[4] A Dégelis, in Old French, means a zone on the water free of ice[5] (which is the phenomenon observed in Dégelis), a local winter thaw (no apparent reason),[6] meaning an opening in the ice during the seasonal thawing.

The area corresponding to Dégelis is named Dégelé (English: thawed) in a report by Joseph Bouchette in 1815.

Clerical and administrative documents dating from 1858 to 1878 refer to the parish under the name Dégely,[7] Ste.

Four families of British soldiers lived in two locations in the territory of the current city from 1814 to 1823 .

[4] The choice of Sainte-Rose as a protective was conducted by Langevin, bishop of Rimouski from 1867 to 1891 in honor of Rose Marquis, benefactress of the mission.

[4] The town is situated on Autoroute 85, also known as the Trans-Canada Highway, close to the Quebec-New Brunswick Border.

Dégelis territory covers an area of 562.84 square kilometres (217.31 sq mi).

The city is home to a sawmill which produces hardwood briquettes of maple, oak, beech, and ash.