The Laurentides (, ) is a region of Quebec. While it is often called the Laurentians in English, the region includes only part of the Laurentian Mountains. It has a total land area of and its population was 589,400 inhabitants as of the 2016 Census.
The area was historically occupied by the Weskarini Algonquin First Nation. English Canadians began settling in the 1700s in towns like Arundel and Harrington and St. Columban and Clyde, today's La Conception. French Canadians began settlement in the first half of the 19th century, establishing an agricultural presence throughout the valleys. During the 20th century, the area also became a popular tourist destination, based on a cottage and lake culture in the summer, and a downhill and cross-country ski culture in the winter. Ski resorts include Saint-Sauveur and Mont Tremblant.
The Laurentides offer a weekend escape for Montrealers and tourists from New England to Ontario, and with the building of a major highway through the area in the 1970s (Autoroute 15), the area has experienced much growth. Its largest city is Saint-Jérôme, in its extreme southeast, with a 2011 census population of 68,456 inhabitants.
Administrative divisions Regional county municipalities Regional County Municipality (RCM) Population2016 Canadian Census Land Area Density(pop. per km) Seat of RCM Antoine-Labelle 35,243 2.4 Mont-Laurier Argenteuil 32,389 25.8 LachuteDeux-Montagnes 98,203 403.4 Saint-Eustache La Rivière-du-Nord 128,170 284.2 Saint-Jérôme Les Laurentides 45,902 18.5 Mont-Blanc Les Pays-d'en-Haut 41,877 61.3 Sainte-Adèle Mirabel (Equivalent Territory) 50,513 104.1 Mirabel(Mirabel is both a City and a territory equivalent to a regional county municipality) Thérèse-De Blainville 157,103 758.2 Sainte-Thérèse
Indian reserve Doncaster
Indian settlement Kanesatake
Major communities Blainville Boisbriand Deux-Montagnes Lachute Mirabel Mont-Laurier RosemèreSaint-Colomban Saint-Eustache Saint-Jérôme Sainte-Anne-des-Plaines Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac Sainte-Sophie Sainte-Thérèse
See also
List of Quebec regions
References
External links
Portail régional des Laurentides Portail régional des Laurentides Tourisme Laurentides Official website — Site Officiel CRÉ Événements culturels dans les Laurentides