Until the late Nineteenth century, the area that today comprises the borough of Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension was predominantly rural and dotted with farms.

In the early Twentieth century, Park Extension became industrialized, and a dozen quarries opened which led to the economic development of the area.

Beginning in the 1940s, the exploitation of the Miron and Francon quarries attracted workers to Saint Michel and Park Extension.

Jobs derived from competing industries along with the efficient transportation infrastructure resulted in strong demographic growth.

The borough includes three neighbourhoods that were part of Montreal before the reorganization:Villeray, Saint-Michel, and Park Extension.

and Autoroute 19 (Papineau Ave.) A future unnamed station on the Blue Line of the Montreal Metro will be built in the borough transferring with the Pie-IX BRT.

The former studios of CTV Montreal, TQS, CFCF radio & CFQR-FM (now CKBE-FM) were located in the Parc Extension section of the borough.