A population centre, in Canadian census data, is a type of census unit which meets the demographic characteristics of an urban area, having a population of at least 1,000 people and a population density of no fewer than 400 persons per square km2."From urban areas to population centres" . Statistics Canada, May 5, 2011. Note that the population of a "population centre" is not the same thing as the population of a municipality; the population centre can include areas outside the municipal boundaries which are directly contiguous with the municipality's urban area, and can exclude areas inside the municipal boundaries which are less densely urbanized.
The term was first introduced in the Canada 2011 Census; prior to that, Statistics Canada used the term urban area.
In the 2021 Census of Population, Statistics Canada listed 300 population centres in the province of Ontario.
List The below table is a list of those population centres in Ontario from the 2021 Census of Population as designated, named, and delineated by Statistics Canada.
RankPopulation centreSize groupPopulation (2021)Population (2016)ChangeLand area (km2)Population density Toronto Large urban Ottawa - Gatineau Large urban Hamilton Large urban Kitchener Large urban London Large urban Oshawa Large urban Windsor Large urban St. Catharines - Niagara Falls Large urban Barrie Large urban Guelph Large urban Kanata Large urban Kingston Large urban Milton Large urban Brantford Large urban Thunder Bay Medium Sudbury Medium Peterborough Medium Belleville Medium Sarnia Medium Welland - Pelham Medium Sault Ste. Marie Medium Bowmanville - Newcastle Medium North Bay Medium Cornwall Medium Woodstock Medium St. Thomas Medium Chatham Medium Georgetown Medium Bradford Medium Stouffville Medium Leamington Medium Orangeville Medium Orillia Medium Stratford Medium Innisfil Small Timmins Small Keswick - Elmhurst Beach Small Bolton Small Midland Small Alliston Small Fergus Small Collingwood Small Lindsay Small Owen Sound Small Brockville Small Wasaga Beach Small Cobourg Small Tillsonburg Small Valley East Small Pembroke Small Simcoe Small Strathroy Small Port Colborne Small Fort Erie Small Amherstburg Small Paris Small Angus - Borden CFB-BFC Small Petawawa Small New Hamburg Small Carleton Place Small Rockland Small Ingersoll Small Beamsville Small Port Hope Small Caledonia Small Uxbridge Small Hawkesbury Small Arnprior Small Elliot Lake Small Kenora Small Binbrook Small Elmira Small Wallaceburg Small Bracebridge Small Port Elgin Small Tottenham Small Port Perry Small Listowel Small Crystal Beach Small Smiths Falls Small Acton Small Kincardine Small Shelburne Small Embrun Small Sutton Small King Small Renfrew Small Essex Small Napanee Small Aylmer Small Port Dover Small Hanover Small Goderich Small St. Marys Small Fort Frances Small Kapuskasing Small Sturgeon Falls Small Parry Sound Small Huntsville Small Nobleton Small Perth Small Smithville Small Corunna Small Chelmsford Small Tay Small Kirkland Lake Small Russell Small Almonte Small Chippawa Small Dunnville Small Manotick Station Small Brighton Small Porcupine Small Gravenhurst Small Mount Albert Small Petrolia Small Lively Small Rockwood Small Ayr Small Gananoque Small Dryden Small Delhi Small Mississauga Beach Small Meaford Small Mount Forest Small Mitchell Small Exeter Small Azilda Small Walkerton Small Stayner Small Tilbury Small Caledon East Small Picton Small Blenheim Small Vineland Small Dorchester Small New Liskeard Small Richmond Small Waterford Small Beeton Small Prescott Small Kemptville Small Southampton Small Espanola Small Casselman Small Deep River Small Sioux Lookout Small Cochrane Small Bobcaygeon Small Hearst Small Wellesley Small Thornbury Small Campbellford Small St. George Small Beaverton Small Haileybury Small Ballantrae Small Tavistock Small Clinton Small Lucan Small Frankford Small Bridgenorth - Chemong Park Area Small Wheatley Small Hagersville Small Norwich Small Grand Bend Small Marathon Small Port Stanley Small Virgil Small Palmerston Small Wingham Small Lakefield Small Capreol Small Alexandria Small Iroquois Falls Small Dundalk Small Ridgetown Small Durham Small Erin Small Grand Valley Small Seaforth Small Mount Brydges Small Schomberg Small Arthur Small Thamesford Small Harrow Small Osgoode Small Elmvale Small Fenelon Falls Small Wawa Small Forest Small Winchester Small Dresden Small Morrisburg Small Wyoming Small Colchester Small Drayton Small Constance Bay Small Ilderton Small Limoges Small Wendover Small Blind River Small Glencoe Small Long Sault Small Stirling Small Wiarton Small St. Jacobs Small Atikokan Small Amigo Beach Small Marchmont - Bass Lake Small Harriston Small Chesley Small Carlisle Small Cannington Small Bath Small Metcalfe Small Oro Station - Hawkestone Small Milverton Small Coniston Small Vankleek Hill Small Cardinal Small Geraldton Small Millbrook Small Mattawa Small Cayuga Small Parkhill Small Manitouwadge Small Big Bay Point Small Dutton Small Cookstown Small Sandy Lake 88 Small Deseronto Small Attawapiskat 91A Small Norwood Small Everett Small Chesterville Small Watford Small Tweed Small McGregor Small Factory Island Small Wellington Small Plattsville Small Marmora Small Sunderland Small Madoc Small Ingleside Small Carp Small Colborne Small Moosonee Small Caledon Small Dowling Small Wikwemikong Small Iroquois Small Bayfield Small Stoney Point Small Hastings Small West Lorne Small Englehart Small L'Orignal Small Port Rowan Small Innerkip Small Longlac Small Stevensville Small Belmont Small Red Lake Small Craigleith and Swiss Meadows Small Powassan Small St. Clements Small Mildmay Small Claremont Small Jarvis Small Little Current Small Markdale Small Creemore Small Bourget Small New Dundee Small Lucknow Small Eganville Small Thessalon Small Munster Small Chapleau Small Golden Small Horseshoe Valley Small Hensall Small Palgrave Small Orono Small Alfred Small Barry's Bay Small Haliburton Village Small Tiny Beaches North Small Chalk River Small Paisley Small Kasabonika Lake Small Omemee Small Burford Small Havelock Small Thornton Small Merrickville Small
See also List of the largest population centres in Canada List of census agglomerations in Ontario List of census subdivisions in Ontario List of cities in Ontario List of communities in Ontario List of municipalities in Ontario List of towns in Ontario List of township municipalities in Ontario List of villages in Ontario
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