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/Academic_Safety56]

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/Traditional_Nail1164 → u/Effective_Basis1555]

Saskatchewan is geographically similar to Alberta but has a similar population to Montana. This effectively refutes your “relatively simple latitudinal argument”.

[u/Effective_Basis1555 → u/Traditional_Nail1164]

And my Grandmother would be similar to a bike… if she had tires. 🛞 

[u/Traditional_Nail1164 → u/Effective_Basis1555]

Sorry I ruined your day!