Sainte-Marie-Salomé is a charming municipality nestled in the Lanaudière region of Quebec, Canada. It forms an integral part of the Montcalm Regional County Municipality. The history of Sainte-Marie-Salomé dates back to 1765 when the first wave of colonization occurred due to the Great Upheaval. Acadians from Boston found their new home on the south bank of the Vacher Creek in the Seignory of Saint-Sulpice, marking the birth of the settlement known as Bas-du-Ruisseau-Vacher.
The settlement was named after a certain Vacher who accompanied surveyor John Péladeau in 1767 on the seignory's territory. The area saw further growth in 1790 with the arrival of families from Château-Richer. The actual clearing of the area began around 1820, paving the way for further development.
In March 1883, Sainte-Marie-Salomé became home to the second creamery of Quebec. The parish municipality of Sainte-Marie-Salomé was established in 1888 by separating from Saint-Jacques-de-l'Achigan. It was named after Mary Salome, and its letters patent initially used the misspelled "Salomée", which was not corrected until 1986. The local post office opened its doors in 1889. During the 1890s, the location was also known as Sainte-Marie-Salomé-de-Port-Royal, indicating the origin of its Acadian settlers.
The population of Sainte-Marie-Salomé has seen a steady growth over the years. As of 2021, the population stands at 1,221, marking a 1% increase from 2016. The population in 2016 was 1,209, slightly up from 1,164 in 2011. The population in 2006 was 1,256, which was a significant increase from 1,166 in 2001. The population in 1996 was 1,189, slightly up from 1,116 in 1991. The population in 1986 was 1,074, up from 1,013 in 1981. The population in 1976 was 978, up from 875 in 1971. The population in 1966 was 847, up from 820 in 1961. The population in 1956 was 798, up from 793 in 1951. The population in 1941 was 759, up from 678 in 1931. The population in 1921 was 813, up from 774 in 1911. The population in 1901 was 704, up from 655 in 1891.
The number of private dwellings occupied by usual residents is 516, out of a total of 542 dwellings. The mother tongue of the residents is predominantly French, with 97.1% of the population speaking it as their first language. English is the first language for 0.8% of the population, while 0.8% speak both English and French as their first language. Other languages make up 1.2% of the first languages spoken.
