Situated along the English River in the heart of the Châteauguay Valley, it is approximately 50 minutes southwest of Montreal and 20 minutes north of the Canada–United States border.

The following waterways pass through or are situated within the municipality's boundaries:[1] Around 1804, George Ellice, son of Lord Alexander Ellice, built a mill on the west bank of the English River, that became a settlement bearing his name: George's Mill.

Circa 1833, the place was known in English as Howick (named after either Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey, or his son Henry Grey, 3rd Earl Grey, both known as Viscount Howick), but known in French as Village de la Fourche (French for "Village of the Fork" in refence to the nearby confluence of the Châteauguay and English Rivers).

[1] List of former mayors:[6] The CIT du Haut-Saint-Laurent provides commuter and local bus services.

Media related to Howick, Quebec at Wikimedia Commons