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CITY OF LITTLE CANADA - PARK SYSTEM MASTER PLAN9 <br />Little Canada has a rich history that is well recorded in the book “Little <br />Canada – A Voyageur’s Vision.” From its history as a summer camping <br />ground for Dakota Indians to its settlement by French‐Canadian <br />pioneers in 1844, Little Canada takes great pride in its past. Until it <br />became a village in 1953, Little Canada was part of a larger area <br />known as New Canada Township. The Village of Little Canada officially <br />became the City of Little Canada in 1974. <br />The natural beauty of Little Canada has always been important to the <br />community. In 1959, the Saint Paul Dispatch newspaper quoted Village <br />officials as saying: <br />“Little Canada residents are interested, first and foremost, in <br />retaining the contour of their beautiful countryside, generously <br />laden with sparkling lakes, and green and gentle knolls.” <br />Village leaders, including Carl Spooner and Murph Jespersen, <br />encouraged the Village to set aside land for future parks. In 1973, <br />the Village established the first Park Planning Committee, which later <br />evolved into the Parks and Recreation Commission. <br />The City dedicated its first park, Spooner Park, on July 4, 1976. Since <br />the acquisition of Spooner Park, the City has acquired and developed <br />many more parks and trails. <br />Demographics <br />Little Canada is a suburb of Saint Paul that lies within the Twin <br />Cities Metropolitan Area. According to the Metropolitan Council <br />the population of Little Canada was 10,101 in 2016. The City <br />is approximately 4+ square miles. Its nearest neighbors include <br />Roseville(35,000 residents and 13+ square miles), Maplewood <br />(38,000 residents and 18 square miles), and Shoreview (25,000 <br />residents and 12+ acres). <br />Population and Growth <br />Between 2000 and 2040, according to the Metropolitan Council’s <br />population forecasts, Little Canada is expected to grow 5%, from 9,771 <br />to 10,300. While the overall population will increase, the average <br />number of people per household is expected to decline from 2.23 <br />persons per household to 2.1.