Demographics and population History of Quebec City

champlain s habitation c. 1608



an plan of quebec city, 1640 jean bourdon

after settlement of port royal in acadia (1605), next colonization effort french occurred in 1608. samuel de champlain built l habitation house 28 people. however, first winter proved formidable, , 20 of 28 men died. 1615, first 4 missionaries arrived in quebec. among first successful french settlers marie rollet , husband, louis hebert, credited les premier agriculteurs du canada 1617. first french child born in quebec helene desportes, in 1620, pierre desportes , francoise langlois, father member of hundred associates. population of quebec city arrived @ 100 in 1627, less dozen of whom women. however, invasion of quebec david kirke , brothers in 1628, champlain returned france approximately 60 out of 80 settlers.

when french returned quebec in 1632, constructed city based on framework of traditional french ville in 17th century city reflection of society. quebec remained outpost until 1650s. in other locations throughout new france, population split colonial elites, including clergy , government officials, craftsmen , artisans, , engagés (indentured servants). quebec designed inhabitants of better quality lived in upper city, closer centers of power such government , jesuit college, whereas lower town populated merchants, sailors , artisans. city contained thirty homes in 1650, , 1 hundred 1663, population of on 500. jean bourdon, first engineer , surveyor of new france, helped plan city, arrival in 1634. however, despite attempts utilize urban planning, city outgrew planned area. population continually increased, city boasting 1300 inhabitants 1681. city experienced overcrowding, in lower town, contained two-thirds of population of city 1700. numbers became more evenly distributed 1744, lower town housing third of population, , upper town containing half inhabitants.

by 18th century, quebec saw rise in number of rental dwellings, accommodate mobile population of seamen, sailors, , merchants, aptly described historian yvon desloges town of tenants. thus, quebec followed pattern common throughout new france, of immigrants arriving several years, before returning home france. whole, approximately 27,000 immigrants came new france during french regime, 31.6% of whom remained. despite this, time of british occupation in 1759, new france had evolved colony of on 60,000 quebec principal city.