Mauricie () is a traditional and current administrative region of Quebec. La Mauricie National Park is contained within the region, making it a prime tourist location. The region has a land area of 35,860.05 km² (13,845.64 sq mi) and a population of 266,112 residents as of the 2016 Census. Its largest cities are Trois-Rivières and Shawinigan. The word Mauricie was coined by local priest and historian Albert Tessier and is based on the Saint-Maurice river which runs through the region on a North-South axis. Mauricie administrative region was created on August 20, 1997 from the split of Mauricie–Bois-Francs administrative region into Mauricie and Centre-du-Québec. However, the concept of Mauricie as a traditional region long predates this. Administrative divisions Regional county municipalities Les Chenaux Regional County Municipality Maskinongé Regional County Municipality Mékinac Regional County Municipality Equivalent territories Agglomeration of La Tuque Shawinigan Trois-Rivières Independent municipalities La Bostonnais, Quebec Lac-Édouard, Quebec Nation Atikamekw Coucoucache, Quebec Obedjiwan, Quebec Wemotaci, Quebec Major communities La Tuque Louiseville Maskinongé Notre-Dame-du-Mont-Carmel Saint-Alexis-des-Monts Saint-Boniface Saint-Étienne-des-GrèsSaint-Maurice Saint-Tite Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade Sainte-Thècle Shawinigan Trois-Rivières Yamachiche School districts 10 Francophones: Centre de services scolaire du Chemin-du-Roy: Trois Rivières (3 districts) Maskinongé and Francheville. Centre de services scolaire de l'Énergie: Shawinigan (2 districts), La Tuque, Mékinac and Maskinongé. Part of Anglophone: Central Quebec School Board Notable people Moïsette Olier (1885–1972), writer Jacques Plante (1929–1986), ice hockey goaltender References External links Portail de la Mauricie Official website Tourisme Mauricie Regional tourist office CRÉ Administrative regions of Quebec