In 1651, the Jesuit priest Buteaux was the first European known to have travelled up the Saint-Maurice River to this river's first set of great falls. Afterwards, missionaries going to the Upper Saint-Maurice would rest here. Before Shawinigan Falls was established, the local economy had been largely based on lumber and agriculture.

In the late 1890s, Shawinigan Falls drew the interest of foreign entrepreneurs because falls had the potential to become a favourable location for the production of hydroelectricity. In 1899, the Shawinigan Water & Power Company commissioned an engineering firm design a grid plan for a new industrial town on the banks of the Saint-Maurice River, providing the ground work for what would become Downtown Shawinigan.

In 1901, the place was incorporated as a village, and gained town (ville) status a year later. The hydro-electric generating station contributed to rapid economic growth and the town achieved several firsts in Canadian history: first production of aluminum (1901), carborundum (1908), cellophane pellets (1932). Shawinigan Falls also became one of the first Canadian cities with electric street lighting. For decades, the local pulp and paper, chemical and textile industries created thousands of jobs and stimulated city growth.

Local prosperity was interrupted by the Great Depression in the 1930s. Many plants were forced to temporarily reduce or stop their production, which left many residents jobless. Many families needed public assistance to survive. The City Council enacted a public works program to help families. World War II put Shawinigan Falls, and many others cities in Canada, back on the path of economic recovery. During hostilities, the windows of local power plants were painted black to prevent any possible German aerial attack.

By the early 1950s, the industrial growth in Shawinigan was such that the city offered the steadiest employment and the highest wages in Quebec. As its working class gained economic ground and political leverage, Shawinigan became fertile ground for labour unions. The workers of the Belgo pulp and paper plant went on strike in 1955.

In the 1950s, Shawinigan Falls entered a period of decline that would last for several decades. Technological improvements made industries less dependent on Shawinigan's geographic location. Many employers relocated to nearby larger cities or closed down.

In order to offset the decline of the heavy industry, leaders have promoted the expansion of the local hospitality industry.

Shawinigan has a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb) with cold and snowy winter coupled with mild to warm summers. Precipitation is moderate to high year round, resulting in heavy winter snowfall, typical of Eastern Canada.

Shawinigan can be reached via Quebec Route 155 and Route 157 via Trois-Rivières. Quebec Route 153 and Route 155 pass through Shawinigan.

• Transport collectif Haut St-Maurice, ☏ +1-819-523-4581, toll-free: +1-855-523-2971. Daily bus service between Trois-Rivières and La Tuque including a stop in Shawinigan. Travel time to Shawinigan from Trois-Rivières is 30 minutes and from La Tuque is 2 hours. (updated May 2022)

See also: Rail travel in Canada

• 46.54966-72.74531 Shawinigan station, 1560 Chemin du CN. (updated Aug 2023)
  • VIA Rail Canada, toll-free: +1-888-842-7245. Operates train routes across Canada. (updated Mar 2022) The following routes serve Shawinigan:
    • Between Jonquière and Montreal including stops in Hervey-Jonction, Shawinigan, Saint-Paulin, Saint-Justin, and Joliette. Travel time to Shawinigan from Jonquière is 6.5 hours and from Montreal is 2.5 hours. Operates one day per week. Route operates as a wilderness service: a request stop may be made at any point along the route for those who want to hike and kayak in the remoter regions of Quebec that the train passes through.
    • Between Senneterre and Montreal including stops in La Tuque, Hervey-Jonction, Shawinigan, Saint-Paulin, Saint-Justin, and Joliette. Travel time to Shawinigan from Seneterre is 9 hours, from La Tuque is 3 hours, and from Montreal is 2.5 hours. Operates one day per week. Route operates as a wilderness service: a request stop may be made at any point along the route for those who want to hike and kayak in the remoter regions of Quebec that the train passes through.

• 46.612943-72.6948894 Grand-Mère. Former city of Quebec founded in 1898 and merged with the daughter of Shawinigan in 2002. Located on the shores of the Saint-Maurice river, including the Saint-Georges-de-Champlain sector (east shore of Saint-Maurice), it is a city residential, industrial, commercial and government services. This sector of Shawinigan has a large hydroelectric dam just downstream from the suspended iron bridge spanning the Saint-Maurice River. (updated Nov 2021)
• 46.52315-72.743895 Shawinigan-Sud (eastern part of Saint-Maurice River). This former city was merged with Shawinigan in 2002. This sector of Shawinigan is at the head of the falls of the same name. This city had been incorporated because of the industrial development of Shawinigan Falls. (updated Nov 2021)
• 46.59962-72.843326 Saint-Gérard-des-Laurentides. Former parish municipality, this municipality was merged in 2002 with the city of Shawinigan. This urban sector of Shawinigan has above all a residential and recreational tourism vocation. (updated Nov 2021)
• 46.6124-72.63237 Lac-à-la-Tortue (eastern part of Saint-Maurice River). Former municipality, founded in 1895 and merged with the city of Shawinigan in 2002. It has become one of the seven sectors of Shawinigan. The municipality takes its name from the lake of the same name, which is part of the hydrographic slope of Batiscania, despite its proximity to the course of the Saint-Maurice river. The Eastern section of the lake is part of the territory of Hérouxville. (updated Nov 2021)
• 46.69239-72.792318 Saint-Jean-des-Piles (along the Saint-Maurice River). Former parish municipality, merged with the city of Shawinigan in 2002. This municipality, established on the western edge of the Saint-Maurice River, is the main gateway to La Mauricie National Park. It is considered the capital of the canoe. (updated Nov 2021)
• 46.6213-72.65839 Saint-Georges-de-Champlain (eastern part of Saint-Maurice River). A former city of Quebec, incorporated in 1915 and merged with the city of Shawinigan in 2002. (updated Nov 2021)

• 46.5409-72.75451 Auberge Gouverneur Shawinigan, 1100, Promenade du Saint-Maurice (on the banks of the Saint-Maurice river, in front of the Cité de l’énergie), ☏ +1 819-537-6000, toll-free: +1-888-922-1100. 106 rooms and suites. Bar and Italian restaurant (the Pacini), terrace. A salted and heated indoor swimming pool, whirlpool bath, fitness room & a massage therapy, orthotherapy and physiotherapy service. Free private parking, ski room. Tour packages of the region are also offered by the hotel. Accepted animals. From $119. (updated Apr 2019)
• 46.61474-72.6892 Hotel Marineau Shawinigan, 2223 Hanna Street (Grand-Mère Sector), ☏ +1 819 533-5766, +1 800 565-5766. 42 rooms, renovated in November 2018, free coffee in rooms, air conditioning, cable TV, free continental breakfast, free Wi-Fi. From $88. (updated Apr 2019)

• 46.61088-72.632593 Motel Laviolette, 701, route de Lac-à-la-Tortue (Lac-à-la-Tortue Sector), ☏ +1 819 538-8613. (updated Nov 2021)
• 46.61893-72.685394 Le Manoir du Rocher, 85, av. de Grand-Mère (Grand-Mère Sector), ☏ +1 819 538-8877. Gîte. (updated Nov 2021)
• 46.61893-72.685395 Auberge Pique-Nique, 581, 28eme rue, ☏ +1 819-731-9887, info@aubergepiquenique.com. (updated Nov 2021)
• 46.55045-72.753126 Gîte Chez Baza, 1339 Victory Street (2 minutes from the exit Garnier, highway 55), ☏ +1 819-537-7299. Two B&B rooms with private bath. Big screen TV, free Wi-Fi, fully air-conditioned house, heated swimming pool in season, whirlpool in the yard, free parking. $99-139. (updated Apr 2019)
• 46.53372-72.755547 Parc de l'Île Melville, Shawinigan (Melville Island Park, Shawinigan), 1900, avenue Melville (on a peninsula on the east side of Melville Island, on the banks of the Saint-Maurice River), ☏ +1 819-537-7299, info@ilemelville.com. Offer of camping, ready-to-camp, cabins and inn (updated Apr 2019)

• 47.4587-72.96681 La Mauricie National Park Parc national de la Mauricie offers several recreational and tourism activities: sport fishing, hiking (160 km of trails), cycling, canoeing, kayaking, swimming, interpretation trails, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, camping (both in summer and in winter) , canoe-camping, long hike in complete autonomy. A promenade road crosses the park right through. This park is bounded by the Matawin River to the north and the St-Maurice River to the east. It has two entrances: Saint-Mathieu and Saint-Jean-des-Piles.
• 47.046-73.1492 Saint-Maurice Wildlife Reserve Réserve faunique du Saint-Maurice is administered by Sépaq located on the west bank of the Saint-Maurice river and north of the Matawin river. This park offers chalet rental, small game hunting, fishing, camping and ready-to-camp services. The main entrance is the Mékinac bridge which spans the Saint-Maurice river.

• 47.0144-72.73143 Trois-Rives It is focused on forestry, agriculture and recreational tourism activities (vacationing, hunting & fishing, swimming, snowmobiling, mountain biking, etc.) The bridge erected at Matawin gives privileged access to the Zec du Chapeau-de-Paille and the Saint-Maurice Wildlife Reserve.
• 46.77568-72.76934 Saint-Roch-de-Mékinac Municipality split in two by the Saint-Maurice river. Perched on a promontory, the village offers a panoramic view of the Saint-Maurice valley. Along the east bank of the Saint-Maurice River, the breathtaking cliffs are admired by tourists, boaters and motorists. When the forests are adorned with warm coloured leaves in autumn, the valley offers a natural and magical spectacle.
• 46.623-72.73365 Grandes-Piles Located in the canton of Radnor, the village of Grandes-Piles is located on a cliff overlooking the Saint-Maurice River, facing the village of Saint-Jean-des-Piles which is on the west side. Recreational tourism activities (vacationing, water sports, boating, hunting & fishing) are dominant thanks to the magnificent body of water formed upstream of the Grand-Mère hydroelectric dam.
• 46.6079-72.61836 Hérouxville Hérouxville is the gateway to the MRC de Mékinac. Thanks to route 153, Hérouxville is located on the road leading to the Festival Western de Saint-Tite. Hérouxville stands out particularly thanks to the Tavibois domain (belonging to the Daughters of Jesus community) and the Camp Val Notre-Dame summer camp. The main economic vocation of Hérouxville is agriculture; forestry (especially in the northwest of the territory) and recreational tourism activities constitute a part of the local economy.
• 46.5078-72.46727 Saint-Narcisse Located in the MRC Les Chenaux, the municipality of Saint-Narcisse has above all a mainly agricultural, industrial and hydroelectric economy (Saint-Narcisse dam); recreational tourism activities (vacationing, camping, hunting and sport fishing, ATVs, snowmobiles) have increased significantly since 1992, with the creation of Parc de la Rivière-Batiscan. This municipality has 1,832 inhabitants. Its territory is crossed by the rivière des Chutes, the rivière à la Tortue (tributary of the Envies river) and the rivière au Lard.
• 46.4246-72.65128 Notre-Dame-du-Mont-Carmel On the edge of the Saint-Maurice River (west side), this municipality offers many tourist and natural attractions including campgrounds, a municipal recreation center, a mountain (with ski centre).
• 46.3735-72.76939 Saint-Étienne-des-Grès Municipality of Basse-Mauricie where the La Gabelle hydroelectric power station was erected. It has two villages: Saint-Étienne-des-Grès and Saint-Thomas-de-Caxton. Its offer of recreational and tourist activities is significant: vacationing, cycling (Route Verte), hiking trails, water sports on the Saint-Maurice River.
• 46.4407-72.817410 Saint-Boniface, Quebec Residential municipality in the western suburbs of Shawinigan.
• 46.5667-72.916711 Saint-Mathieu-du-Parc Last village-relay before the southwest entrance to Mauricie National Park. This locality is a hotbed of recreational and tourist activities (La Mauricie National Park, resorts, camping, hiking trails, observation of flora and fauna, maple groves, mountain biking, snowmobiles, cycling, hunting and fishing) and forestry.

Montreal ← Saint-Paulin ←	W  E	→ Hervey-Jonction → Saguenay
La Tuque ← Hervey-Jonction ←	N  S	→ Saint-Paulin → Montreal
Becomes ←	N  S	→ Saint-Boniface → Trois-Rivières
Yamachiche ← Saint-Boniface ←	W  E	→ Saint-Tite → Lac-aux-Sables
Chambord ← La Tuque ←	N  S	→ Becomes
END ←	N  S	→ Notre-Dame-du-Mont-Carmel → Trois-Rivières