They arrived from Norridgewock, Maine (formerly Acadia) in the aftermath of Father Rale's War.

Specifically, the Acadians migrated from present-day New Brunswick to avoid being killed or captured in the St. John River Campaign.

Bécancour, Saint-Grégoire and Gentilly, each located near the shore of the Saint Lawrence River, can be considered the main urban centres.

An industrial park was built in the area, attracting producers of aluminum, magnesium, refractory metals, and petroleum products; machine shops; and many related services, such as excavators and sales of industrial parts.

The city hosts a hot air balloon festival,[9] a weekly public marketplace, a biodiversity museum and interpretation centre, and a maritime pumpkin race.