It is located on the shores of Lake Maskinongé, in the shadows of the Laurentian Mountains.

The first settlers were Loyalists, Irish, and Scottish, arriving around 1825 to the shores of Lake Maskinongé, where they formed a community that was known as Lake Maskinongé Settlement by 1827, and later as the Mission of Lac-Maskinongé.

This name refers to the angel Gabriel and the geographic township of Brandon that was proclaimed in 1827 and in which it is located.

[4] In 1851, the Parish of Saint-Gabriel-de-Brandon was founded and the post office opened that same year.

In 1967, it changed its status and name to Ville de Saint-Gabriel by then Mayor Yvan Comeau.