The eponymous Lake Despinassy is the territory's largest lake and is named after the geographic township of Despinassy. This name was already assigned to the area in 1911 and comes from Louis-Auguste-Victor Despinassy, a lieutenant of the Royal Artillery and Engineers Corps in General Montcalm's army. The township is swampy, mostly forested, and flat, not exceeding 325 m (1,066 ft) above sea level. The Hurault and Lavigne Creeks, as well as the Despinassy and Laflamme Rivers, flow through the territory, while the Bell River forms its eastern boundary.[1][6]
A few kilometres west of Lake Despinassy along Route 397 is the hamlet of Despinassy (48°45′48″N77°26′26″W / 48.76333°N 77.44056°W / 48.76333; -77.44056 (Despinassy)), the territory's only population centre. Founded in 1948, it is one of the youngest communities in the Abitibi. By 1952, there were 140 families, but most have since left.[1] Currently, the area is being explored for potential mining of gold deposits.[7]
^ abc"Despinassy (canton)" (in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec. Retrieved 2011-01-12.
^ ab"Lac-Despinassy". Répertoire des municipalités (in French). Ministère des Affaires municipales, des Régions et de l'Occupation du territoire. Retrieved 2011-01-12.