The landscapes of the St. Francis Valley are composed of valleys, hills, lakes and rivers within a truly spectacular natural environment. The first Europeans to inhabit this area were American Loyalist farmers searching for fertile land along the St. Francis River and Scottish and Irish immigrants who left their homelands for a new beginning. Around 1840, the overpopulated parishes along the St. Lawrence led to the arrival of the first French-speaking families in the region. During the first half of the nineteenth century, the Americans and the British were primarily responsible for developing the area. The architectural diversity of the Val-Saint-Francois RCM is testimony to the different cultural influences of the people who came to this area from various parts of the world. The Townships Trail includes stops in Ulverton and Richmond.