[5] In 1782, the Molson family settled the area, purchasing a small brasserie from Irishman Thomas Loyd, which eventually developed into the brewery of the same name.

During the Quebec Biker War, the Rock Machine had their bunker in the Centre-Sud from 1992 to 1997,[10] which contributed to a bad reputation for poverty,[11][12] organized crime and prostitution.

[1][2][3][9][13][14] In 2001, a section of the neighbourhood known as l'îlot Huron, where the bunker and other illicit businesses thrived, was demolished to build a ramp to the Jacques Cartier Bridge and a large park, Parc des Faubourgs.

[4][16] The Jacques Cartier Bridge and the Maison Radio-Canada are prominent in the skyline, as well as the Sûreté du Québec's headquarters, known as the Prison Parthenais.

[17] Notable features include the Molson Brewery, Gay Village, Hopital Notre-Dame, JTI MacDonald tobacco company and the historic Pied-du-Courant prison.

The Cente-Sud is well known for its street art and murals, notably of Québécois singers and actors, including Paul Buissonneau, Raymond Lévesque, Marjo, Robert Gravel, Pauline Julien, Plume Latraverse and Yvon Deschamps.

[18] Due to its poverty and proximity to downtown, a significant number of shelters, supervised injection sites[19] and resources for the homeless are located in the neighbourhood.

The following STM bus routes pass through the Centre-Sud; The Commission scolaire de Montréal (CSDM) operates French-language public schools.