Government and History

Montreal is governed by a mayor, a 73-member city council, and an executive committee of consisting of 7 to 11 city councillors and the mayor. The city councillors are elected representatives from Montreal's 27 boroughs. All officials are elected to a three-year term.

Montreal Island was first visited in 1535 by Jacques Cartier, who was seeking a route to Asia. He found the Indian village of Hochelaga at the site. In 1611 Samuel de Champlain established a short-lived trading post beside the St. Lawrence River, but no permanent settlement was made. Paul de Chomedey, Sieur de Maisonneuve, arrived in 1642 with a small group of missionaries and settlers and founded Ville Marie de Montréal, which soon became an active fur-trading post.

Montreal developed rapidly as a commercial center under British rule, which began in 1763 after the French and Indian War. It was held briefly by the Continental Army (1775) during the American Revolution. Montreal was incorporated as a city in 1832 and, after Upper Canada and Lower Canada were united in 1841, served as capital during 1844–49.

During the next 100 years the opening of railway lines, growth of ocean transportation, increase in foreign trade, and influx of immigrants contributed to Montreal's growth. A new period of expansion that began late in the 1950's added hundreds of industrial, commercial, and residential buildings. In 1967 an island was created and an existing one enlarged as the site for the world's fair Expo 67. In 1976 the summer Olympic games were held in Montreal. In 2002, 27 municipalities became a part of the city of Montreal.

Population (2001 census): 1,039,534.