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Joliette

Joliette is a city in southwest Quebec, Canada, located on the L'Assomption River about 50 kilometres northeast of Montreal.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Joliette is a city in southwest Quebec, Canada, located on the L'Assomption River about 50 kilometres northeast of Montreal. It is the seat of the Joliette Regional County Municipality and was founded in 1823 by Barthélemy Joliette as the village of L'Industrie before being renamed in 1863.

History

Joliette began in 1823 as L'Industrie, founded by Barthélemy Joliette and his wife Marie-Charlotte de Lanaudière. The municipality incorporated in 1863 and took the name Joliette.

Geography

The city lies on the L'Assomption River in southwest Quebec, roughly 50 kilometres northeast of Montreal. It is part of the Lanaudière region and the North Shore of Greater Montreal.

Population

According to the 2021 Census of Population, Joliette had 21,384 residents. This represented an increase from the 2016 census population of 20,484.

Government and administration

Joliette is the seat of the Joliette Regional County Municipality. It is also identified in sources as the seat of the judicial district of Joliette.

Key facts

  • Joliette is located in southwest Quebec on the L'Assomption River.
  • It serves as the seat of the Joliette Regional County Municipality.
  • The settlement was founded in 1823 as L'Industrie by Barthélemy Joliette.
  • The city incorporated in 1863 and adopted the name Joliette.
  • The 2021 Census recorded a population of 21,384.
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Canadian context

Joliette is a Quebec city of regional importance within the Lanaudière area and serves as the seat of its regional county municipality, making it relevant to Canadian local government and regional geography.

Frequently asked questions

What is Joliette?
Joliette is a city in southwest Quebec, Canada, in the Lanaudière region.
Where is Joliette located?
It is on the L'Assomption River, about 50 kilometres northeast of Montreal.
When was Joliette founded?
It was founded in 1823 as L'Industrie.
When did it become Joliette?
The city incorporated in 1863 and changed its name to Joliette.
What is Joliette's population?
Its population was 21,384 in the 2021 Census.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joliette,_Quebec
    Supports: Location, founding in 1823, incorporation and renaming in 1863, 2021 population
  2. Wikipedia — https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joliette_(Qu%C3%A9bec)
    Supports: Joliette as a city in Quebec and seat of the MRC of Joliette in Lanaudière
  3. Tourisme Lanaudière — https://www.lanaudiere.ca/en/municipalities-lanaudiere/ville-de-joliette/
    Supports: Founding history and incorporation details
  4. Statistics Canada — https://www.census.gc.ca/
    Supports: 2021 census population figure and demographic data