The urban fringe of Trois-Rivières is the site of numerous spatial and functional changes. The study of the land market is an excellent means for understanding urban pressure which is particulary strong near transportation routes and villages. In a 10 years interval, capitalists intensified their action and relegated agriculture to a secondary position with respect to sales of properties. The miniaturization of the compromised property, the increase of their value, and the short duration of ownership confirm the grasp of the city upon its immediate environs. The phenomenon accentuates the desintegration of the rural milieu and activates its integration to the city. Fringe development takes place for and by urbanites.