Sainte-Mélanie, a charming municipality in the Lanaudière region of Quebec, Canada, is nestled along the western shores of the L'Assomption River. As part of the Joliette Regional County Municipality, this quaint town offers a rich history and a vibrant community.
The history of Sainte-Mélanie is deeply rooted in the territory of the Ailleboust Seignory. Granted to Jean d'Ailleboust d'Argenteuil (1694-1785) in 1736, the area was under the lordship of Pierre-Louis Panet (1761-1812) by 1800. The town's name, Sainte-Mélanie, is believed to have been inspired by Panet's daughter, Charlotte-Mélanie Panet (1794-1872), and also references Melania the Younger (383-439).
In 1814, Charlotte-Mélanie's husband, Marc-Antoine-Louis Lévesque (1782-1833), donated land for a chapel, which was eventually built in 1830. The Parish of Sainte-Mélanie was founded in 1832, and the post office opened under the name Daillebout in 1836. The municipality officially began in 1845, was briefly abolished, and reestablished in 1855 as Sainte-Mélanie-d'Ailleboust. The post office adopted the shortened name, Sainte-Mélanie, in 1881, and the municipality followed suit in 1986.
Sainte-Mélanie has seen a steady increase in population over the years. The population in 2021 stood at 3,250, marking an 8.7% increase from 2016. The population in 2016 was 2,989, up from 2,892 in 2011, 2,765 in 2006, 2,633 in 2001, 2,474 in 1996, and 2,282 in 1991.
The town comprises 1,394 private dwellings occupied by usual residents, out of a total of 1,518 dwellings. The linguistic diversity of Sainte-Mélanie is predominantly French, with 97.8% of the population speaking French as their first language. English is the first language for 0.9% of the population, while 1.3% speak other languages. No residents reported speaking both English and French as their first language.
Experience the rich history and cultural diversity of Sainte-Mélanie, Quebec, a town that beautifully blends the past with the present.
