First Census of New France | ||
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General information | ||
Country | New France, Kingdom of France | |
Website | statcan.gc.ca | |
Results | ||
Total population | 3,215 | |
Most populous | Montreal (625) | |
Least populous | Lauzon (13) |
The 1666 census of New France was the first census conducted in Canada (and also North America) for the Kingdom of France. It was organized by Jean Talon, the first Intendant of New France, between 1665 and 1666.
Talon and the French Minister of the Marine Jean-Baptiste Colbert had brought the colony of New France under direct royal control in 1663, and Colbert wished to make it the centre of the French colonial empire. To do this he needed to know the state of the population so that the economic and industrial basis of the colony could be expanded. The next New France census was in 1667.[1]