Clarke City

Clarke City is an administrative sector in Sept-Îles that spreads along the Sainte-Marguerite River, surrounded by dense forests. The area sits within Côte-Nord in Quebec and features waterways, wooded terrain, and natural landscapes typical of the region.

The Clarke brothers founded this settlement in 1908, building a paper mill and hydroelectric plant to supply their Toronto-based publication company. The industrial operations shaped development for decades until the area merged into Sept-Îles in 1970.

The place has the Innu name Paushtiku, showing how indigenous and French-Canadian traditions intertwine in this region. Walking through the area, you notice how these cultural layers remain woven into daily life.

The area sits about 20 kilometers west of downtown Sept-Îles and connects to the city via Route 138, the region's main highway. Most visitors traveling between communities use this same route.

This was originally a closed settlement that developed solely around industrial operations, making it the region's first of its kind. This type of isolated company town is rarely seen today and offers insight into how the North was historically settled.