Saint-Eustache, Quebec, is a charming off-island suburb of Montreal, nestled on the north shore of the Rivière des Mille Îles. Located 35 km northwest of Montreal, this city offers a unique blend of history, culture, and modern amenities.
Founded in 1770 and incorporated in 1835, Saint-Eustache is steeped in history. The city is home to the famous Saint-Eustache church, a historical monument built between 1780 and 1783. The city was a significant battleground during the Lower Canada Rebellion on December 14, 1837. The Battle of Saint-Eustache resulted in the defeat of the rebels and the burning of the town. The church was fully rebuilt, except for the front facade, where canon bullet holes can still be seen.
In 1979, General Motors opened a transit bus manufacturing facility in Saint-Eustache, producing vehicles under the brands of GM, MCI, and Nova Bus since 1993. The city was also home to the Autodrome Saint-Eustache from 1965 to 2019, hosting various stock-car racing, local drag racing, and other race competitions.
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Saint-Eustache had a population of 45,276 living in 18,958 of its 19,396 total private dwellings. This was a 2.9% increase from its 2016 population of 44,008. With a land area of 70.51 km2, it had a population density of 642.1/km2 in 2021. The mother tongue of the majority of the population is French, with 88.56% of residents reporting it as their first language.
Saint-Eustache boasts several parks, including Parc Mont Saint-Eustache, Parc Chenier, Parc Clair Matin, Parc Boisé des Moissons, and Parc Nature Saint-Eustache. Other attractions include the Ciné-Parc Saint-Eustache drive-in theatre, Place St-Eustache mall, Carrefour Grande Cote mall, Marché aux puces St-Eustache flea market, Maison de la culture et du patrimoine, Moulin Légaré, Complexe Aquatique Saint-Eustache, and the Guy-Bélisle Library.
Saint-Eustache is serviced by Quebec Autoroute 640, Quebec Route 344, and Quebec Route 148. Exo operates several bus routes, connecting at Terminus Saint-Eustache. There are no train stations near Saint-Eustache, with the closest being Deux-Montagnes station in neighbouring Deux-Montagnes, Quebec. The city used to have a train station from 1882 to 1940, operating service to and from Sainte-Thérèse. The closest airports are Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport to the south and Montréal–Mirabel International Airport to the north.
