The south-west sector of Montreal was initially hemmed in by the St-Pierre river to the north and the shoreline of the St-Lawrence to the south.

The Lachine Canal, opened in 1825, replaced the St-Pierre river, and continued the historical delineaton of the area. The Lachine Canal, in addition to being a safe way to bypass the Lachine rapids, also became an important centre of manufacturing. The head of water available at each lock allowed water power to direct-drive machinery at these sites. Called hydraulic lots, these sites were much prized before steam power or electric power came into use, and manufacturers of goods as diverse as sugar (Redpath), fabric (Belding Corticelli), and steel fabricators (Stelco and Hall engineering) set up shop in the Lachine Canal corridor.

See the Lachine Canal National Historic Site of Canada web site.