The seigneury of Sainte-Marie was granted in 1736 to Thomas-Jacques Taschereau. Its name honours his wife, Marie-Claire Fleury de La Gorgendière. The parish was founded the following year, in 1737. Most of the first settlers came from Île d’Orléans and the Côte-de-Beaupré.
The town at a glance
RCMLa Nouvelle-Beauce
Beauceabout 40 km south of Québec City
Life in Sainte-Marie
The vibe
An active, well-equipped town at the heart of La Nouvelle-Beauce, where industry and farming sit side by side.
The housing
Mostly single-family and semi-detached homes, with duplexes and small apartment buildings near downtown.
Nearby
Cégep Beauce-Appalaches, Sainte-Marie campus · Polyvalente Benoit-Vachon · Route Verte 6
Good to know
Downtown runs along the Chaudière River, which flooded in 2019. Before signing a lease, ask whether the unit is in a flood zone.
Landmarks
- Chaudière River
- Domaine Taschereau
- Maison J.-A. Vachon
History
The history of Sainte-Marie
- 1736Taschereau seigneury granted
- 1845Municipality established
- 1922Vachon company founded
- 1978Town and parish merged
- 2019Major flood downtown
The parish was canonically established in 1835, and the municipality of Sainte-Marie-de-Beauce was created on July 1, 1845. In 1913, the more built-up part, the village, split from the parish.
In 1922, the Vachon company was founded in Sainte-Marie, which became known as the home of Vachon cakes. The village became a town in 1958. The first industrial park opened in 1971, and the town and the parish merged in 1978.
A second industrial park opened in 1999, on the east side. In April 2019, a major spring flood hit downtown, and hundreds of homes later had to be demolished.
Frequently asked questions about Sainte-Marie
Where is Sainte-Marie?
In the Beauce, in the Chaudière-Appalaches region, about 40 km south of Québec City. It is the seat of the La Nouvelle-Beauce RCM and can be reached by Autoroute 73.
Why is Sainte-Marie linked to Vachon cakes?
The Vachon company was founded in Sainte-Marie in 1922. The Maison J.-A. Vachon, an interpretation centre, tells its story.
What is there to see in Sainte-Marie?
The Domaine Taschereau, an ecological park on the former seigneurial estate, with wetlands and a birdwatching site. You can also visit the Maison J.-A. Vachon, the Musée de l’aviation and the Le Forgeron d’or économusée.
How do I find an apartment for rent in Sainte-Marie?
Rental units managed by Lease Lane in Sainte-Marie will soon be listed on the site, along with the online rental application. In the meantime, Cléo can notify you as soon as a unit is posted.
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