Sherbrooke, Qué, located 147 km east of Montréal, is the principal city of the EASTERN TOWNSHIPS. Situated in the heart of a region of lakes and mountains near MONT-ORFORD provincial park, it was for many years a commercial, industrial and railway centre.

During the 1960s it also became a service centre. Sherbrooke also has the Catholic archdiocese and headquarters of the judicial district of Saint-FranÇois. Because of its fluctuating industrial activity, the city's demographic growth was slow in the 19th century. It had 3000 inhabitants in 1852, 10 000 in 1891 and over 50 000 in 1951. In the 1970s the population declined but there has been marginal growth since then. Many people have moved to the city's suburban communities of FLEURIMONT, Ascot and Rock Forest. The percentage of francophones rose from 50% in 1871 to 92% in 1996.

Economy
Sherbrooke's industrial base is still dependent upon the clothing, textile and machinery industries, and has expanded into the electronic parts industry. Since the 1960s, however, most of the work force has been involved in the tertiary sectors of commerce, teaching, health services and regional administration.