Great Lakes megalopolis

Cities around the Great Lakes of North America

Megaregion of the United States and Canada

Great Lakes megalopolis

Megaregion of the United States and Canada

Major cities of the Great Lakes megaregion (from top to bottom): Chicago, Toronto, Detroit, Columbus

Interactive Map of the Great Lakes Megaregion

Large metropolitan areas (population 1,000,000+)

Chicago–Naperville, IL–IN–WI CSA

Milwaukee–Racine–Waukesha, WI CSA

St. Louis–St. Charles–Farmington, MO–IL

Grand Rapids–Wyoming, MI CSA

Detroit–Warren–Ann Arbor, MI CSA

Cleveland–Akron–Canton, OH CSA

Pittsburgh–New Castle–Weirton, PA CSA

Buffalo–Niagara Falls, NY CSA

Rochester–Batavia–Seneca Falls, NY CSA

Indianapolis–Carmel–Muncie, IN CSA

Columbus–Marion–Zanesville, OH CSA

Cincinnati–Wilmington, OH–KY–IN CSA

Dayton–Springfield–Kettering, OH CSA

Louisville/Jefferson County, KY–IN CSA

Minneapolis–St. Paul, MN–WI CSA

Kansas City, MO–KS CSA

Toronto, Ont. CMA

Metro and micro areas (less than 1,000,000)

Non-metropolitan counties in the megaregion

Countries|

* United States
* Canada

States|

* Illinois
* Indiana
* Iowa
* Kansas
* Kentucky
* Michigan
* Minnesota
* Missouri
* New York
* Ohio
* Pennsylvania
* West Virginia
* Wisconsin

Provinces|

* Ontario
* Quebec

* * *

Largest city| Toronto (2,794,356)[1]

* * *

Largest metropolitan area| Chicago metropolitan area (9,812,676)
Population

| 59,100,000[2]

The Great Lakes megalopolis consists of a bi-national group of metropolitan areas in North America largely in the Great Lakes region. It extends from the Midwestern United States, and part of the Southern United States in the south and west to western Pennsylvania and Western New York in the Northeastern United States and northward through Southern Ontario into southwestern Quebec in Canada. It is the most populated and largest megalopolis in North America.

At its most inclusive, in the United States the region cuts a wide swath from the Twin Cities of Minneapolis–Saint Paul in Minnesota in the west, south to St. Louis and Louisville, Kentucky, and east to Rochester, New York; in Canada, it continues northeasterly to Quebec City. This broader region had an estimated population of 59,144,461 as of 2011 and is projected to reach a population of about 65 million by 2025. Within this broad region, there is a core area of more continual urban development that includes Chicago, Milwaukee, Grand Rapids, South Bend, Indianapolis, Detroit–Windsor, Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland, Toledo, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Rochester, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, and the metropolitan areas between these.[citation needed]

## History of the concept

[edit]

1907 Canadian major internal and cross border shipping routes

Map of the emerging American-Canadian megaregions as defined by America 2050.[3] This interpretation excludes the eastern part of the Windsor–Quebec City urban corridor from the Great Lakes Megalopolis.

The region was partially outlined as an emergent megalopolis in the 1961 book Megalopolis: The Urbanized Northeastern Seaboard of the United States by French geographer Jean Gottmann. Gottmann envisaged the development of other megalopolises in the U.S.: from Boston to Washington, D.C., from Chicago to Pittsburgh, and from San Francisco to San Diego.

In 1965, futurist Herman Kahn speculated about the three megalopolises in the year 2000.[4] In the 1960s and 1970s, urban planner and architect Constantinos Doxiadis wrote books, studies, and reports about the growth potential of the Great Lakes Megalopolis.[5] Doxiadis envisioned Detroit (on the U.S.–Canada border across from Windsor) as the central urban area in this megalopolis, which he defined as extending "from Milwaukee and Chicago to Detroit, Pittsburgh and Buffalo and into Canada from Windsor to Montreal and Quebec".[5][6]

In 2005, the Virginia Tech Metropolitan Institute's Beyond Megalopolis, an attempt to update Gottmann's work, outlined a similar "Midwest" megapolitan area as one of ten such areas in the United States (Canada is discussed tangentially).[7] Over 200 million tons of cargo are shipped annually through the Great Lakes.[8][9][10] The America 2050 project identified 11 Megaregions of the United States, including the Great Lakes Megalopolis.[11][A] The Canadian part of the region is also referred to as the Quebec City–Windsor Corridor, and the densest part in Southern Ontario has long been known as the Golden Horseshoe.[citation needed]

## Governments

[edit]

There are multiple government jurisdictions throughout the megalopolis. In addition to the federal governments of the United States and Canada, there are multiple U.S. states and two Canadian province jurisdictions, and many county and local governments. Most of the states have joined the provinces in forming the Conference of Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers to coordinate economic and environmental strategies throughout most of the region.[12]

## Economy

[edit]

The five Great Lakes contain one-fifth of the world's surface fresh water and have a combined shoreline of 10,210 miles (17,017 km). About 200 million tons of cargo are shipped through the Great Lakes each year.[9][13][14]

The Great Lakes Cruising Coalition supports passenger ship cruises through a joint U.S-Canadian venture to Great Lakes Ports and the Saint Lawrence Seaway.[15][16]

## Education

[edit]

The Great Lakes Megalopolis is home to many prestigious institutions of higher education. Two founding members of the Association of American Universities (AAU), the University of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois, and the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan, are located in the region. The University of Chicago and Northwestern University in the Chicago area are two high-ranking world universities. Other major universities include the University of Toronto in Toronto, Ontario; McGill University in Montreal, Quebec; McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario; University of Waterloo in Waterloo, Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio; Carnegie Mellon University and University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio; University of Rochester in Rochester, New York, University of Louisville in Louisville, Kentucky; Washington University in St. Louis in St. Louis, Missouri; and the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Indiana.[17]

The region also contains large multi-campus state university systems such as the University of Illinois System, University of Minnesota System, University of Missouri System, University of Wisconsin System, the University System of Ohio, the State University of New York (SUNY) System, the Indiana University System, and the Purdue University System. It also contains some universities in the Université du Québec system, such as UQAM in Montreal.

* McGill University

* University of Michigan

* University of Chicago

* University of Toronto

* Ohio State University

## Major land and marine transportation corridors

[edit]

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Amtrak Wolverine crossing St. Joseph River

The Great Lakes Megalopolis includes the following major inter-urban corridors that are provided with freeway and passenger rail service in both the core and fringe areas of the mega-region. Major waterways for shipping and cruising are also indicated where applicable. Amtrak in the United States and Via Rail in Canada offer rail passenger service, while most Class I freight rail services also connect these points. Major rail shipping services in both Canada and the United States is provided on tracks owned by Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Railway.

### Chicago-Minneapolis/St. Paul

[edit]

This corridor occupies the northwestern fringe of the megalopolis. It occupies northern Illinois, southern Wisconsin, and parts of eastern Minnesota. Interstate 94 and Amtrak's Empire Builder and Borealis trains run roughly parallel from Chicago to Minneapolis/St. Paul by way of Milwaukee and Madison, Wisconsin.

### Chicago-St. Louis

[edit]

Interstate 55, Amtrak via the Lincoln Service, and the Illinois Waterway connect Chicago to St. Louis.

### Chicago-Indianapolis-Cincinnati

[edit]

Interstate 65 extends from the Chicago area southeast to Indianapolis, where Interstate 74 travels through to Cincinnati. Amtrak runs regular service along this same route via the Cardinal.

### Chicago-Buffalo-Rochester

[edit]

Lake Shore Limited

Interstate 90 and Amtrak's Lake Shore Limited run approximately parallel through the core area of the megalopolis from Chicago to Cleveland via South Bend, Indiana, and Toledo, Ohio, then into the eastern fringe area comprising Buffalo and Rochester, New York. Amtrak's Floridian provides a passenger rail link from Cleveland to Pittsburgh which is roughly paralleled by Interstate 76. The main water route deviates well to the north of the land route from Chicago to Detroit. It runs north along Lake Michigan, east through the Straits of Mackinac, then south along Lake Huron, the St. Clair River, and Lake St Clair to the Detroit River. From this point, the water route roughly parallels the land route to Rochester by way of Lake Erie, the Welland Canal, and Lake Ontario.

### Detroit-Chicago

[edit]

Interstate 94 takes a more northerly route than I-90 through the megalopolis core area east of Chicago. It extends from that city to the west end of the Windsor-Quebec City Corridor by way of Kalamazoo, Ann Arbor, Detroit, and Port Huron, Michigan/Sarnia, Ontario. This interstate freeway also parallels Amtrak's Wolverine and Blue Water. The main water route is the same as for the western part of the Chicago-Rochester water corridor from Lake Michigan to the Detroit River. Amtrak also serves this route with the Wolverine service, between Chicago and Pontiac via Ann Arbor and Detroit.

### Windsor–Quebec City

[edit]

The Windsor–Quebec City Corridor lies along the northeastern fringe of the Great Lakes megalopolis. The entire Canadian section of the broader megaregion is sometimes considered a separate megalopolis. Key freeways include Highway 401 and Highway 417 in Ontario which connect with Autoroute 20 and Autoroute 40 respectively in Quebec. Highway 416 and Autoroute 50 link the National Capital Region with Highway 401 and the Montreal area respectively, but the two freeways do not link directly with each other across the Ontario–Quebec border. Passenger rail service is provided in both provinces by the Via Rail Corridor Service. Intermediate points along the corridor include London, Kitchener, Hamilton, St. Catharines, Toronto, Kingston, Ottawa, and Montreal. The main water shipping route is the same as for the eastern part of the Chicago-Rochester corridor, starting at the Detroit River but continuing east beyond Lake Ontario along the St. Lawrence Seaway to Quebec City and the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

## Secondary land or marine transportation corridors

[edit]

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Several corridors have interstate highways but no comprehensive passenger rail service. These highway routes pass through both core and fringe areas of the Great Lakes megalopolis. The upper Great lakes region has a marine corridor that connects Lakes Superior, Huron, and Michigan. However, this route does not include parallel Amtrak passenger rail or interstate highway service.

### Kansas City–Pittsburgh

[edit]

Interstate 70 follows the southern fringe of the megaregion. It runs from Kansas City to just south of Pittsburgh by way of St. Louis, Indianapolis, Dayton, Ohio, and Columbus, Ohio.

### Detroit–Grand Rapids

[edit]

Interstate 96 serves traffic between the Detroit and Grand Rapids metro areas. The route passes through Lansing on the way and extends to Muskegon to the northwest of Grand Rapids

### Evansville–Indianapolis–Port Huron

[edit]

Interstate 69 extends from Evansville to Martinsville, Indiana. From there, the route is temporarily an arterial highway, Indiana State Road 37, to the Interstate 465 ring road around Indianapolis. From there, I-69 resumes and continues to the west end of the Windsor-Quebec City Corridor, crossing the border into Canada and becoming Ontario Highway 402, which eventually leads to Highway 401. Intermediate points include Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Lansing, Flint, and Port Huron, Michigan/Sarnia, Ontario.

### Cincinnati–Saginaw

[edit]

Interstate 75 runs from Saginaw, Michigan, to Cincinnati by way of Flint and Detroit in Michigan, and Toledo, Lima, and Dayton in Ohio.

### Duluth–Lake Huron

[edit]

The waterway connecting Duluth, Minnesota, and western Lake Superior to points east and south includes the Soo Locks connecting to Lake Huron, then south to Port Huron MI/Sarnia ON or through the Straits of Mackinac to the metropolitan areas around Lake Michigan.

## Selected American and Canadian population centers

[edit]

Largest cities (not metropolitan areas or census divisions) in the Great Lakes megalopolis with populations over 100,000  2020 rank  | City  | Region  | 2020/21 censuses[a] | 2010/11 censuses[b] | Change  | Land area  | 2020 population density

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  | Toronto |  Ontario | 2,794,356  | 2,615,060  | +6.86% | 243.3 sq mi (630.1 km2)  | 11,468/sq mi (4,428/km2)
2  | Chicago |  Illinois | 2,746,388  | 2,695,598  | +1.88% | 227.3 sq mi (588.7 km2)  | 12,059/sq mi (4,656/km2)
3  | Montréal |  Quebec | 1,762,949  | 1,649,519  | +6.88% | 166.6 sq mi (431.5 km2)  | 12,505/sq mi (4,828/km2)
4  | Ottawa |  Ontario | 1,017,449  | 883,391  | +15.18% | 1,077.3 sq mi (2,790.2 km2)  | 950/sq mi (370/km2)
5  | Columbus |  Ohio | 905,748  | 787,033  | +15.08% | 226.3 sq mi (586.1 km2)  | 4,110/sq mi (1,590/km2)
6  | Indianapolis |  Indiana | 887,642  | 820,445  | +8.19% | 361.6 sq mi (936.5 km2)  | 2,455/sq mi (948/km2)
7  | Mississauga |  Ontario | 717,961  | 713,443  | +0.63% | 112.9 sq mi (292.4 km2)  | 6,391/sq mi (2,468/km2)
8  | Brampton |  Ontario | 656,480  | 523,911  | +25.30% | 102.3 sq mi (265 km2)  | 6,390/sq mi (2,470/km2)
9  | Detroit |  Michigan | 639,111  | 713,777  | −10.46% | 138.7 sq mi (359.2 km2)  | 4,067/sq mi (1,570/km2)
10  | Louisville |  Kentucky | 633,045  | 597,337  | +5.98% | 325.0 sq mi (841.7 km2)  | 1,900/sq mi (730/km2)
11  | Milwaukee |  Wisconsin | 577,222  | 594,833  | −2.96% | 96.2 sq mi (249.2 km2)  | 6,001/sq mi (2,317/km2)
12  | Hamilton |  Ontario | 569,353  | 519,949  | +9.50% | 431.8 sq mi (1,118.4 km2)  | 1,319/sq mi (509/km2)
13  | Quebec City |  Quebec | 549,459  | 516,622  | +6.36% | 175.1 sq mi (453.5 km2)  | 3,039/sq mi (1,173/km2)
14  | Kansas City |  Missouri | 508,090  | 459,787  | +10.51% | 314.7 sq mi (815 km2)  | 1,614/sq mi (623/km2)
15  | Laval |  Quebec | 438,366  | 401,553  | +9.17% | 95.5 sq mi (247.3 km2)  | 4,431/sq mi (1,711/km2)
16  | Minneapolis |  Minnesota | 429,954  | 382,578  | +12.38% | 54 sq mi (140 km2)  | 7,692/sq mi (2,970/km2)
17  | London |  Ontario | 422,324  | 366,151  | +15.34% | 162.4 sq mi (420.6 km2)  | 2,365/sq mi (913/km2)
18  | Cleveland |  Ohio | 372,624  | 396,815  | −6.10% | 77.7 sq mi (201.2 km2)  | 4,794/sq mi (1,851/km2)
19  | Markham |  Ontario | 338,503  | 301,709  | +12.20% | 81.4 sq mi (211 km2)  | 4,156/sq mi (1,605/km2)
20  | Vaughan |  Ontario | 323,103  | 288,301  | +12.07% | 105.2 sq mi (272.5 km2)  | 3,071/sq mi (1,186/km2)
21  | Saint Paul |  Minnesota | 311,527  | 285,068  | +9.28% | 52 sq mi (135 km2)  | 5,994/sq mi (2,314/km2)
22  | Cincinnati |  Ohio | 309,317  | 296,493  | +4.33% | 77.9 sq mi (201.8 km2)  | 3,970/sq mi (1,530/km2)
23  | Pittsburgh |  Pennsylvania | 302,971  | 305,704  | −0.89% | 55.4 sq mi (143.5 km2)  | 5,471/sq mi (2,112/km2)
24  | St. Louis |  Missouri | 301,578  | 310,294  | −2.81% | 61.7 sq mi (160 km2)  | 4,886/sq mi (1,886/km2)
25  | Gatineau |  Quebec | 291,041  | 265,349  | +9.68% | 132.4 sq mi (342.9 km2)  | 2,004/sq mi (774/km2)
26  | Buffalo |  New York | 278,349  | 261,310  | +6.52% | 40.4 sq mi (104.6 km2)  | 6,893/sq mi (2,661/km2)
27  | Toledo |  Ohio | 270,871  | 287,208  | −5.69% | 80.5 sq mi (208.5 km2)  | 3,365/sq mi (1,299/km2)
28  | Madison |  Wisconsin | 269,840  | 233,309  | +15.66% | 79.6 sq mi (206 km2)  | 3,391/sq mi (1,309/km2)
29  | Fort Wayne |  Indiana | 263,886  | 253,691  | +4.02% | 110.6 sq mi (286.5 km2)  | 2,400/sq mi (930/km2)
30  | Kitchener |  Ontario | 256,885  | 219,153  | +17.22% | 52.8 sq mi (136.8 km2)  | 4,900/sq mi (1,900/km2)
31  | Longueuil |  Quebec | 254,483  | 231,409  | +9.97% | 44.6 sq mi (115.5 km2)  | 5,185/sq mi (2,002/km2)
32  | Windsor |  Ontario | 229,660  | 210,891  | +8.90% | 56.5 sq mi (146.3 km2)  | 4,065/sq mi (1,570/km2)
33  | Oakville |  Ontario | 213,759  | 182,520  | +17.12% | 53.7 sq mi (139.1 km2)  | 3,985/sq mi (1,539/km2)
34  | Rochester |  New York | 211,328  | 210,565  | +0.36% | 35.8 sq mi (92.7 km2)  | 5,909/sq mi (2,281/km2)
35  | Richmond Hill |  Ontario | 202,022  | 185,541  | +8.88% | 38.9 sq mi (101 km2)  | 5,191/sq mi (2,004/km2)
36  | Grand Rapids |  Michigan | 198,917  | 188,040  | +5.78% | 44.8 sq mi (116.0 km2)  | 4,442/sq mi (1,715/km2)
37  | Overland Park |  Kansas | 197,238  | 173,372  | +13.77% | 75.2 sq mi (194.8 km2)  | 2,600/sq mi (1,000/km2)
38  | Akron |  Ohio | 190,469  | 199,110  | −4.34% | 61.9 sq mi (160 km2)  | 3,075/sq mi (1,187/km2)
39  | Burlington |  Ontario | 183,314  | 175,779  | +4.29% | 71.7 sq mi (185.7 km2)  | 2,452/sq mi (947/km2)
40  | Aurora |  Illinois | 180,542  | 197,899  | −8.77% | 45 sq mi (116.5 km2)  | 4,015/sq mi (1,550/km2)
41  | Oshawa |  Ontario | 175,383  | 149,607  | +17.23% | 56.3 sq mi (145.8 km2)  | 2,660/sq mi (1,030/km2)
42  | Kansas City |  Kansas | 156,607  | 145,786  | +7.42% | 124.7 sq mi (323.0 km2)  | 1,200/sq mi (460/km2)
43  | Joliet |  Illinois | 150,362  | 147,433  | +1.99% | 65.1 sq mi (168.6 km2)  | 2,310/sq mi (890/km2)
44  | Lévis |  Quebec | 149,683  | 137,218  | +9.08% | 173.4 sq mi (449.1 km2)  | 827/sq mi (319/km2)
45  | Naperville |  Illinois | 149,540  | 141,853  | +5.42% | 39.1 sq mi (101.3 km2)  | 3,824/sq mi (1,476/km2)
46  | Rockford |  Illinois | 148,655  | 152,871  | −2.76% | 64.9 sq mi (168.1 km2)  | 2,290/sq mi (880/km2)
47  | Guelph |  Ontario | 143,740  | 121,688  | +18.12% | 33.7 sq mi (87.3 km2)  | 4,258/sq mi (1,644/km2)
48  | Olathe |  Kansas | 141,290  | 125,872  | +12.25% | 61.6 sq mi (159.5 km2)  | 2,300/sq mi (890/km2)
49  | Warren |  Michigan | 139,387  | 134,056  | +3.98% | 34.4 sq mi (89.1 km2)  | 4,055/sq mi (1,566/km2)
50  | Trois-Rivières |  Quebec | 139,163  | 129,886  | +7.14% | 111.7 sq mi (289.3 km2)  | 1,203/sq mi (464/km2)
51  | Whitby |  Ontario | 138,501  | 122,022  | +13.50% | 56.6 sq mi (146.6 km2)  | 2,445/sq mi (944/km2)
52  | Cambridge |  Ontario | 138,479  | 126,748  | +9.26% | 43.6 sq mi (112.9 km2)  | 3,174/sq mi (1,225/km2)
53  | Dayton |  Ohio | 137,644  | 141,527  | −2.74% | 55.8 sq mi (144.5 km2)  | 2,466/sq mi (952/km2)
54  | St. Catharines |  Ontario | 136,803  | 131,400  | +4.11% | 37.1 sq mi (96.1 km2)  | 3,587/sq mi (1,385/km2)
55  | Sterling Heights |  Michigan | 134,386  | 129,699  | +3.61% | 36.5 sq mi (94.5 km2)  | 3,686/sq mi (1,423/km2)
56  | Milton |  Ontario | 132,979  | 84,362  | +57.63% | 140.2 sq mi (363.1 km2)  | 948/sq mi (366/km2)
57  | Kingston |  Ontario | 132,485  | 123,363  | +7.39% | 174.2 sq mi (451.2 km2)  | 736/sq mi (284/km2)
58  | Ajax |  Ontario | 126,666  | 109,600  | +15.57% | 25.7 sq mi (66.6 km2)  | 4,233/sq mi (1,634/km2)
59  | Ann Arbor |  Michigan | 123,851  | 113,934  | +8.70% | 28.2 sq mi (73.0 km2)  | 4,388/sq mi (1,694/km2)
60  | Independence |  Missouri | 123,011  | 116,830  | +5.29% | 78 sq mi (202.0 km2)  | 1,578/sq mi (609/km2)
61  | Waterloo |  Ontario | 121,436  | 98,780  | +22.94% | 24.7 sq mi (64.0 km2)  | 4,910/sq mi (1,900/km2)
62  | Rochester |  Minnesota | 121,395  | 106,796  | +13.67% | 55.6 sq mi (144.0 km2)  | 2,184/sq mi (843/km2)
63  | Evansville |  Indiana | 118,414  | 117,429  | +0.84% | 47.4 sq mi (122.8 km2)  | 2,477/sq mi (956/km2)
64  | Elgin |  Illinois | 114,797  | 108,188  | +6.11% | 38 sq mi (98.4 km2)  | 3,019/sq mi (1,166/km2)
65  | Springfield |  Illinois | 114,394  | 116,250  | −1.60% | 61.2 sq mi (158.5 km2)  | 1,870/sq mi (720/km2)
66  | Peoria |  Illinois | 113,150  | 115,007  | −1.61% | 48 sq mi (124.3 km2)  | 2,359/sq mi (911/km2)
67  | Lansing |  Michigan | 112,644  | 114,297  | −1.45% | 39.1 sq mi (101.3 km2)  | 2,878/sq mi (1,111/km2)
68  | Dearborn |  Michigan | 109,976  | 98,153  | +12.05% | 24.3 sq mi (62.9 km2)  | 1,751/sq mi (676/km2)
69  | Green Bay |  Wisconsin | 107,395  | 104,057  | +3.21% | 45.5 sq mi (117.8 km2)  | 2,299/sq mi (888/km2)
70  | Brantford |  Ontario | 104,688  | 93,650  | +11.79% | 38.1 sq mi (98.7 km2)  | 2,748/sq mi (1,061/km2)
71  | Chatham-Kent |  Ontario | 103,988  | 103,671  | +0.31% | 949 sq mi (2,458 km2)  | 107/sq mi (41/km2)
72  | South Bend |  Indiana | 103,453  | 101,168  | +2.26% | 42 sq mi (108.8 km2)  | 2,465/sq mi (952/km2)
73  | Davenport |  Iowa | 101,724  | 99,685  | +2.05% | 63.8 sq mi (165.2 km2)  | 1,595/sq mi (616/km2)
74  | Lee's Summit |  Missouri | 101,108  | 91,364  | +10.67% | 63.9 sq mi (165.5 km2)  | 1,582/sq mi (611/km2)
75  | Clinton Township |  Michigan | 100,513  | 96,796  | +3.84% | 281 sq mi (727.8 km2)  | 3,445/sq mi (1,330/km2)

1. ^ The census population for Canadian cities uses their 2021 census population.
2. ^ The census population for Canadian cities uses their 2011 census population.

## See also

[edit]

* Megalopolis (city type)
* Conference of Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers
* Megaregions of the United States
* Great Lakes
* Quebec City – Windsor Corridor
* Conurbation
* Combined Statistical Area
* Census Metropolitan Area
* Rust Belt

## Notes

[edit]

A. ^ a Various sources include Quebec City, Montreal and Ottawa in the Great Lakes Megalopolis, while excluding Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Kansas City, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Louisville, and Columbus.[18] All these partial-consensus and non-consensus cities lie at the eastern, western, and southern fringes of the megalopolis.

## Gallery

[edit]

* Chicago (left) and Milwaukee (center)

* Lakes Erie (right) and Ontario (left)

* Indianapolis (left) to St. Louis (right)

* Cleveland

* Saint Paul

* Fox Cities

* Duluth

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Census Data 2021". 9 February 2022. Retrieved 2022-08-24.
2. ^ "What is the Great Lakes Megalopolis?". February 2019. Retrieved 2024-03-23.
3. ^ "Megaregions - America 2050". Archived from the original on 2018-08-09. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
4. ^ Bell, Daniel; Stephen Richards Graubard (1997). Toward the year 2000: work in progress. MIT Press. p. 87. ISBN 0-262-52237-3.
5. ^ a b Cities: Capital for the New Megalopolis.Time magazine, November 4, 1966. Retrieved on July 16, 2010.
6. ^ Doxiadis, Constantinos. (1970) The Great Lakes Megalopolis. Doxiadis Assoc.
7. ^ "MegaCensusReport.indd" (PDF). America2050.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-04-12. Retrieved 2016-07-07.
8. ^ "About Our Great Lakes -Great Lakes Basin Facts- NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab (GLERL)". Glerl.noaa.gov. Archived from the original on 2012-03-08. Retrieved 2012-04-19.
9. ^ a b "Economy of the Great Lakes Region". Great-lakes.net. 2012-04-13. Archived from the original on 2012-05-04. Retrieved 2012-04-19.
10. ^ U.S Army Corps of Engineers (January 2009).Great Lakes Navigation System: Economic Strength to the Nation Archived 2011-07-18 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on April 11, 2011.
11. ^ America 2050: Megaregions: Great Lakes. Archived 2020-02-20 at the Wayback Machine Regional Plan Association.
12. ^ "Home - Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers". Cglslgp.org.
13. ^ Our lakes facts Archived 2012-03-08 at the Wayback Machine. NOAA. Retrieved July 25, 2011.
14. ^ U.S Army Corps of Engineers (January 2009).Great Lakes Navigation System: Economic Strength to the Nation Archived 2011-07-18 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on July 25, 2011.
15. ^ Great Lakes Cruising Coalition Retrieved on July 25, 2011.
16. ^ "Forecasting 2020 U.S. County and MSA Populations" (PDF). Knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu. April 2016. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
17. ^ "Academic Ranking of World Universities 2021". ShanghaiRanking Consultancy. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
18. ^ Example: Great Lakes Megalopolis (PDF) (Map). The Center for Urban and Regional Studies, Youngstown State University. 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-07-05.

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* t
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Great Lakes of North America

Main lakes|

* Erie
* Huron
* Michigan
* Ontario
* Superior

Secondary lakes|

* Nipigon
* Nipissing
* Simcoe
* St. Clair
* Winnebago

Bays and
channels|

| Erie|

* Chadwick Bay
* Maumee Bay
* Presque Isle Bay
* Sandusky Bay

|

Huron|

* Georgian Bay
* Matchedash Bay
* Nottawasaga Bay
* Parry Sound
* Lake George
* Little Pike Bay
* Munuscong Lake
* North Channel
* Potagannissing Bay
* Saginaw Bay
* St. Joseph Channel
* Thunder Bay

Michigan|

* Detroit Harbor
* Grand Traverse Bay
* Green Bay
* Big Bay de Noc
* Little Bay de Noc
* Porte des Morts
* Sturgeon Bay
* Little Traverse Bay
* Manitou Passage

Ontario|

* Bay of Quinte
* Braddock Bay
* Hamilton Harbour
* Humber Bay
* Irondequoit Bay
* Sodus Bay
* Toronto Bay
* Wellers Bay

Superior|

* Au Train Bay
* Chequamegon Bay
* Chicago Bay
* Huron Bay
* Little Trout Bay
* Keweenaw Bay
* Oronto Bay
* Pokegama Bay
* Superior Bay
* Thunder Bay
* Whitefish Bay
* Ashmun Bay
* Batchawana Bay
* Goulais Bay

St. Clair|

* Anchor Bay

Simcoe|

* Cook's Bay
* Kempenfelt Bay
* Lake Couchiching

Nipissing|

* Callander Bay

Waterways|

* Chicago River
* Detroit River
* Erie Canal
* French River
* Great Lakes Waterway
* Niagara River
* Fall
* Nipigon River
* St. Clair River
* St. Lawrence River
* St. Lawrence Seaway
* St. Marys River
* Sault Ste. Marie Canal
* Soo Locks
* Straits of Mackinac
* Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal
* Trent–Severn Waterway
* Welland Canal
* First canal

Islands|

* Apostle Islands
* Detroit River Islands
* Isle Royale National Park Islands
* Isle Royale
* Lake Erie Islands
* Manitoulin Island
* Lake Kagawong
* Lake Manitou
* Lake Mindemoya
* Treasure Island
* Province of Ontario Islands
* State of Michigan Islands
* Lake Huron Islands
* Populated
* Potawatomi Islands

Historic geology|

* Lake Admiralty
* Lake Agassiz
* Lake Algonquin
* Lake Arkona
* Champlain Sea
* Lake Chicago
* Lake Chippewa
* Lake Coleman
* Lake Duluth
* Early Lake Erie
* Lake Frontenac
* Glacial Lake Iroquois
* Lake Maumee
* Nipissing Great Lakes
* Lake Saginaw
* Lake Stanley
* Lake Tonawanda
* Lake Warren
* Lake Wayne
* Lake Whittlesey
* Last Glacial Maximum
* Midcontinent Rift System
* Niagara Escarpment
* Scotch Bonnet Ridge
* Wisconsin glaciation

Organizations|

* Alliance for the Great Lakes
* Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers
* Great Lakes Areas of Concern
* Great Lakes Basin Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Program
* Great Lakes Charter
* Great Lakes Commission
* Great Lakes Compact
* Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory
* Great Lakes Fishery Commission
* Great Lakes–Saint Lawrence River Basin Sustainable Water Resources Agreement
* International Joint Commission
* Municipalities
* Cities

Related topics|

* Basin
* Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac
* Circle Tour
* Crossings
* Great Loop
* Lake breeze
* Lake-effect snow
* Lake freighter
* Lake Michigan–Huron
* Lake Michigan Triangle
* Lake surfing
* Marine protected areas
* Marysburgh vortex
* Megalopolis
* Museum and historic ships
* Ports
* Region
* Laurentia
* Shipwrecks
* Storms
* Third Coast
* Treaties

Lakes portal

* v
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Great Lakes megalopolis as defined by the RPA

Includes all metropolitan areas that have a population of 150,000 or greater according to the most recent national census.

Great Lakes region cities|

* Brantford
* Buffalo–Niagara Falls
* Buffalo
* Niagara Falls
* Chicago
* city
* Cleveland
* city
* Detroit
* city
* Erie
* city
* Grand Rapids
* city
* Guelph
* Green Bay
* city
* Hamilton
* Holland
* Kalamazoo
* city
* Kenosha
* Lansing
* city
* London
* Milwaukee
* city
* Muskegon
* Niagara Region
* St. Catharines
* Niagara Falls
* Welland
* Niles
* Oshawa
* Rochester, New York
* city
* South Bend
* city
* Toledo
* city
* Toronto
* city
* Traverse City
* city
* Waterloo Region
* Kitchener
* Cambridge
* Waterloo
* Windsor

Surrounding cities|

* Akron
* city
* Altoona
* Ann Arbor
* Barrie
* Bloomington, Indiana
* city
* Bloomington–Normal
* Bloomington, Illinois
* Normal
* Canton
* city
* Champaign
* city
* Cincinnati
* city
* Columbus
* city
* Dayton
* city
* Eau Claire
* city
* Elkhart
* Flint
* Fort Wayne
* city
* Fox Cities
* Appleton
* Oshkosh
* Indianapolis
* city
* Jackson
* Janesville–Beloit
* Kankakee
* city
* La Crosse–Onalaska
* La Crosse
* Onalaska
* Lafayette
* city
* Madison
* city
* Mahoning Valley
* Youngstown
* Minneapolis–Saint Paul
* Minneapolis
* Saint Paul
* Pittsburgh
* city
* Peoria
* city
* Peterborough
* Rockford
* city
* Rochester, Minnesota
* city
* St. Cloud
* city
* Saginaw
* city
* Springfield
* city
* Terre Haute
* city
* Quad Cities
* Bettendorf
* Davenport
* East Moline
* Moline
* Rock Island

Cities of states south of region|

* Elizabethtown
* city
* Kansas City
* city
* Louisville
* city
* St. Louis
* city
* Topeka
* city

Other metro-regions|

* Quebec City–Windsor Corridor
* Golden Horseshoe
* Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area
* Detroit–Windsor
* Greater Pittsburgh
* Metro East

Other megaregions

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