Sainte-Julie, Quebec, originally known as Sainte-Julie-de-Verchères, is a charming off-island suburb of Montreal. Nestled in southwestern Quebec, Canada, this city is located east of Montreal in the Marguerite-D'Youville Regional County Municipality. As of the Canada 2021 Census, Sainte-Julie boasts a population of 30,045. In 2009, it was recognized as one of the best towns to live in Quebec, earning the title of "The Happiest City in Quebec" (French: "La ville la plus heureuse du Québec").
Sainte-Julie is strategically located on the south shore of Montréal. The city enjoys excellent connectivity to the nearby cities of Montréal and Longueuil, thanks to the highways 20 and 30.
The territory of Sainte-Julie was initially part of the parish of Sainte-Anne-de-Varennes and was informally known as "Grand Coteau". The settlers, primarily from Boucherville, found the Sainte-Anne-de-Varennes parish too distant and requested their own parish in 1843. In 1850, they received authorization and built a church on land belonging to Julie Gauthier dite St-Germain. The parish was named Sainte-Julie in honor of Julia of Corsica, a virgin martyr from the fifth century A.D.
On May 6, 1851, a civil proclamation recognized the parish municipality of Sainte-Julie. By the fall of 1851, the city was home to over 190 families and 1,251 people, according to the federal census. On July 1, 1885, the city obtained the right to legally elect its first mayor, Jules Choquet. Sainte-Julie-de-Verchères, its full name, gained city status in 1971. The construction of the Quebec Autoroute 20 in the mid-1960s further stimulated the development of Sainte-Julie, transforming it into a rapidly developing suburb south of Montreal.
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Sainte-Julie had a population of 30,045 living in 11,609 of its 11,761 total private dwellings. This represented a change of 0.5% from its 2016 population of 29,881. With a land area of 48.49 km2 (18.72 sq mi), it had a population density of 619.6/km2 (1,604.8/sq mi) in 2021.
Sainte-Julie, Quebec, is home to Hydro-Quebec's electricity interpretation centre, Électrium. Golf enthusiasts can enjoy a round at La Vallée du Richelieu Golf Club's Verchères course, also located in the city.
The Sainte-Julie public transit system provides both commuter and local bus services. The city is traversed by Quebec Autoroute 20, Quebec Autoroute 30, and Quebec Route 229, ensuring easy access to and from the city.
