The Laurentides (French pronunciation: [lɔʁɑ̃tid]) 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 20,779.19 km2 (8,022.89 sq mi) and its population was 589,400 inhabitants as of the 2016 Census.[1]

Laurentides
Coordinates: 46°26′N 74°59′W / 46.433°N 74.983°W / 46.433; -74.983
Country Canada
Province Quebec
Regional County
Municipalities (RCM) and Equivalent
Territories (ET)
Government
 • Conseil des préfets et des élus de la région des Laurentides (Regional conference of elected officers)Ramez Ayoub (President)
Area
 • Land20,779.19 km2 (8,022.89 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[1]
 • Total
631 719
 • Density28.4/km2 (74/sq mi)
DemonymLaurentien(ne)
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
Postal code
Area code450, 579
Websitewww.laurentides
.gouv.qc.ca
[2]

The area is the traditional territory of the 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

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Regional county municipalities

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Regional County Municipality (RCM) Population
2016 Canadian Census[3]
Land Area Density
(pop. per km2)
Seat of RCM
Antoine-Labelle 35,243 14,976.99 km2 (5,782.65 sq mi) 2.4 Mont-Laurier
Argenteuil 32,389 1,252.97 km2 (483.77 sq mi) 25.8 Lachute
Deux-Montagnes 98,203 243.42 km2 (93.98 sq mi) 403.4 Saint-Eustache
La Rivière-du-Nord 128,170 451.02 km2 (174.14 sq mi) 284.2 Saint-Jérôme
Les Laurentides 45,902 2,479.05 km2 (957.17 sq mi) 18.5 Mont-Blanc
Les Pays-d'en-Haut 41,877 683.46 km2 (263.89 sq mi) 61.3 Sainte-Adèle
Mirabel (Equivalent Territory) 50,513 485.07 km2 (187.29 sq mi) 104.1 Mirabel[4]
Thérèse-De Blainville 157,103 207.20 km2 (80.00 sq mi) 758.2 Sainte-Thérèse

Indian Reserve

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Major communities

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Census Profile, 2016 Census: Laurentides [Economic region], Quebec". Statistics Canada. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
  2. ^ "La région des Laurentides, ainsi que ses MRC et TE". Profils des régions et des MRC (in French). Quebec: Institut de la statistique du Québec. 2011. Archived from the original on 9 February 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
  3. ^ "Population and Dwelling Count Highlight Tables, 2016 Census". Statistics Canada. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  4. ^ (Mirabel is both a City and a territory equivalent to a regional county municipality)
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