Much has changed in nearly 150 years. Canada’s population has gone from 3.5 million to nearly 40 million. The distribution of the population was quite different back in 1871 than it is today. Few people lived west of Ontario. One city is now has just the 31st highest metro population the country. One city ceased to exist less than 20 years after the 1871 census.

With confederation in 1867, the first ever regularly scheduled collection of national statistics came four years later. At the time, the total population of Canada was 3,485,761. It now stands at over 38 million. The most populous province was Ontario at 1.6 million. It is still the most populous with a head count nearing 15 million.

There are some notable cities from the west missing from the initial top 10. This is mostly due to the fact that much of that part of the country hadn’t been settled yet. Winnipeg, for example, had yet to be incorporated and had a population of just 241. More on the west below the Top 10.

10 Largest Cities In Canada [1871]

10. Kingston, Ontario

Prior to confederation, this city in Eastern Ontario was the capital for a short while. In 1871, Kingston, Ontario was home to 12,407 residents. The country was new but this city certainly wasn’t.

Kingston was established in 1673 as Fort Cataraqui (later Fort Frontenac). It was incorporated as a town in 1838 and as a city in 1846.

Currently, the city population is 124,000. The metro count of 162,000 makes it the 25th largest population centre in the country.

9. Portland, New Brunswick

Slightly larger than Kingston in 1871 was Portland with 12,520 residents. Haven’t heard of it? That’s because it was amalgamated with Saint John just a few years later, in 1889.

8. London, Ontario

Since the country was formed, London has slipped in and out of the top 10. In 1871, it was home to 15,826 residents. London was settled as a village in 1826 and incorporated as a city in 1855.

These days, the city is home of 384,000 residents. This count places it 15th in Canada. The metro area holds 495,000 residents, good for 11th in the country.

7. Ottawa, Ontario

The capital city of the newly formed country, Ottawa had a population of 21,545 in 1871. The city was originally established as Bytown in 1826 before being incorporated as the city of Ottawa in 1855.

Currently, there are 935,000 residents. The metro population of 1.3 million places it fifth in Canada.

6. Hamilton, Ontario

With 26,716 residents, Hamilton was the sixth largest city in Canada in 1871. The city was incorporated in 1846.

These days, ‘The Hammer’ is hoe to 537,000 residents, placing it tenth in the country. The metro population of 765,000 puts it ninth in Canada.

5. Saint John, New Brunswick

It’s fitting that Saint John was the fifth largest in the country with 28,805 residents. After all, this is Canada’s first incorporated city (1785). The ship building centre was first founded back in 1604.

Since 1871, the numbers really haven’t grown much. There are now 68,000 residents with a metro population of 126,000. This places Saint John 31st in the country.

4. Halifax, Nova Scotia

Halifax came in fourth with just slightly more residents than Saint John at 29,582. It was incorporated as a town in 1749 and as a city in 1842. The current population of 403,000 makes it the 13th largest city in Canada.

3. Toronto, Ontario

Yes, Toronto was just the third largest city in Canada 150 years ago. There was just 56,092 residents – unthinkable compared to present day. This city was first established as York in 1793. It was incorporated as a city in 1834.

Of course, these days Toronto is the largest population centre in the country and one of the largest in North America. There are 2.7 million residents in the city proper with 6.4 million in the metro area.

2. Quebec City, Quebec

With 59,699 residents, Quebec City just barely beat out Toronto for the second spot. Quebec was founded in 1608 and incorporated as a city in 1832.

These days, the city has dropped to eleventh with 532,000 residents. However, the metro population of 800,000 places it seventh.

1.. Montreal, Quebec

Far and away, the largest city in Canada in 1871 was Montreal with a population of 107,225, nearly double the size of Quebec City or Toronto. Montreal was founded in 1642 and incorporated in 1832.

Now, the city sits in second behind Toronto with a population of 1.7 million and a metro count of four million.

Beyond Ontario

The cities of Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver today are some of the country’s largest cities. Back in 1871, things were much different. The province of Manitoba existed by it was much smaller than today. Between the Ontario border and British Columbia was simply part of the Northwest Territories.

Winnipeg was not incorporated as a city until two years after the first census. In 1871, there were but 241 residents. However, by 1891 it exploded into the ninth spot in the country. By 1911, Winnipeg was the third largest city in Canada.

Edmonton wasn’t even incorporated as a town until 1892 and as a city in 1904. 1901 is the first recorded head count at just 2,626 residents.

Calgary was incorporated as a town in 1884 and as a city in 1894. Cow Town’s population in 1891 was 3,876. That same year was the first time Vancouver was counted in a census and housed 13,709 residents. That city was incorporated in 1886.

In fact, the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan didn’t even exist prior to 1905. Manitoba was established in 1870 and B.C. came into existence as a province in July, 1871.