, Québec Province, Canada (Quebec)
1718 - Population of Quebec - 25,971

By 1718, the population of Quebec had grown to approximately 25,971 inhabitants, reflecting a period of steady growth in New France following the colony’s establishment as a royal province in 1663 and the consolidation of settlements along the St. Lawrence River. This increase included French settlers, soldiers, tradespeople, farmers, and missionaries, as well as their families, forming the backbone of a more permanent and structured colonial society.

The population boom was supported by immigration from France, the settlement of former soldiers, the expansion of seigneuries, and the development of agriculture and trade. These settlers strengthened the colony’s economy, provided manpower for defense, and helped stabilize communities in a region that had previously been vulnerable to Iroquois raids and other frontier dangers.

By 1718, Quebec had become the political, religious, and economic center of New France, with a population large enough to sustain governance, commerce, and cultural life. While still small compared to European cities, this demographic growth signaled that New France was evolving from a fragile outpost into a viable, self-sustaining colony capable of enduring the challenges of the North American frontier.

History of Quebec For Dummies By Eric Bédard

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