The Township of Laurentian Valley is a comparatively new municipality, created through the January 1, 2000, amalgamation of the former Townships of Stafford-Pembroke and the Township of Alice and Fraser. Laurentian Valley surrounds the City of Pembroke and lies to the south of the Town of Petawawa. Land uses range from rural residential and farming properties on private water and sewer services to suburban, residential and highway commercial on municipal water and sewer (services provided by neighbouring Pembroke). There are also several blocks of industrial properties in the municipality and regionally significant mineral aggregate resources. The township has approximately twenty (20) kilometres of frontage on the Ottawa River as well as numerous small lakes and waterways. Development is controlled through its official plan and zoning by-laws. Approximately a quarter of the township is Crown land and its North-west corner abuts Algonquin Park. Main transportation corridors include both the original CN and CP transcontinental rail lines plus Provincial Highway 17 (east to Ottawa and west to North Bay), Provincial Highway 41 (South to connect to the 401 at Napanee and south to connect to Highway 7 to Peterborough) and County Road 50 (Round Lake Road) to Algonquin Park.
Amongst Laurentian Valley's major employers are the big box retailers serving the adjacent Pembroke market and surrounding countryside. These include Canadian Tire, Home Depot and Wal-Mart. Historically, the lumber industry has also played an important role. Small service industries are numerous, accounting for almost 50% of the township's employers. Many are geared to support the needs of CFB Petawawa. Commercial businesses represent another 28%, manufacturing and tourism just below 10% each, with social organizations the last 4%. The township is also home to the Ottawa Valley Waste Recovery Centre and Landfill Site, another of the area’s more significant employers. This newer, greener facility is a joint project of several adjacent municipalities and is designed to accommodate most of Renfrew County's waste for years to come.
Rockwood Elementary School is located within the Township serving JK through Grade 8. Secondary Schools are located in the adjacent City of Pembroke (Fellowes and Bishop Smith) and in the neighbouring Township of Admaston/Bromley (Opeongo High School). French language education is also available through schools in the adjacent City of Pembroke: L'Equinoxe offers JK to Grade 11 and Jean Lajoie JK to Grade 12.
Post Secondary education is available at Algonquin College in the Ottawa Valley, located in the adjacent City of Pembroke.
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