience of a commuter train, with a station located at the intersection of boulevard du Millénaire and boulevard Sir-Wilfrid-Laurier (Route 116). This led to the construction of a small shopping center, "Place de la gare," in 2004, housing an IGA, a McDonald's, a gas station, a dentist, a pet store, a florist, a Sushi Shop, an SAQ, and a Caisse Desjardins.
Saint-Basile-le-Grand also holds a unique place in the history of organized crime. In the 1990s, a fortified square, known as the "Bunker," was erected at 28 rue Alvarès. This property belonged to the Evil Ones, a satellite club of the Hells Angels. The city council adopted a regulation prohibiting fortifications in the early 2000s, leading to the seizure of the bunker during Operation South in February 2004. The bunker was eventually destroyed in January 2006.
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Saint-Basile-le-Grand had a population of 17,053 living in 6,561 of its 6,635 total private dwellings. This represented a negligible change from its 2016 population of 17,059. With a land area of 35.84 km2 (13.84 sq mi), the city had a population density of 475.8/km2 (1,232.3/sq mi) in 2021.
Saint-Basile-le-Grand is well-served by public transportation. The city's commuter rail station, Saint-Basile-le-Grand, is part of Exo's Mont-Saint-Hilaire line. Additionally, local bus service is provided by the Exo de la Vallée du Richelieu sector, ensuring residents and visitors can easily navigate the city.
