Laval, city, Île Jésus County, southern Québec, Canada. The city is coextensive with Île Jésus (Jesus Island) and separated from Île de Montréal (Montréal Island) by the Rivière des Prairies. Located near the city of Montréal, Laval is a residential, commercial, and manufacturing center. Major products include processed foods, greenhouse vegetables, metal and wood items, printed materials, and electronic equipment. Many people are also employed in biotechnology and medical research. Points of interest include the Cosmodôme, a space science museum housing the Space Science Centre and the Space Camp; the Maison des arts de Laval, a visual and performing arts center; the Mille-Îles River Park; and several historic districts. A symphony orchestra and two junior colleges are located in Laval.
The community was settled in the late 17th century and began to grow after the Roman Catholic parish of Saint-François de Sales was established in 1702. However, the main economic development of Île Jésus did not begin until the 1950s. The city of Laval was formed and incorporated in 1965, when 14 municipalities amalgamated. The municipalities included the cities of Chomedey, Duvernay, Laval-des-Rapides, Laval-Ouest, Pont-Viau, and Sainte-Rose. The city is named for François Xavier de Laval-Montmorency, the first Roman Catholic bishop of Québec.
Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2001
http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2001 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Laval Information info
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