Evolution of Population Densities: Five Canadian Cities, 1971-20011

This article presents new methods for comparative analysis of patterns of gross population density, and employs them in five Canadian metropolitan areas. By comparing changes in levels and patterns in the 1971-2001 period, assessments are made of the macro-level impacts of policies relating to densification and re-densification, and of how such impacts vary by city size. Three comparative techniques are employed. The first uses location quotients to map densities for census tracts in urbanized areas. A second approach defines central and peripheral density clusters, and analyzes their mapped patterns. The third method employs local indices of spatial autocorrelation (LISA) to detect locally significant "hotspots," particularly suburban outliers of higher density. Results suggest that in the suburbs homogenously low-density areas are in decline, while both high-density and heterogeneous areas are increasingly evident.