the co-founders of their order, Francis Xavier. The community itself developed as a linear village, stretching along the Chemin du Roy and without any real village centre, exceeding even the administrative boundaries of cadastral parishes. By the end of the French Era, the towns of Champlain, Batiscan, and Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade were all connected by a long ribbon of buildings. After 1712, Batiscan was one of the places in which French settlers enslaved Fox Indians of Wisconsin. In 1845, the Parish Municipality of Saint-François-Xavier-de-Batiscan was formed. It was abolished a few years later but reestablished on July 1, 1855. The industrial revolution led to economic development and a small port on the river and the railroad were built. At the Batiscan station, a new small village centre grew. But the economic crisis of 1929 broke the momentum of the Station Village and gradually agriculture reclaimed primary place in the landscape and economy of Batiscan, with commercial and industrial activities remaining marginal. Because of its proximity to the regional hub of Trois-Rivières, the growing use of cars, and the improved road network, Batiscan is becoming a suburban community, leading to increased urbanization of the Saint Lawrence shore. In 1986, the Parish Municipality of Saint-François-Xavier-de-Batiscan became the Municipality of Batiscan. On December 31, 2001, it was transferred from the Francheville Regional County to the new Les Chenaux Regional County, following the creation of the new City of Trois-Rivières and the dissolution of the Francheville RCM. Demographics Population trend: Population in 2011: 940 (2006 to 2011 population change: -0.9%) Population in 2006: 949 Population in 2001: 905 Population in 1996: 891 Population in 1991: 869 Private dwellings occupied by usual residents: 443 (total dwellings: 510) Mother tongue: English as first language: 0% French as first language: 94.1% English and French as first language: 0% Other as first language: 5.9% See also Batiscanie References External links Historical publications La seigneurie de Batiscan - Chronique des premières années (1636-1681), Éditions du Bien public, written by Raymond Douville, collection "La Seigneurie de Batiscan", cahier no. 1, published by the local historical society "Batiscan et son histoire". Batiscan s'érige - Prémices paroissiales 1670-1708, Éditions du Bien public, written by Jean-Paul Foley, collection "La Seigneurie de Batiscan", cahier no. 2, published by the local historical committee "Batiscan et son histoire". Répertoire des naissances de Batiscan (St-François-Xavier) - 1682-1989, written by Jean-Paul Foley, collection "Batiscan et son histoire", 1990, 237 pages.