Chicoutimi, city, seat of Chicoutimi County, in southern Québec, Canada. A port on the Saguenay River, the city is a commercial, manufacturing, and transportation center. Printed materials, aluminum, building supplies, wrought iron, textiles, and leather goods are manufactured in the city. Tourism also contributes to the city's economy. A branch of the Université du Québec is located here. Points of interest include the Pulperie de Chicoutimi (Pulp Mill of Chicoutimi), which features what remains of the 1896 Chicoutimi Pulp Company. It also includes the former home of artist Arthur Villeneuve, who painted the inside and outside of his house with regional scenes. Additional attractions are the Village Sécurité (Safety Village), where children can practice traffic safety; cruises on the Saguenay River; and art galleries featuring local arts and crafts. Annual events include the Carnaval-Souvenir in February, which celebrates the region's past, and a ten-day culinary festival in October. Nearby Mont Valin offers year-round outdoor activities.
The community was established as a Jesuit mission and trading post in 1676. It grew during the early 1840s, when two sawmills were built along rivers that flow by the city. The city's name is derived from a Montagnais term that probably means “the end of the deep waters.” Chicoutimi incorporated in 1976. The city suffered damage in 1996 from severe flooding in the area.
