Friday, August 11, 2017
In celebration of the University of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ's 60th anniversary and Canada's 150th year since confederation, the Library's Geospatial Centre has created a graphic visualization of the City of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ's population growth, from 1855 to 2016.
Town of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ, Canada, 1891. Located in the Geospatial Centre.
Using the application, you can see the increase in À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ's population over the years in an .
Map of the Village of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ, 1855. Located in the Geospatial Centre.
The village that became À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ was established in 1806 by Abraham Erb, and in 1816 was named in honour of the Duke of Wellington's victory over Napoleon at the Battle of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ. After the Napoleonic Wars, the area became a popular destination for German immigrants, and the population grew to around 1,100 by 1855.
In many ways, the population growth tells the story of the region's industries. By 1891, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ was already a mid-sized village of craft workers with a high level of urbanization. Due to a growing furniture and upholstery industry, less than half of the population lived in rural areas.
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The population surged again leading up to World War II, with many people looking for work in the booming industries of the region – particularly Cambridge.
By 1965, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ was becoming a scholarly hub, with the University of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ and what is now Wilfrid Laurier University established. The tech boom of the 1990s saw noticeable growth in the university corridor, which continues to this day. The effect of the university community in the city is seen in the continued development of student high-rises and neighbourhoods. A history of 60 years of innovation at University of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ is now writing the story of the growth of the City of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ itself.
Map of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ, 1965
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Visit the to learn more about this project and the data and maps behind it. You can also learn more about the history of the city by viewing the and online, or see them in person at the Geospatial Centre.
