Why 50% of Canadians Live South of This Line

Summary by Krater

This video examines why most Canadians live south of the 49th parallel and close to the US border, exploring geographical and historical factors like the Canadian Shield and the St. Lawrence River. It concludes by highlighting how geography shaped Canada's population distribution, trade routes, and historic population booms in cities like Toronto and Montreal.

From the video

Answers: Why do most Canadians live so close to the US border?

• Canadian geography and population distribution
• US-Canada border history and geography
• The 49th parallel border
• The Canadian Shield and its impact on agriculture
• The Great Lakes climate effect
• The St. Lawrence River and Seaway trade routes
• Historical population growth in Toronto and Montreal
• US-Canada border closures and reopenings

What it concludes

• Roughly 70% of all Canadians live south of the 49th parallel.
• A full 50% of all Canadians live south of the line in Ontario, further south than the states of Washington, Montana, North Dakota, and Alaska.
• Approximately 80% of the entire Canadian population lives within 100 miles of the United States border.
• Canada's population is 38 million, comparable to Poland or less than California.
• Half of Canada's entire population lives within a 700-mile stretch including Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, and Quebec City, driven by the climate-moderating Great Lakes and fertile soil.
• The St. Lawrence River and Seaway historically and geographically enabled European exploration, major port development, and economic centralization, driving massive population growth in Toronto and Montreal between 1881 and 1986.