The municipality of La Prairie (French, The Meadow; 24,948 inhabitants
in 2016; 4,328 ha) is located on the confluence of rivers Saint-Laurent and
Saint-Jacques.
La Prairie developed around a mission established in 1667
by the Society of Jesus. Since coexistence with the French colonists proved
to be difficult, the Amerindian members of the mission soon moved
westwards. A flour mill was erected in 1687; the wooden fence encircling the
missions repelled in 1692 an attack by mercenaries from New England. A few
years later, a small village emerged around a wooden church.
The
population of the village significantly increased in the 18th century; for
the sake of security, the village was maintained within the fence, while a
stone church was built in 1705. La Prairie became a transit place for
commercial exchanges between Montréal and New England; the village was
settled by several English-speaking traders following the English conquest
in 1760. Increased several times, the fence was eventually deemed obsolete
and new houses were built out of the fortified village.
The wealth of La
Prairie increased in the 19th century, trade being boosted by steam
navigation, which started in 1808. The big blaze that broke out in 1848 and
the building of the Victoria Bridge, however, initiated the decline of the
town. http://www.ville.laprairie.qc.ca/ - Municipal website Ivan Sache, 23 March 2017
The flag
The flag of La Prairie is white with the municipal logo.
Blue and green represent harmony with the natural environment, calm, new
horizons, and the perfect association of water and greenness formed by the
river town. The circle formed by the letters "L" is a representation of the
propeller of the steamboats than once connected Montréal and La prairie, and
of the wheels of the locomotives of the first railway that connected the town
and Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. The Gothic-inspired font used for letter "L"
recalls building in (neo-)Gothic style erected in Old La Prairie more than
three centuries ago; inverted, it evokes a modern-designed house and
highlights the significance of the residential sector of the town. The wavy
lines symbolize river Saint-Laurent.
http://www.ville.laprairie.qc.ca/la-ville.php?ville=5 - Municipal website
![[La Prairie flag]](../images/c/ca-qclap.gif)
image by Ivan Sache, 23 March 2017