Evolution of patterns of land subdivision with special reference to Montreal.

The patterns of land subdivision form an essential element in the analysis of an urban area. In this essay an attempt is made to evaluate the importance of these patterns for urban growth on the Island of Montréal. The approach is an historical one, since the understanding of past patterns aids in our comprehension of the present. Thus in Part One the historical background to land granting procedures is examined, firstly in the Province of Québec, and then for the Island of Montréal. The cadastral divisions of the Island are discussed in Chapter Three, and a classification of the long lot systems is proposed. Part Two traces in greater detail the subsequent subdivision of the long lots for urban purposes