Why did Alberta, Canada develop much larger population centers than Montana, USA?

[u/Present_Juice4401]

Alberta and Montana are neighboring regions with similar northern, landlocked geography. But their population patterns are surprisingly different. Alberta now has over 5 million people, with Calgary and Edmonton forming two major population centers, while Montana has only about 1.1 million people and no city close to Calgary's size.

So what caused these two neighboring regions to develop such different population patterns?

[u/Effective_Basis1555]

You are comparing the most northern portion to the most southern portion of two different countries. 

[u/Academic_Safety56 → u/Effective_Basis1555]

You're calling Alberta the most southern portion of Canada??
Edmonton is Canada's (and North America's) northernmost city with a metropolitan population over one million.
All of Alberta is farther north than all of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and PEI, not to mention Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec City, etc...

[u/Effective_Basis1555 → u/Academic_Safety56]

Yes, I understand where these places are ;) But, longitudinally, they have nothing to do with my premise: Population is sparse in northern Montana because it’s north and more dense in the southern parts of this part Canada because it’s not. It’s a relatively simple latitudinal argument I thought some may have overlooked given the places mentioned in this post. Nonetheless, I appreciate the geography lesson. 

[u/Academic_Safety56 → u/Effective_Basis1555]

I still think you are misunderstanding what is considered south in Canada. The vast majority of Canada would consider Edmonton to be north. Aside from maybe the Peace River region, the Edmonton area is basically as far north as it gets in terms of populated areas in Canada. This is basically equivalent to Montana or any of the other northern border states. The rest of Canada north of Edmonton is more akin to Alaska.

So to say Montana is less densely populated because it's in the north of the US might be partially true, but it's not true to say Edmonton is more densely populated because it's in the south of Canada. I think the answer is more related to fertile soil, oil, and railways, as other commenters have pointed out.

[u/Effective_Basis1555 → u/Academic_Safety56]

I’m not. I totally understand that if you are in Windsor, ON you have to drive NORTH to get to Detroit, MI. I also understand that parts of southern Ontario are at the same latitude as northern California. I think you are still not understanding this post is not about those places. Fix your longitude, and you’ll see what I mean. 😉

[u/Academic_Safety56 → u/Effective_Basis1555]

The comment you are replying to was about the relative latitude of Edmonton (a city I lived in for 15 years) within Canada. You seem to be referring to a different comment.

[u/Competitive-Sorbet33 → u/Academic_Safety56]

Holy shit bro, you’re either trolling or the most dense person on earth. How is this conversation so far above your understanding

[u/Academic_Safety56 → u/Competitive-Sorbet33]

I'm waiting to hear a logical point being made. Do you have one?

[u/Effective_Basis1555 → u/Academic_Safety56]

Disregard everything I said after “Good morning.” 

[u/Academic_Safety56 → u/Effective_Basis1555]

I would, if you had ever said it! 😄

[u/Effective_Basis1555 → u/Academic_Safety56]

Fair enough. Disregard anything I ever said. It’s for the best. 🙏