It lies on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River, at the mouth of the Saint-Maurice River.
Trois-Rivières was founded in 1634 by the French explorer Samuel de Champlain and named for the three channels at the mouth of the Saint-Maurice. It lies midway between Montreal and Quebec cities and is one of the oldest settlements in Canada. The city has developed from a frontier outpost into a major industrial centre and deepwater port. Hydroelectric power from Saint-Maurice River plants and vast forest resources have helped it to become one of the world’s largest producers of newsprint. Other manufactures include pulp, paper, textiles, clothing, electrical appliances, shoes, and rubber. Trois-Rivières is the seat of a Roman Catholic bishopric and the site of an Ursuline convent built in 1697. The city also has a branch of the University of Quebec. The Canadian National Railway, several highways, an airport, and year-round ferry crossings on the St. Lawrence serve the city.