La Pocatière | The Canadian Encyclopedia

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La Pocatière

In 1672, François Pollet de La Combe-Pocatière received the seigneurie de la Grande-Anse as a gift from his father-in-law, Nicholas Juchereau de Saint-Denys. This territory became the parish of Ste-Anne-de-La-Pocatière, and later, the city of La Pocatière.

La Pocatière

  La Pocatière, Québec, city, pop 4518 (2001c), 4887 (1996c), 4648 (1991c), pop 4816 (1986c), area 21.73 km2, inc 1961 is situated in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region. La Pocatière is one kilometre inland on the south bank of the St Lawrence River, some 70 km west of Rivière-du-Loup. The "Montagne du Royaume," an immense natural park rising to 122 m, is located in the centre of the city.

In 1672, François Pollet de La Combe-Pocatière received the seigneurie de la Grande-Anse as a gift from his father-in-law, Nicholas Juchereau de Saint-Denys. This territory became the parish of Ste-Anne-de-La-Pocatière, and later, the city of La Pocatière.

The city's character is a blend of its agricultural and maritime influences. BOMBARDIER INC, a world-renowned transportation industry manufacturer, employs hundreds of residents. La Pocatière also relies on tourism. The Musée François-Pilote is an ethnological museum depicting the rural parish of the 19th century. In 1859, La Pocatière opened the first agricultural school in North America. It has continued in this tradition with L'Institut de technologie agricole.