The village is located on the shores of the Lièvre River and Journalists Lake, and along Quebec Route 309, about 20 kilometres (12 mi) north of Mont-Laurier.

In the 19th century, the area began attracting loggers because of its rich red and white pine stands.

It was sold in 1888 to Cyrille Lafontaine and inhabited by his son Léonard who became the first settler and farmer of Ferme-Neuve.

[1] In 1902, a group of 8 Montreal journalists, under direction from Lomer Gouin, Minister of Colonization, built a model farm in order to attract more settlers.

In 1917, the Ferme-Neuve settlement separated from the united township and became an incorporated village, with Henri Berthiaume as its first mayor.